Climate Crisis: Children in the Philippines face life with far more scorching heatwaves, floods, droughts than grandparents

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Children born in 2020 in the Philippines will live through 4.9 times more scorching heatwaves, 2.3 times more river floods, 1.2 times more droughts and 1.5 times more crop failures than their grandparents or people born 60 years ago.

Children in East Asia and the Pacific over the past year will face eight times more scorching heatwaves during their lives than their grandparents, according to new research released today by Save the Children.

The outlook is similarly bleak for South Asia, where children will live through 3.6 times as many crop failures as their grandparents. In Nepal, children will see 6 times as many crop failures.

Children in poorer communities will be worst affected, as they are already at a far greater risk of battling waterborne diseases, hunger and even facing death due to malnutrition, increased floods and cyclones, Save the Children said.

Moreover, these climate impacts risk trapping millions more children into long-term poverty.

The data is part of the organization’s new report Born Into The Climate Crisis – why we must act now to secure children’s rights, which outlines the devastating impact of the climate crisis on children if urgent action is not taken.

Under current pledges, children born in 2020 will face 7% more wildfires, 26% more crop failures, 31% more droughts, 30% more river floods, and 65% more heatwaves than if global warming were stopped at 1.5°C.

Save the Children emphasized that there is still time to turn this bleak future around. If the rise is kept to a maximum of 1.5 degrees, the intergenerational burden[ii][2] on newborns is cut by 45% for heatwaves; by 39% for droughts; by 38% for river floods; by 28% for crop failures, and by 10% for wildfires.

Revitalized and upgraded Zamboanga International Airport will soon expand its flight routes to and from Southeast Asian destinations

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

After getting a major face lift with the completion of its development projects, a revitalized and upgraded Zamboanga International Airport will soon expand its flight routes to and from Southeast Asian destinations, Transportation Secretary Art Tugade revealed Tuesday, 28 September 2021.Based on the approval of Secretary Tugade and the local government of Zamboanga City, the airport may start international flight expansion and kick-off its international operations with the approval of Zamboanga-Kuala Lumpur flights by its Malaysian counterpart.

“Zamboanga International Airport is ready for international operations. It has long been prepared for this. The airport can start international operations through the Zamboanga-Manila-Kota Kinabalu route. But we have to wait for our Malaysian counterpart for the Zamboanga-Kota Kinabalu flight,” Tugade said.

Tugade added that once Philippine Airlines (PAL) submits its proposal for an international flight accommodation with other Southeast Asian nations, the country’s flag carrier may soon start its day operations at the airport.

Meanwhile, PAL Senior Assistant Vice President for Philippine Sales Harry Inoferio said international flight destinations include Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Jakarta, Indonesia; Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam; and Bangkok, Thailand.

Inoferio said once quarantine restrictions in the Philippines and other countries are eased, the country’s flag carrier will start accommodating international flights in the fourth quarter of 2022.

“‘Yung regional flights natin, kung sakali, ‘yung flights galing—pwedeng Kuala Lumpur, pwedeng Jakarta, pwedeng Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) at Bangkok. Depende sa takbo ng preparation. Marami kasing protocols, requirement ngayon,” he explained.

“Maraming moving parts na kailangan ayusin. Kailangan namin ng go signal mula sa government authorities. Depende ‘yun sa timeline nila. Kasi sila ‘yung magbibigay ng go signal samin. Basta may demand ng ruta, we will be willing to consider that,” he added.

Tugade assured that apart from the completed development projects, more development projects will be undertaken by the CAAP to further improve and accommodate international flights at the Zamboanga International Airport.

Zamboanga International Airport development projects include the expansion of its runway, apron and taxiway, Tugade said.

Tugade further stated that Zamboanga International Airport is already primed to accommodate international tourists, which will lift Zamboanga City’s commercial, tourism and economic status.

COMELEC extends Voters Registration until October 30

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas said the en banc will extend the voter registration for #the 2022 Election from October 9-31, 2021.

However, according to Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, the extension is from October 11 to October 30, 2021, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. No registrations on Saturdays except on October 30. Reactivation can still be done through email or personal appearance. 

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez also confirms that the en banc unanimously approved voters’ registration extension from Oct 11 to 30. Jimenez added that registration at malls will continue.

I know I’ve complained about voter’s registration, but I also cannot discredit the hard work of COMELEC employees who are just as tired, understaffed, and staying up late hours trying to accomodate eveyone as well. We’re all just victims of inefficient systems + circumstances.

I thank the COMELEC for heeding the people's clamor to extend the registration period. Now, more than ever, we need to listen to our people. Every voice must be heard.

Attention Filipinos who will be voting overseas in 2022. The COMELEC has just extended OVERSEAS registration from October 1 to 14, and if you already have an existing registration record with biometrics, you can do a lot of things online.