Editor's note: In this weekly feature China Daily gives voice to Asia and its people. The stories presented come mainly from the Asia News Network (ANN), of which China Daily is among its 20 leading titles.
A man makes a water barrier to avoid plastic waste spillage inside their store in Laguna de Bay in the Philippines on July 26. GETTY IMAGES
Natural disasters in the Philippines such as typhoons, floods and landslides, whose frequency and intensity are exacerbated by climate change, can disrupt access to water services and cause damage to sanitation infrastructure.
If unaddressed, a new report by UNICEF Philippines and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources warns that 40 to 80 percent of the country's water supply could be depleted by 2040 due to climate-related impacts.
Launched recently, the "Climate Landscape Analysis for Children in the Philippines" report highlights how climate change threatens one of the most vulnerable sectors of the population — children.
It pointed out that extreme weather events, often experienced by the Philippines as one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, can disrupt classes, worsen malnutrition, contaminate water supply, and expose children to exploitation and displacement.
"Climate change is actively exacerbating health risks, creating a triple burden of disease, malnutrition and heat stress," said Robert Borje, vice-chair and executive director of the Climate Change Commission of the Philippines.
Speaking during the launch of the study, Borje noted that "water insecurity remains a critical vulnerability" in the Philippines, with only 48 percent of the population having access to safely managed potable water.
"As global temperatures rise, this scarcity is expected to intensify," he said.
According to the report, most schools in the country lack access to water and sanitation infrastructure such as toilets and hand-washing facilities, with 19 percent of students drinking from unimproved water sources or having no access to water at all.
A resident collects water in anticipation of an approaching weather disturbance in Paranaque, Philippines, on Aug 18. EPA
Communities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM, as well as in rural, indigenous and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas are most vulnerable to this lack of clean water and sanitation infrastructure, the study said.
It noted that 17.8 percent of households in BARMM still practice open defecation, while another 20 percent rely on unimproved sanitation facilities.
Regions such as Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, in particular, face the "most severe water stress" given how these areas rely on rainfall and diesel-transported water imports because of the geographic location.
Moreover, areas in the Visayas, such as Cebu, Bohol and Panay Island, as well as Luzon, are also experiencing growing competition for water due to urbanization.
Prone to illnesses
The lack of clean water and sanitation infrastructure also make children more prone to illnesses. On top of this, weather disturbances such as typhoons lead to outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as dengue, leptospirosis and malaria.
To improve the country's water and sanitation sector, UNICEF said the government should prioritize the pending act creating a Department of Water Resources or expand the regulatory functions of the Water Resources Management Office under the UNICEF Philippines and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
It also called for the development of a capacity support program for local government units, or LGUs, and incentives for the clustering of utilities in water-stressed areas, noting that LGUs need support in building technical capacity to address the impacts of climate change.
"Our response must be anchored in intergenerational justice, for it is the moral responsibility of our generation to ensure a healthy and sustainable planet for future generations," said Borje, adding that the Climate Change Commission "is committed to advancing the national climate policy that protects and empowers our children and the youth".
At the same time, he urged the youth and other stakeholders to "hold us accountable and to lead in your communities" when it comes to translating national plans into localized actions against climate change.
PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
