MALOLOS CITY: At least 23 provinces are considered to be at high risk for disasters due to the hazards of climate change, a World Bank (WB) report said.
In a 279-page report entitled “Getting a Grip on Climate Change in the Philippines,” the WB said the absence of land barriers exposes the country to typhoons, floods, landslides and droughts.
The Philippines is more vulnerable to climate risks than its neighbours in the region, it said.
The report said the provinces were classified based on their vulnerability to temperature change, rainfall change, El Niño, typhoons and flooding.
For temperature change, the provinces of Sulu, Basilan, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao were categorised as very high risk, while Lanao del Norte, Davao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Siguijor, Misamis Oriental, Cebu, Agusan del Norte, Zambonga del Norte, Albay, Sarangani, Negros Oriental, Ifugao and Negros Occidental were considered high risk.
Very high risk for rainfall change are Metro Manila and the provinces of Albay, Pampanga, Ifugao, Rizal, Cavite, Sorsogon, Laguna, Biliran, Batangas, Pangasinan, Masbate, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Northern Samar, Aklan, Capiz and La Union, while Western Samar and Romblon were placed under high risk.
Sulu, Basilan, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, and Davao del Norte were classified as very high risk for El Niño-induced droughts or abnormal increase in rainfall. The provinces of Misamis Occidental, Sarangani, Zamboanga del Sur, South Cotabato, Zamboanga del Norte, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Siquijor, Tawi-Tawi, Negros Oriental, Camiguin, Davao Oriental, Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon were classified under high risk.
Very high risk for typhoons with strong winds and heavy rainfall are Ifugao, La Union, Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, Albay, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Pangasinan and Sorsogon. Pampanga, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Norte, Northern Samar, Tarlac, Apayao, Rizal, Benguet, and Camarines Norte are high risk.
Very high risk to flooding are Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Maguindanao, Tarlac, Cagayan, Leyte, North Cotabato and Negros Occidental while the provinces of Iloilo, Bulacan, Camarines Sur, Agusan del Sur, Zamboanga del Sur, Davao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, Oriental Mindoro, Davao del Sur, Zambales and Isabela are placed under high risk.
The WB report also noted that the country’s budget for climate change programmes has been increasing but remains below international standards.
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