Still vulnerable

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The World Risk Index 2011 of the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security noted that the Philippines ranked third among 173 countries in terms of vulnerability to disaster risks and natural hazards. The report noted that our country is “heavily affected by extreme natural events” due to our exposed position in the Pacific Ocean.

“Storms and heavy rains hit degraded ecosystems, destroyed coral reefs and mangrove forests, depleted soils and deforested areas. Thus, there are few natural bulwarks against the threat of disasters. People also feel the effects of climate change”, the reported added.

Compared to our Southeast Asian neighbors, which have the following ranks: Timor Leste (7th), Cambodia (9th), Brunei (14th), Indonesia (28th), Vietnam (34th), Myanmar (57th), Thailand (85th), Malaysia (91st), Laos (104th), and Singapore (153rd), the Philippines is the most vulnerable to disaster risks and natural hazards.

The World Risk Index defines “risk” as the interaction between a natural hazard even and the vulnerability of the exposed element or society. This means that while we may not be able to do anything about the vulnerability of our location in the Pacific Ocean, we should still be able to reduce our exposure to that risk by being prepared for those extreme natural events. Our unenviable position of being the 3rd most vulnerable country in the world to disaster risk and natural hazards could mean that we are either unlucky enough to be located in the riskiest area in the planet or that despite being routinely exposed to such risks, we remain woefully unprepared.

Given our experience with natural calamities, disaster preparedness is something we should have mastered and perfected a long time ago. But because we choose to whine about our lack of equipment instead of adapting and constantly learning from our vast experience with nature’s wrath, we probably deserve to be third in the World Risk Index’s list of countries in terms of vulnerability to disaster risks and natural hazards.*