Senator Loren Legarda on Wednesday appealed to national and local authorities to move away from the cycle of flood response and rehabilitation and instead invest more in prevention, safe evacuation facilities and nature-based solutions.

The appeal came after the southwest monsoon, intensified by tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay, again flooded communities, displaced families and disrupted livelihoods, affecting more than 1.3 million Filipinos.

“Hindi pwedeng taun-taon pareho ang eksena, baha, paglikas, relief operations, paglilinis, tapos aantayin nanaman natin ang susunod na bagyo. Kailangan natin seryosohin ang pagpigil sa panganib bago pa ito maging sakuna. Mas mura, mas makatao, at mas epektibo ang pag-iwas kaysa paulit-ulit na pagbangon mula sa pinsala (We cannot have the same scene every year — flooding, evacuation, relief operations and cleanup, only to wait for the next storm. We must take risk prevention seriously before it turns into a disaster. Prevention is cheaper, more humane and more effective than repeatedly rebuilding from damage),” Legarda said in a news release.

She appealed for stricter enforcement of environmental and land-use laws, particularly the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, saying accumulated garbage, clogged waterways, construction in hazard-prone areas and degraded watersheds and wetlands continue to worsen flooding.

Legarda also called on authorities to make sure evacuation centers are located outside flood and other hazard zones.

“Ang evacuation center ang dapat pinakaligtas na lugar sa panahon ng sakuna, hindi isa pang lugar na magdadala ng dagdag na panganib (An evacuation center should be the safest place during a disaster, not another place that exposes people to more danger),” she said.

As co-author of the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, Legarda said evacuation facilities should be guided by hazard and flood maps and equipped with clean water, proper sanitation and enough space for children, older persons, women, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

She likewise appealed for wider use of nature-based solutions to complement drainage systems, pumping stations, dikes and other engineered flood-control infrastructure.

“Hindi sapat na puro pagpapalalim ng kanal, pumping station, dike, at flood control projects lang ang sagot natin sa pagbaha. Kailangan din nating bigyan ng kakayahan ang kalikasan na sumalo, mag-imbak, at magpabagal ng rumaragasang tubig (Deepening canals, building pumping stations, dikes and flood-control projects alone are not enough. We must also restore nature’s ability to absorb, store and slow down rushing water),” Legarda said.

She cited the restoration of watersheds, forests, wetlands, riverbanks, mangroves and seagrass beds, as well as the expansion of urban green spaces, rain gardens and permeable surfaces.

Legarda said the country may not be able to prevent heavy rains, but stronger governance, preparedness, law enforcement and respect for natural systems can keep them from repeatedly turning into disasters. (PNA)