00:00This year's World Risk Index report confirms the country's unenviable status as the most susceptible to the threat of flooding due to its geographic location and exposure to nasty or extreme weather.
00:13Hence, nature-based solutions are strongly urged while the government straightens out the budget-making process and roots out corruption in the bureaucracy.
00:21Our Mel Alice Morris has more on today's House hearing on climate change, flood mitigation and disaster response.
00:30The Philippines ranks first among countries in the world facing the greatest threat of flooding.
00:37This is based on the World Risk Index 2025, which attributes the high risk to the country's significant geographic fragmentation and high exposure to weather-related extremes.
00:48According to Forest Foundation Philippines, during their appearance before the House of Representatives,
00:53this report proves the government must intensify its efforts to address climate change, especially in dealing with natural disasters.
01:02The focus of this report this year is on floods.
01:06And the finding is that the Philippines, the flood risk in the Philippines varies significantly from region to region.
01:13But the primary influences are geography, infrastructure and spatial planning.
01:17So the discussion today, I think, could not be more timely in terms of the urgency of looking for solutions to our issues related to climate change and floods.
01:28Some lawmakers also said this is why they are focusing on nature-based solutions or measures aimed at protecting and managing the environment.
01:36Ladies and gentlemen, over the years, we have all come to realize that climate change at all cannot be solved by massive infrastructure programs,
01:48such as dams to address water security, construction of sea walls to address rise in sea levels, among others.
01:58Rather, we need to take sustainable responses to these problems.
02:02Meanwhile, amid the onslaught of Typhoon Tino in the Philippines, several legislators also reminded authorities it is high time to eradicate corruption and flood control projects
02:13so the public can truly benefit from these initiatives.
02:16Well, every time na umuulan, bumabagyo, bumabaha, ay lalong ubiinit ang galit ng taong bayan
02:26dahil apektado sila tapos napapaalala sa kanila yung pinsala na dulot ng pandarambong through the flood control corruption scandal.
02:40Pero bukod dyan, ang pinakamalaking tulong talaga ay yung tunay na disaster preparedness na hindi nakasalalay sa flood control projects na nananakaw lang,
02:51kundi dun sa mga nature-based solutions, pagtatanggol at proteksyon ng ating kalikasan,
02:58pagtitiyak na ready ang ating mga communities pagdating sa disaster preparedness, yung climate mitigation measures natin.
03:05As of now, members of Congress are closely monitoring the effects of the typhoon, especially in severely affected areas.
03:13According to Cebu 5th District Representative Duke Frasco, he's already coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development
03:20to provide assistance to those in need.
03:23Meanwhile, the Tingog Partilis, together with the Office of Later Representative Martin Romualdez,
03:28also distributed relief goods and other forms of aid to various evacuation centers in the province.
03:34Melilas Moras from the National TV Network for a New and Better Philippines.
