TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, July 19 (PIA) -- Cong. Edgar Chatto called on local government units (LGUs) in Bohol to contemplate on declaring environmental and climate change emergency in a bid to get communities to put up clear and doable environmental climate plans. 

The Boholano solon who chairs the House Committee on Climate Change, rang the urgency alarm as islands in Bohol have reported unusual rise in sea levels that impact on the lives, livelihood, and the future of the island residents.

In the islands off the towns of Calape, Tubigon, Clarin, Inabanga, Talibon, Bien Unido and Carlos P. Garcia, sea levels have risen during high tides that have been recorded to reach nearly a meter from the usual tide marks a decade ago.

While some residents noticed the rising tides coming after the 2013 earthquake which caused subsidence in islands off Calape, Tubigon and Clarin towns, a different case is reported in the islands off Talibon, Bien Unido and Carlos P. Garcia towns.

The sea level rise data and documentation as gathered by Rice Watch Action Network (Rice WAN) and Green Peace Philippines, in coordination with the House Committee on Climate Change, are all contained in the Bohol Island Climate Emergency Roadmap which was turned over to Gov. Arthur Yap during an online turnover ceremony on July 14. 

“I would like to personally commend Rice WAN and GreenPeace Philippines for the initiative of putting in place a roadmap for environmental and climate change adaptation and mitigation for Bohol's small islands that are vulnerable to tidal floods and seawater level rise,” said Chatto.   

According to Chatto, Bohol has 75 outlaying islands which make it naturally vulnerable to seawater rise, aside from also being in the the path of natural calamities.

Climate change has also affected the livelihood of island communities, as the rising sea temperatures have changed the migration patterns of pelagic fish, caused seaweeds diseases, and coral bleaching which killed vast coral reef areas. 

The Philippine archipelago, which lies in the midst of the tropics, has recorded three times higher sea-level rise compared to the global average, according to environmental groups studying the effects of the melting polar caps due to climate change.

Apart from the rising sea levels, the saltwater intrusion into the drinking water wells is another issue that would soon be all over island communities, they continued.

Climate change has affected marine ecology which impacts on sustainable fisheries and island community survival.

These modern day problems have been associated with environmental abuse and pollution that caused the destruction of the ozone layer that normally screens and filters the brutal rays of the sun.

While international groups demand accountability form large countries and companies or corporations that largely contribute to the sea level rise, a parallel initiative to involve communities and governments is being done in Bohol.

Yap, upon receiving the said document, called it invaluable and described it as a starting point directing the government and communities on what they can do. 

"Now that we have a plan, let us move together to implement the plan," the governor said. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)