Environmental Issues in the Philippines

I. Natural Disastersa. Typhoons

i. Typhoons in the Philippines refer in general to tropical cyclones that enter the Philippine area of responsibility and affect the Philippines. Locally they are called bagyo.[1] Tropical cyclones entering the Philippine area of responsibility are given a local name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), which also raises public storm signal warnings as deemed necessary.[2][3]Around 19 tropical cyclones enter the Philippines' area of responsibility in a typical year and of these usually 6 to 9 make landfall.[4][5]

ii. The deadliest tropical cyclone to impact the Philippines wasTropical Storm Thelma (Uring) which in 1991 caused floods that killed thousands of people.[6] The wettest known tropical cyclone to impact the archipelago was the July 1911 cyclone which dropped over 1,168 millimetres (46.0 in) of rainfall within a 24-hour period in Baguio City.[1] Tropical cyclones usually account for at least 30 percent of the annual rainfall in the northern Philippines while being responsible for less than 10 percent of the annual rainfall in the southern islands.

iii. On an annual time scale, activity reaches a minimum in February, before increasing steadily through June, and spiking from July through October, with September being the most active month for tropical cyclones in the Philippines. Activity falls off significantly in November.[9] The most active season, since 1945, for tropical cyclone strikes on the island archipelago was 1993 when nineteen tropical cyclones moved through the country.[10] There was only one tropical cyclone which moved through the Philippines in 1958.[11] The most frequently impacted areas of the Philippines by tropical cyclones are northern Luzon and eastern Visayas.[12] A ten year average of satellite determined precipitation showed that at least 30 percent of the annual rainfall in the northern Philippines could be traced to tropical cyclones, while the southern islands receive less than 10 percent of their annual rainfall from tropical cyclones.[13]

iv. Typhoon Beltb. Floodsc. Landslidesd. Volcanic Eruptions

i. Pacific Ring of Firee. Earthquakes

i. Unstable Region between The Pacific and Eurasian tectonic platesf. Tsunamis

II. Human-caused Environmental Degradationa. Loss of Agricultural Landsb. Deforestation

i. Illegal Loggingii. Kaingin

c. Soil Erosiond. Air Pollution

e. Water Pollutionf. Improper Disposal of Solid And Toxic Wasteg. Loss of Coral Reefsh. Mismanagement and abuse of Coastal Resourcesi. Overfishing

III. Climate Change