Mindanao in crisis: Disasters shake island to its core

IN a stark clash of weather extremes, Mindanao finds itself in the grip of two devastating phenomena, unleashing chaos on opposite ends of the island. While the eastern seaboard battles relentless flooding, the western side suffers a parched dry spell, a bizarre scenario that hasn’t been witnessed in decades.

Climate advocates sound the alarm as the island grapples with this unprecedented conundrum. Torrential rains, courtesy of a trough of low pressure area (LPA), have besieged the Davao region, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Reports reveal a grim toll of ten lives lost to landslides and floods in Davao de Oro province alone.

Rara Ada, Mindanao coordinator of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), voices the collective distress: “Provinces in the Davao region are still reeling from January’s onslaught of flooding and landslides. And now, February brings yet another merciless wave of destruction fueled by the LPA.”

In response, Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental provinces declare states of calamity, a desperate bid to aid beleaguered residents and address the aftermath of successive weather crises. Ada emphasizes the urgent need to empower local governments to confront future climate impacts while urging the declaration of a climate emergency in affected areas.

Meanwhile, on the distant shores of Tawi-Tawi, Sitio Lumbus grapples with its own water crisis. The community well, a lifeline for residents, dwindles alarmingly, leaving villagers to endure agonizing queues for meager supplies.

With months passing sans rain, desperate locals venture deeper into forests in search of water, highlighting the severity of their plight.

Ada warns of the broader implications: “As an island municipality, water scarcity will become the norm as global climate crises escalate, exerting direct and immediate pressure on our environment.”

As Mindanao braces for further turmoil, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration issues dire forecasts.

A robust El Niño is predicted to persist, with ominous implications for agriculture and food security.

In Zamboanga del Norte, farmers reel from losses totaling P717,503, a stark reminder of the perils posed by the relentless dry spell.

To combat the crisis, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s team launches a bold tree-planting initiative in Tawi-Tawi, aiming to foster environmental stewardship and resilience.

Yet, with the specter of escalating rice imports and soaring inflation looming large, concerns mount over the nation’s food supply.

Ada’s parting call rings clear: “It’s time for decisive action. Mindanao can no longer bear the burden of these cataclysmic events alone. The national government must step up, declare a state of emergency, and prepare for the looming onslaught of extreme weather.”