Officials from the United Nations and its attached agencies lauded the Philippines' disaster response after the onslaught of six typhoons in five weeks.
It can be recalled that Severe Tropical Storm "Kristine" made landfall in Isabela last 24 October, while the most recent super typhoon, "Pepito," made its last landfall in Aurora last 17 November.
Throughout the five typhoons, the Philippines recorded a total of 178 casualties, with 163 coming from the onslaught of "Kristine" and "Leon" as verified in the database of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
However, despite the deaths, United Nations Philippines resident and humanitarian coordinator Gustavo Gonzales shared that the disaster response of the Philippines towards the recent typhoons has been “remarkable.”
“This remarkable coordination is because we have learned from our experience. We have seen the improvement since Yolanda, especially on the government side and the United Nations side,” Gonzales said.
“We also commend the Philippine government for their readiness, which is very evident if you look at the low number of casualties,” the humanitarian coordinator further added.
However, despite the advanced readiness, the trail of destruction that is being left by the strong typhoons remains.
Victim of climate injustice
The data from the Emission Index reveals that in 2021, the Philippines ranked as the world’s 33rd largest producer of greenhouse gases. The top three emitters were China, the United States, and India.
However, despite its ranking, the Philippines is one of the countries that experience the full brunt of climate change.
“They call it climate injustice. So we are not contributing to climate change, but all of its effects are being felt.”
Gonzales also noted that this is an opportunity for the Philippine government to invite environmental experts, emphasizing that climate change is not about "big conferences and lengthy reports," but is something happening right before their eyes.
But is it the end of the road for the Filipinos whenever there’s a strong typhoon?
Euan McDougall, the Head of Programs of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Philippines said that by creating typhoon-resilient houses for the island provinces, the country can partially mitigate the harmful effects of the storms.
“That’s why we need to partner with the national government,” McDougall said as he explained that the typhoon-resilient houses are not yet budget-friendly and, thus, will need financial support from the government.
The PAGASA said that at least one to two typhoons will possibly affect the country this December, as it is still under La Niña-like condition until the first quarter of 2025.