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By Jules Philip Tillay
With powerful super typhoons, high-magnitude earthquakes, and violent volcanic eruptions, the Philippine archipelago has experienced catastrophic events throughout history that claimed thousands of lives and billions worth of infrastructure.
While there are significant efforts to address the impacts of climate change and to improve disaster response, poor structural planning remains a key challenge in the country. Without science-backed assessments, more communities are becoming vulnerable to natural hazards.
To help address this growing concern, the DOST-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) developed unique online platforms under the GeoRiskPH Initiatives, in support of the recently enacted PHIVOLCS Modernization Law.
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By Jules Philip Tillay
The Philippines is home to 347 million coconut trees and yields an average of 14 million tons of coconut fruits a year. Aside from its succulent meat and refreshing juice, the coconut fruit also has fibrous husks which are often converted as geotextile and used in creating bags, rags, ropes, and other products.
Consequently, tons of fibrous coconut husks are improperly disposed of or burned in fields. During an episode of Pa-Siyensya Na, Kenno Michael Uy, the founder and CEO of Lesstics, Inc., recalled that these waste coconut husks can also be a potential source of vector-borne risks.
“Sa Lanao Del Norte, nag-ikot kami at nakita namin na nakatambak coconut husks or ‘bunot’ in Bisaya, after harvest season ng copra. Since nakatambak siya, tinitirhan ng mga lamok at daga. Naisip namin na kung matanggal ang mga ito, maso-solve ang problem for farming communities.” he said.
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