Philippines is having to adapt and adjust to rapidly deteriorating climatic trends at a great cost to its economy, reports the Guardian.
While the impact of super-typhoon Bopha, which struck without warning on 4 December 2012, is still unfolding, Benito Ramos, the outgoing executive director of the NDRRMC, is busy planning for the next super-typhoon, asserts the report. "We are preparing for a national summit this month on how to prepare, including early warning, building codes, land use regulations, geo-hazard mapping, relocation and livelihoods," he told the Guardian.
But the bigger issue is climate change, which posed an "existential threat" to the Philippines, Ramos said. "We are mainstreaming climate change in all government departments and policies. If we don't adapt and adjust, we all agree we are heading for disaster."