Ang Tagumpay

Tara na, Brigada na!
Makiisa na sa Brigada Eskwela 2021 ngayong Agosto 3 hanggang Setyembre 30 na may temang "Bayanihan para sa Paaralan."

Ang tema ng Brigada Eskwela 2021 ay kumikilala sa ating mga adhikain at pagbabayanihan upang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga komunidad upang maabot ng bawat mag-aaral ang kanilang mga pangarap.

Sumali sa National Kick-Off Ceremony na gaganapin ngayong Agosto 3, 2021, 2:00 PM, sa pangunguna ng SDO Tagum City ng DepEd Region 11.

Maaari ring makilahok sa mga kick-off ceremony ng inyong Regional Office at Schools Division Office.

Ang Tagumpay at Mapalacsiao Elementary School ay sumasaludo sa lahat ng manggagawang Pilipino saan mang sulok ng Mundo.

River pollution in Luzon cities pose risk for disaster
By Arnie Justin A. Duran

Pollution that heightens disaster risk is at the center of the story of the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River System (MMORS) and its nearby communities.

The MMORS was once identified as one of the “dirtiest rivers in the world.”

Its rehabilitation, which goes back to as early as 2008, remains a big task to take on. It involves constant dredging, full attention and funding, and a collaborative effort among its surrounding cities like Valenzuela and Caloocan, cities in Metro Manila, and Meycauayan and San Jose del Monte cities in Bulacan province.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, chair of the Senate committee on environment, described the river work to be a lifelong task. “Maintaining a river is work we will have to do for the rest of our lives. It is eternal work,” she said.

Surrounding heavy industries on gold smelting, leather tanneries, and waste recycling are major contributors to pollution in MMORS. It is also at the receiving end of wastes by 3.5 million residents living in the riverbanks, said Lormelyn Claudio, Central Luzon director of the Environmental Management Bureau.

Senator Villar said a more impactful route to rehabilitation is a cleanup program that focuses on proper waste segregation among people.

While dredging may improve water quality, it runs the risk of aquatic habitat loss.

Then governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado made a call to local governments, civic orgs and citizens to join hands in reviving the MMORS. In order to stop pollution in the rivers, everyone in the communities must cooperate, join the dialogue and do their part to revive the river, he said.

Private sector support

Early in 2020, the local government revisited the rehabilitation effort with a private partner: San Miguel Corporation (SMC). It vowed to help solve flooding problems and water pollution in the province.

“Constant dredging and cleanup is important for these tributaries leading to the Manila Bay as silt, trash, and other obstructions restrict the free flow of water, causing heavy flooding, and affecting the marine ecosystem and traditional fishing grounds,” said SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang in the news.

Residents expressed renewed optimism in the effort.

Alan Jimena, a resident living near the water system, said this initiative will not only help enhance the quality of water but will also lessen the risks of flooding that affects the community.

“Kapag umuulan dito, makikita talaga ‘yung mga basura sa ilog. Lumulutang tapos gumigilid. At oo, umaapaw siya lalo na kapag bumabagyo kaya ‘yung mga tao, nalulubog sa baha,” Jimena explained.

He also mentioned that floods in their area bring threat to the health of the locals, especially when it affects the water they drink or used to clean.

“May mga pagkakataon rin talagang kailangan nang lumikas ng mga tao sa mga evacuation center, lalo’t mataas na ‘yung baha at pumapasok na sa mga bahay nila,” Jimena added.

Flooding risks in MMORS

Pollution in the river becomes a critical factor during strong typhoons because these heighten devastating floods, as evidenced by recent typhoons. Garbage that is not properly disposed often becomes obstructions that cause clogs in river systems.

According to the website of Bulacan’s Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), towns of San Jose Del Monte, Santa Maria, Marilao, Meycauayan, Obando, and Bocaue with at least 10,000 families are directly exposed to flooding risks from the MMORS and Manila Bay.

The council also noted that the 16 water level stations, five along the MMORS, help in monitoring water levels in the rivers which often overflow when triggered by high tides and typhoons.

The PDRRMC has recorded over-the-knee floods (0.2-0.8 m) and some communities were submerged because of the recent Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) that devastated Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley, and other parts of the country in November.

That’s why the provincial government and local officials always remind their residents to prepare for these calamities particularly in low-lying and river areas, especially when the national weather agency announces the typhoon season.

Jimena, who used to be a factory worker, said that proper waste management among factories and industries near the river should be emphasized.

“Isa talaga sa mga problema ay ‘yung basura. Kapag bumabaha nga, labas lahat ng basura eh. Kaya pagtuunan din siguro ng pansin ‘yung mga factories,” he said, adding that discipline among people is also important.

Students staying home at the moment due to the pandemic are optimistic to contribute to environmental efforts.

Marygrace Jayan, San Jose Del Monte National High School student, expressed interest in the greening programs of her city. Some of these are geared towards students like the tree-planting activity along the rivers.

