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The Official Publication of Gusa Regional Science High School-X • Division of Cagayan de Oro • Region X
FIGHT OR FLIGHT: Nature’s Plea For Humanity by AMARA VALLE
T
ime can be our enemy, and the future is at stake. With COVID-19 having affected the world, death and infection rates continue to increase; economic activity falls behind, governments succumb to desperate measures, individuals and corporations struggle to adjust to new normalcy— the impact of human-caused climate change remains alarming. Only three years are left to prevent the worst consequence of the climate crisis, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned. More than 1,000 scientists from 25 nations protested, stating that immediate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are vital before 2025 to mitigate catastrophic effects. NASA scientist Peter Kalmus urged people to listen to climate change scientists’ urgent warnings on April 6 in Los Angeles. “We’ve been trying to warn you guys for so many decades,” Kalmus adds, his voice breaking. “The scientists of the world have been ignored. And it’s gotta stop. We’re going to lose everything.” In September 2019, a series of international strikes and protests took place to demand climate change crisis’ reforms; however, the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the world’s focus away. Drastically, the outbreak has hindered the ongoing progress of companies switching to more eco-friendly industrial practices. Businesses are expanding their usage of single-use products for safety and have become less eager to invest in sustainable methods due to COVID-19 uncertain effects (WHO, 2020). The failure to hold governments and corporations accountable for their poor contributions or inaction in combating the climate disaster stays a challenge. As stated by the Scientist Rebellion organization, their protests “highlight the urgency and injustice of the climate and ecological crisis.” Cagayan de Oro City is already experiencing adverse
effects of global warming; a case study conducted by UNHabitat shows evident changes in rainfall patterns and increased temperature in the city. The city government and the Climate Change Commission (CCC) implemented the Twin Phoenix Project in 2012 and reinforced urban development by conducting its greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory in 2016. Sensing the growing public concern and the social media mass hysteria, global environmental agencies took measures. “Let’s rally more to be part of the climate movement, and let’s continue fighting for the world that you and I imagined and make it a reality for us all,” Nazrin Camille D. Castro, The Climate Reality Project Philippines (TCRP) Branch Manager, stated during a webinar advocating climate action last April 22. As climate change worsens, scientists risk their lives and freedom to warn and inform us before it is too late. Increased international and national advocacy must propagate. Establishing environmental-friendly economic resilience remains a priority; equally, ensuring worthy investments is necessary. Operating with climate and disaster expertise is essential to consider COVID-19 recovery packages as part of their business, provide ideas for climate co-benefits, and hold governments and large corporations accountable for industrial development compatibility with climate commitments.
Yield of Technology What this country needs
by AMARA VALLE
espite continuing to be the dominating sector in the Philippine economy, agriculture–and farmers, for that matter–remain D struggling against a plethora of issues, be it water supply, pests, typhoons and drought, among others. All of that, coupled with strenuous manual labor and traditional farming methods still in use today. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) reported that more than half of the Philippines’ 113 million people live in rural areas, and 36% of them are poor, relying on agriculture as their primary and, in several cases, the sole source of income. Furthermore, the World Bank published a report titled “Transforming Philippine Agriculture During COVID-19 and Beyond” in June 2020, thus emphasizing the need to modernize the Philippines’ agricultural sectors. Practices in farming are constantly influenced by technological advancements now and throughout history. Humankind has developed new methods of increasing farming efficiency and yield productivity. Nevertheless, struggles still persist. In an interview, Menisio Omongos, a 67-year-old farmworker in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, expressed his dissatisfaction and hopelessness in the industry which he has worked for in more than 40 years, “Lisod gyud kaayo, labi na ang mag-labor,
tigulang na kayko ug dugay rako gahulat sa gobyerno, kanang, mga technology para sa uma pero wala jud,” he said, detailing the struggles of being in the agriculture sector. “Sukad sa COVID, naapektuhan jud ug ayo akong income sa harvest. Ubos ang presyo sa mais kay tungod sa ekonomiya nato, grabe jud na kalisod.” Apart from the devastating impact of COVID-19 to the sector, typhoons in 2020 also destroyed “agricultural equipment and other livelihood resources, significantly affecting those who are dependent on farming” for an income, as reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). That, along with the need– and lack thereof–for technology to be employed in these fields, therefore aiming to empower their farmers and fishers to be more digitally enabled, the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture (DA) understands and acknowledges the need for accessible technological advancements. “I would like to focus the intervention of the Philippines on what we think are the
policy commitments that need to be embedded within the agri-food systems to ensure greener and climate-resilient initiatives, given key challenges such as the pandemic, agricultural pests and diseases, and climate change,” said former agriculture secretary William Dar. Per the Department of Agriculture DA, Progress is developing in the sector, albeit slowly. Agriculture is critical to both the Philippine economy and the livelihood of every family. Struggling in a fast-changing generation, the modernization of the agricultural sector with the assistance of institutions and organizations provides hope for the country and marginalized individuals. Other organizations have focused on the same initiative as the Philippine government and the World Bank to digitalize the agricultural sectors. Rebuilding Philippine agriculture toward dynamic and innovative technological advancements is imperative to achieving faster economic and environmental recovery, poverty reduction, and growth.
