Geographic Profile Of The Philippines PDF

Topic 2 Geographic Profile of the Philippines ============================================= Philippine Situationer ---------------------- Philippine Disaster Risk Profile -------------------------------- 1. Located within the Circum-Pacific belt of fires and along typhoon path, the Philippin...

Topic 2 Geographic Profile of the Philippines ============================================= Philippine Situationer ---------------------- Philippine Disaster Risk Profile -------------------------------- 1. Located within the Circum-Pacific belt of fires and along typhoon path, the Philippines becomes exposed to natural perils like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and their resultant effects like tsunami, landslides, floods and flashfloods. 2. As an archipelago with 7,641 islands, the threat of tsunami affecting the country\'s coastal areas is not far-fetched. 3. The Moro Gulf Earthquake with 7.6 intensity triggered a tsunami which affected Southern Philippines and resulted to the death of around 3,800 persons and destruction of properties. 4. Yearly, the country experiences an average of 20 typhoons, half of these are destructive; is a host to 220 volcanoes, 22 of which are active, as well as active faults and trenches that are potential sources of earthquakes. 5. The country has also its episodes of human-made disasters such as urban fires, air, land and sea mishaps, and complex emergency, mostly in Southern Philippines because of the secessionist movement, coupled with its vulnerability to floods and other natural hazards. 1. The Philippine Archipelago occupies the western ring of the Pacific Ocean (Western Segment of the Pacific Ring of Fire), a most active part of the earth that is characterized by an ocean-encircling belt of active volcanoes and earthquake generators (faults). 2. Geologic Hazards. July 16, 1990 (Intensity 8 Earthquake) 1,666 persons dead 3,500 persons injured P 11B cost of damaged property PI.2B cost of damage in agriculture June 1991 (Mt. Pinatubo Eruption) The biggest volcanic eruption of the century 800 persons dead P 10.6B cost of damages 3 Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework Module 2: Philippines Application 3. Hydro-Meteorological Hazards. The Philippines experiences an average of 20 4. Weather System Affecting the Philippines. Tropical Cyclones, Seasonal Monsoons Southwest 5. Category of Tropical Cyclones Category Strengths Tropical Depression35 65 kph Tropical Cyclones66 - 119 kph Typhoon120 kph or more 6 Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework Module 2: Philippines Application 6. Losses Due to Disasters in the 20 th Century Hazard Event Number of Persons Killed Damage (\$USD M) Typhoon Earthquake Volcano Flood 28,812 9,572 6,331 2,545 5,653 517 7. Disaster Management Trends. Up to the 1970\'s, 1980\'s, 1990\'s-2000, 2000 --- present 8 Disaster Response Disaster Preparedness & Response Natural Disaster Reduction Disaster Preparedness & Response Disasters & Development Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework Module 2: Philippines Application 1. The need for a paradigm shift of our disaster management approaches and strategies from reactive to proactive DISASTER NATURE ENVIRONMENT Human Actions Increase Decrease Vulnerability \> Natural Hazards MAN Hazards in the Philippines -------------------------- 1. Natural Hazards are natural processes or phenomena occurring in the biosphere that may constitute a damaging event. It can be classified by origin: geographical, hydro- meteorological, and biological. a. *Geographical Hazards.* Natural earth processes or phenomena in the biosphere, which include geological, neo-tectonic, geophysical, geomorphological, geotechnical and hydro- geological nature. Examples: earthquakes, tsunamis; volcanic activity and emissions; Mass movements i.e. landslides, rockslides, rock fall, liquefaction, submarine slides; subsidence, surface collapse, geological fault activity. b. *Hydro-Meteorological Hazards.* Natural processes or phenomena of atmospheric, hydrological or oceanographic nature. Examples: floods, debris and mud flows; tropical cyclone, storm surge, thunder/ hailstorms, rain and wind storms, blizzards and other severe storms; drought, desertification, wild land fires, heat waves, sand or dust storms; permafrost, snow avalanches. c. *Biological Hazards.* Processes of organic or those conveyed by biological vectors, including exposure to pathogenic micro-organism, toxins and bioactive substances. Examples: outbreak of epidemics diseases, plant or animal contagion and extensive infestations. 2. *Technological Hazards (Anthropogenic Hazards)*. Danger originating from technological or industrial accidents, dangerous procedures, infrastructure failures or certain human activities, which may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation. d. Industrial pollution, nuclear activities and radioactivity. e. Toxic wastes, dam failures, transport, industrial or technological accidents (explosions, fires, spills) 3. *Environmental Degradation* processes induced by human behavior and activities (sometimes combined with natural hazards) that damage the natural resource base or adversely alter natural processes or ecosystems. f. land degradation, deforestation, desertification, wild land fires, loss of biodiversity g. land, water and air pollution, climate change, sea level rise, ozone depletion