Experts tackle climate change, disaster management in the Philippines

Butch Fernandez in the Business Mirror (Philippines): Experts are set to tackle burning issues related to climate change, disaster management and food security starting today in an international conference organized by the Congressional Committee on Science and Technology and the Manila Observatory.

Sen. Edgardo Angara, who chairs the congressional commission, is set address the participants to the two-day conference dubbed “Engineering Resilience: Confronting Risks Beyond Adaptation” to be held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel on March 15 and 16. Angara is expected to share his views on the significance of innovative engineering on disaster preparedness and risk reduction.

“We need to be prepared for the worst that nature can throw at us. In hindsight, we can learn from the many mistakes made when [typhoons] Ondoy and Pepeng ravaged the country and integrate these lessons with that of other countries, then use the tools provided to us by S&T [science and technology] to be better prepared for future calamities.”

Angara added: “There is no question that climate change is upon us, yet we do not have the full picture of the effects that this will have on our water security, food security and even our infrastructure. By pooling our resources and data, we can expand our knowledge and help us understand the full scope of climate change and its effects on our country.”

The senator stressed the need for the country to be better-prepared for looming crises in water and food shortage. “Disasters are not limited to natural events like earthquakes and flooding. Not being able to feed our people would be a grave disaster, and even though we may not feel the immediate effects or see clear signs of food or water crises in our everyday lives, science is showing us that these events are on the horizon and if we are not prepared, we will suffer dire consequences.”…