To make more young people interested in this, the government and its partners must also empower learners with tools and opportunities that give everyone an understanding of the strong connection between pollution and disasters.

This article was written and prepared by Arnie Justin Duran (Student-Journalist) and Justine Joy Chua (School Paper Adviser) from San Jose Del Monte National High School, Division of San Jose del Monte City as a final output of DepEd-DRRMS and AYEJ.org’s Green Beat Initiative: An Online Environmental Journalism Training.

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Environmental Journalism & Education - AYEJ AYEJ is a youth-led environmental media hub providing you the stories that matter, prioritizing environmental education, and training earth warriors of the next generation.

Nature's Rage: 's impact in the community
by Sofia Eliana Robles

Typhoon Ulysses is a powerful Category 4-equivalent typhoon that hardly hit the Heart of Central Luzon Wednesday evening, November 11, 2020. The town of Arayat in the province of Pampanga is one of the places where typhoon Ulysses had a great fall. Some residents lost their homes and livelihood, and now have nowhere else to go to.
As of November 16, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported at least 252 totally damaged houses, and 7,440 partially damaged in the province.
Impact of
“This is the only typhoon that made us all cry in fear, it was like a nightmare. When I saw our house after Typhoon Ulysses, my heart really tore apart. It really breaks my heart for I exerted so much effort to build not just a house but a home for my family,” told Mary Grace Pineda, a resident in Candating, Arayat, Pampanga. “We prepared for the possible impact of Typhoon Rolly’s Signal #4 in our place but for this Ulysses, we never thought it would be this tough,” she added.
On the other hand, the said devastating cyclone blew out and severely lashed several school buildings and facilities in Camba, Arayat leaving dreadful aftermaths like a totally wrecked roof of the Computer Laboratory resulting to ceiling damage and flooding; a partially flaky roof at the fourth floor of the senior high school building resulting to ceiling damages and flooding inside the room to name some of the damages.
“I felt great sadness when I saw the terrible result of the typhoon. Many uprooted trees caused severe damages from numerous school buildings. We do not know how and where to start,” said Norminda N. Mayrina, Head Teacher of Camba High School.
Moreover, Ulysses left no electricity for more than a week. Classes are also affected by the power outage. Teachers and students cannot have online classes until the power comes back. The learning system is also affected. Teachers cannot print new modules that the students use for distance learning. Some learning materials are also destroyed because of the flash flood.
Ulysses recorded a damage of Php 126.03 million worth of agricultural products in Pampanga, according to the latest report of the PDRRMC. “Arayat Town recorded the greatest loss in rice crops which amounts to PhP14.82 million,” PDRRMC Head Angelina Blanco said.
The devastating cyclone was the country’s 21st storm this year. PAGASA said that the Philippines is prone to tropical cyclones due to its geographical location with an average of 20 tropical cyclones per year. The peak of the typhoon season in the most storm-exposed country like the Philippines is in between July through October.
Climate change impact on typhoon
According to the Tracking California Informing Action for Healthier Communities, Climate Change is the significant and lasting change of our climate and weather over sustained periods of time. There is international consensus that human activities over the last 50 years have altered the Earth's natural climate. Excess production of greenhouse gases and changes to our natural ecosystems (such as deforestation) are contributing to global warming. Climate change is indeed a broader topic.
According to an article published online by theconversation.com,they stated that prevention is no longer an option and the natural systems that regulate climate on the planet are already changing, and ecosystems that support us are shifting under our feet.
Efforts to reduce the impact
Republic Act 9003 also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, provides the necessary framework, institutional mechanisms, and mandate to the local government units (LGUs) to achieve 25% waste reduction through establishing an integrated solid-waste management plans based on the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycling). This law is implemented in all places in the Philippines.
The Municipality of Arayat implemented a rule called "No Segregation, No Collection Policy". People need to segregate their waste into biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and recyclable. If it is not segregated properly, they will not take the garbage. In fact, they take the garbage thrice a week. Every Monday, they will take the biodegradable ones. Every Thursday, they will take the non- biodegradable ones. And lastly, every Saturday, they will take the recyclables.
“This is our very first time to experience this kind of typhoon. It is very terrifying! Climate change is real,” people from the town of Arayat are expressing sentiments on their experiences with climate change.
People from the town of Arayat are expressing sentiments on their experiences with climate change. “This is our very first time to experience this kind typhoon. It is very terrifying! Climate change is real,”

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Word count: 729

This article was written and prepared by Sofia Eliana Robles (Student-Journalist) and Arceli Malang(School Paper Adviser) from Camba High School, Division of Pampanga City as a final output of DepEd-DRRMS and AYEJ.org’s Green Beat Initiative: An Online Environmental Journalism Training.

The Conversation: In-depth analysis, research, news and ideas from leading academics and researchers. Curated by professional editors, The Conversation offers informed commentary and debate on the issues affecting our world. Plus a Plain English guide to the latest developments and discoveries from the university and research sector.