Whether or not global warming is the cause of super typhoons and storms, somehow it is a factor why weather patterns are what it is today, says the experts. The reality remains that lives and properties are lost every time strong storms strike, which they say, it is a sign of what’s to come. According to the Bulletin of American Meteorological Society, the increasing intensity and frequency of storms and typhoons happening not only in the Philippines but also elsewhere in the world can be blamed on us – pollution caused by humans. Observers of the trend in climate change say that the typhoon will happen again, more frequently, and with ever increasing damage. Governments everywhere should hurry and figure out a way to reduce the impact of these stronger storms. Our country is just the latest in a long succession of violent environmental disasters in the first decade of the 21st century.

The World Bank said, the location of the Southeast Asian nations in the tropics exposes it to multiple natural hazards including typhoons, floods, drought and earthquake. Weather forecasters explain that tropical cyclones that form in the Pacific Ocean usually hit land in the Philippines because of the Siberian High which prevents cyclones from moving upwards. The Philippines also sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, it encircles the Pacific Ocean and is the meeting place for several tectonic plates, which sets off earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. We the people and the government must always strengthen ourselves for this fact and prepare to prevent unnecessary deaths and destruction. According to HSBC economist Trinh Nguyen, the Philippines has been one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia this year with a gross domestic product growth of 7.6% in the first half of the year. She said, this strength is likely to continue and won’t significantly slow the country’s economic momentum despite the devastation. The disasters showed our country’s infrastructure deficiency and exposed the pressing need for the government to boost public-works investment. “With strong population growth rates and frequent natural disasters, the Philippines must step up its infrastructure spending,” Ms. Nguyen wrote. Our government aims to raise spending on public works to 5% by 2016. If it succeeds, the future will look brighter. With God’s providence, together werise up and overcome.

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A new study in a tiny European country reveals that buildings constructed during the Middle Ages ride out earthquakes better than those built to modern standards. Researcher Maria Brunhart-Lupo, a geologist at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo.,at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, found that the floor of Gutenberg Castle is not attached to the castle walls, the first floor was open-air used for holding pens for livestock. Over the years, settlement — hastened along by the occasional earthquake — has sunk the walls deeper into the ground, creating a very deep foundation.Instead of rolling like a boat, these structures actually stabilize during quakes, the foundation just sinks and kind of seats itself deeper in the sedimentary layers, preventing damage to the overlying structure. Whatever happens to the building is independent of the floor, in comparison, modern buildings are attached on all sides, so forces on the foundation end up tearing at the walls.

The study show that to simply apply 'new, safer' construction methods without looking at the historic component of a region is not the best approach, Brunhart-Luposaid. In Oklahoma some builders found a way to earthquake proof their homes. They built it with a more open floor plan. Outside there is expansion gaps on the exterior walls, about an inch, to help with the shifting, and break the movement of the house. Strappingdown water heater is a good idea. Using flexible gas or water lines can also give appliances a shake room. To consider earthquake insurance is a good objective.

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This column appreciated the disaster preparedness of our province lead by Gov. Edgar Chatto which resulted to a zero casualty. Keep up the good works. Now is the time to proceed the Cantakoy Hydropower Plant which can generate 10MW a project of the late Congressman Erico B. Aumentado. Let’s unite for the good of everyone. God Bless Us.