Soccskargen in the Philippines is at high risk from climate change

Bong S. Sarmiento in the Sun Star (Philippines): Soccskargen or Region 12 is highly at risk to the threats of a changing climate condition, an official warned on Friday. Herlita G. Caraan, National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) regional chief, said that more rainfall, an increase in temperature and rising sea level would hit the area in the medium term (2020-2050).

Soccskargen region consists of the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

In a fact sheet, NSCB warned of worse flooding, landslide and storm surges affecting hundreds of villages in the region as a result of climate change.

Based on mid-range scenario simulations by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), rainfall in the region was predicted to increase in 2020 by as much as 14.8 percent and 15.6 percent by 2050.

The increased rainfall was projected to happen during the north-east monsoon season (December to February) and during the transition of seasons from September to November....

Locator map of Soccskargen by TUBS, Wikimedia Commons, under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license