Coastal Flooding in the Philippines

The rising sea that comes with global warming is almost an imperceptible, silent and creeping danger for the Philippines, an archipelago of 110 million people, more than half of whom live in coastal areas like them. With climate change-induced sea level rise, seawater is already invading some islands in the Visayas, while seawater intrusion is a looming threat to Metro Manila, home to 13 million people. In the Manila Bay area, the sea is rising by 12.13 mm per year, about four times the global average, according to a study by the Coastal Sea Level Rise Philippines Project (CSLR-Phil), which used tide gauges and satellite measurements.

Coastal Flooding Cause And Effect

Coastal flooding normally occurs when dry and low-lying land is submerged by seawater. The range of coastal flooding is a result of the elevation of floodwater that penetrates the inland which is controlled by the topography of the coastal land exposed to flooding.

Many parts of Manila Bay have slowly been sinking, causing the populations to be prone to coastal floods. According to the existing studies, coastal floods in Manila Bay areas are caused by climate-induced sea-level rise and land subsidence due to the excessive groundwater extraction and rapid urban development.

The solutions of the government does not really solve the problem. It appears that the policies implemented by the government tend to be infrastructural, for example, dike construction, which could provide immediate protection but do not really solve the problem.

Floods have large social consequences for communities and individuals. As most people are well aware, the immediate impacts of flooding include loss of human life, damage to property, destruction of crops, loss of livestock, and deterioration of health conditions owing to diseases, such as, waterborne diseases, cholera, typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis, and hepatitis A.

Coastal Flooding Possible Solutions

1. Cut down carbon footprint.
   Though our society’s transition away from fossil fuels as our main energy source is not happening as fast as it should, making changes in the way you consume energy in your everyday life will have an impact on limiting the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere. Using energy to light and heat your home, driving a car, and powering appliances all lead to greenhouse gas emissions, which are fueling climate change and sea level rise.
   
   
2. Restore Coral Reefs
   As the seas continue to rise, coastal towns may find it harder and harder to compete in the tourism industry – flooding issues can be a huge deterrent. Corals form barriers to protect the shoreline from waves and storms. Because of their hard, jagged structure, coral reefs can reduce wave energy by 97% and serve as a natural flood defense along nearly 45,000 miles (71,000km). The coral reef structure buffers shorelines against waves, storms, and floods, helping to prevent loss of life, property damage, and erosion.
   
   
3. Support policies that support mitigation of climate change
   It is imperative that we show our elected officials that we do care about protecting our treasured places. There are some local governments and organizations who are already taking the reins and leading in the realm of sea level rise planning, and coastal communities throughout the region would do well to take note of their actions. Our government works for us: we need to let public officials know that this is an issue that needs attention, and soon. Encourage them to support policies that address and slow sea level rise.