PINURI ni Sen. Cynthia Villar kahapon ang direktiba ng Pangulo na magkaroon ng mangrove (Bakawan) forest sa coastal areas sa buong bansa bilang natural na panangga sa nakamamatay na storm surges.
Binigyan-diin ni Villar na ang pagtatanim ng mangrove trees ay magiging bahagi ng komprehensibong programa environmental protection na inilalatag bilang tugon sa pinsalang idinulot ng super typhoon “Yolanda.”
“The inclusion of no-build zones in coastal areas in this program is a step in the right direction. I also suggest that this program include a moratorium on reclamation because reclaiming of lands could lead to the destruction of natural marine barriers like mangroves,” ayon kay Villar.
Ikinagalak niya ang paglagda sa Executive Order na nag-aatas sa National Economic Development Authority ang pag-apruba sa ano mang reclamation project.
Hiniling din ni Villar sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) na pagtuunan din ng pansin ang coastal areas na hindi hinagupit ni Yolanda.
“We have seen how the storm surge flooded Roxas Boulevard and caused damage to hotels and other establishments in the area. This means urban areas like Metro Manila are as vulnerable as any coastal area in the country,” sabi ni Villar.
“Our action should now be definite because these storm surges, as experts tell us, are not new. We hear of records dating as far back as 1897 where 7,000 lives were lost and in 1912 where some 15,000 died in the Visayas due to typhoon and tidal waves. The experts also tell us that storm surges will be more frequent because of climate change,” aniya.
Sa coastal clean-up activities na itinataguyod ng senador, kabilang ang pagtatanim ng mangrove trees dahil sa benepisyong makukuha mula rito.
Sa 2012 pag-aaral ng University of Cambridge, napapahina ng mangroves ang pwersa ng tubig sa paghampas ng alon at nababawasan ang pag-agos kaya bumababa rin ang antas ng tubig.
Nanawagan ang senador na ipatupad ang National Greening Program sa ilalim ng Executive Order No. 26 na nagtatakda ng pagtatanim sa 1.5 million hectares land, kabilang ang mangrove reforestation.
(NIÑO ACLAN)