Former National Resilience Council (NRC) President Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga stressed the urgent need for local governments to fully integrate climate and disaster risk assessments into their development plans, warning that inadequate implementation continues to leave communities vulnerable to extreme weather events.
Speaking in an interview on DZRH’s Special on Saturday, Loyzaga explained that all local government units (LGUs) are required to prepare a Local Climate Change Adaptation Plan (LCCAP), which must be anchored on localized climate and disaster risk assessments.
These, she emphasized, should be harmonized with existing Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plans (LDRRMPs) and Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs).
“Over the years, our knowledge and analysis have improved. We now understand that risk management must be truly integrated and comprehensive,” Loyzaga said.
“The challenge is ensuring that decisions are actually based on evidence and the policies generated from it.”
She cited examples of LGUs—including Valenzuela, Bataan, and Iloilo—that have demonstrated strong planning and successfully reduced disaster risks despite high exposure to climate and seismic hazards. However, she lamented that many local governments still fail to prioritize safe, affordable housing, which she described as a “single biggest challenge” to achieving resilience.
Sierra Madre’s Role in Typhoon Mitigation
Loyzaga also addressed widespread public discussion about the Sierra Madre mountain range and its perceived role as a protective barrier against typhoons.
Sierra Madre spans an estimated 1.4 million hectares, serving not only as a natural buffer to storms but also as a crucial system for food and water security and biodiversity.
However, she noted that updated data on forest cover remains unclear and that decades of varied land use—including areas with prior rights or longstanding development—must be taken into account.
While forest cover and elevation do influence how atmospheric systems interact with terrain, Loyzaga pointed to new studies, including work by UK-based researchers and Filipino scientist Dr. Jerry Bagtasa, suggesting that the range’s impact on mitigating cyclone intensity may be more complex than popularly believed.
“Traditionally, we know that wide forest cover and the mountain range’s elevations create physical interactions with typhoon systems,” she said. “But new research shows we need to further qualify this role.”
Fewer Cyclones, But Stronger Ones Expected
Asked whether more super typhoons should be expected in the coming years, Loyzaga referred to findings by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
“It’s not necessarily that they will become more frequent, but they will intensify,” she warned. Preparedness, she said, hinges on asking the right technical questions—about system size, speed, wind strength, and projected rainfall—and incorporating climate trends and projections into urban and infrastructure planning.
Commenting on public disappointment over recent flood control controversies, Loyzaga said the situation highlights the need for decision-making grounded in science and engineering standards.
“We know there are standards available, and we know resilient infrastructure is possible,” she said. “The silver lining is that this should push us to examine what science must be part of our decision support systems.”
Loyzaga emphasized that despite the setbacks, both government and private-sector projects have shown that structures can withstand strong typhoons when proper standards are followed.
