Leading climate advocacy institutions have already mentioned that the detrimental effects of the climate crisis will worsen unless we shift course and genuinely invest in the realization of climate justice. Unfortunately, such worse detrimental effects are now being felt by our country as Typhoons ravage communities further. Just recently, an estimated 569,000 families or 2.6 million people were severely affected by Typhoon Kristine. Kalikasan PNE previously reported that over 135 quarrying companies were permitted to operate in Region V by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). They further added that it is undeniable that the areas inundated by the flood are not far from the quarrying sites. Typhoon Kristine also hit the farms of an estimated 234 farmers, resulting in the loss of 589 metric tons of crops.

It is no longer possible to consider these recurring calamities as “natural disasters”. They are direct results of the plunder of natural resources due to the deliberate negligence of the Marcos Jr. administration to realize climate justice. Marcos Jr.’s order to make EDCA sites as primary areas for post-disaster relief efforts blatantly show the normalization and reliance on US imperialism and ruling class’ interests and the administration’s utter neglect and lack of political will to address disasters. 

It is evident that Marcos Jr. does not have the guts to address the climate crisis and side with the people. Instead of finding solutions, he sides with imperialist countries and the big comprador bourgeoisie to profit from environmental destruction, enable rampant corruption of funds on disaster risk reduction and management, and deliberately ignore the need to have a robust disaster risk management plan. If we recall, days after Marcos Jr. boasted on the completed 7.57 Billion Peso flood control projects, several areas were immediately impacted by flash floods which ultimately led to the loss of properties and livelihoods, and exacerbated the vulnerability of the Filipino people to health and safety risks. 

‘Ang nahuhuli ang laging nauuna sa delubyo’

Whenever there is a disaster, the most vulnerable and marginalized, such as urban poor communities, are the first to get hit. Development aggression in urban areas massively contributes to the impact of disasters and the climate crisis as developers negligently block waterways, dump waste improperly, and leave an enormous carbon footprint. Multiple communities have no choice but to bear the situation and rely on insufficient post-disaster aid.

Local government units were also exposed for their lack of investment towards disaster risk management, only exacerbating the possible impacts of disasters brought by the climate crisis. Such lack of political will can be rooted in the state’s inclination to political patronage and personalistic politics—an evolved form of feudalism. Instead of investing on disaster risk management and accessible social services, the government chose to spend funds lavishly on infrastructure that causes more harm than good to communities. Thus, the government should be held accountable for its poor planning and leadership, the damages and the displacement experienced by the urban poor and climate refugees, and above all, the destruction of the environment that has claimed thousands of lives.

Inklusibo stresses that damages to livelihoods, homes, and even loss of life can be prevented if Marcos Jr.’s administration does not privatize social services, endorse environmentally-destructive projects and development aggression towards farmlands, forests, and even urban areas. We can mitigate the risk of man-made climate disasters if the vulnerable and marginalized are involved in the planning process and are given enough support to recover justly from the impacts of disasters.