BRIGADIER GENERAL CATAPANG: Challenges the CPP-NDF-NPA to Unite with the AFP Against Common Enemy “Climate Change”

FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija – Brigadier General Gregorio Pio P Catapang Jr AFP, Commander, 7ID, PA challenged the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army (CPP-NDF-NPA) to join the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in fighting the common enemy, “Climate Change”, today.

            “We are now fighting a new war that is Climate change”, General Catapang said.  The challenge was for the CNN to declare a bilateral ceasefire on disaster prone areas all over the country and to help in building disaster proof school building that can be converted into evacuation centers during disasters, which is based on the geo-hazard maps, jointly with the AFP and other stakeholders.

            “With the recent disaster that struck Davao Regions in Mindanao when troops of 7^th Infantry are also assigned, which resulted to more than 700 deaths, more than 800 still missing and destruction of agricultural and infrastructures with a total damage of more or less P19 billion, it is high time for us to consider the threat brought about by these natural calamities.” 

            “We will help those who were affected by Typhoon Pablo in Davao Regions”, the Commander said.

            The Division had already cancelled most of its Christmas Celebration activities and the money that was intended for the said activity will be donated to the victims of the said disaster.  Moreover, individual soldiers from this unit will donate at least one canned good. Proceeds from the Commanders Cup, Battle of the Bands and Soul runner will also be donated to the victims.  In partnership with the Civil Society Group, the Division had collected relief goods and other pledges from other sectors.  A collection booth will also be set-up in NE Pacific Mall, Cabanatuan City for those who still wants to donate relief goods to the victims of Typhoon Pablo.  The donations and relief goods will be consolidated at the Division Headquarters and will be transported to Villamor Airbase via military truck and will be delivered to Davao Region via C130 Cargo plane which will be received by one of our Brigade in Mindanao based in Davao Oriental on 28 December 2012.

            The threat posed by these natural calamities was further enhanced by the effects of “climate change/global warming”.

Base on the study conducted by the Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) International Disaster Data Base from 1905-2003 data, typhoons/storms gain the highest percentage for death (66%), injured (62%) and affected (78%) out of the nine (9) listed form of disaster (Earthquake, Volcanic disaster, Floods, Slope disaster, Infectious diseases, Tidal waves, Drought, Fire and Pest disasters).

            Base on records, from January to December of 2011, of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), nineteen (19) Tropical Cyclones entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).  Among the nineteen (19) TCs listed, ten (10) were destructive namely; Tropical Storm (TS) Bebeng (May 8-11), Typhoon Chedeng (May 20-28), TS Falcon (June 21-25), Typhoon Juaning (July 25-28), Typhoon Kabayan (July 28-Aug 5), Typhoon Mina (Aug 21-29), Typhoon Pedring (Sept 24-28), Typhoon Quiel (Sept 29-Oct 2), Tropical Depression Ramon (Oct 10-14), and TS Sendong (Dec 15-18).

            The affected Regions by these Tropical Cyclones were Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, CAR and NCR left a devastating effects.  On casualties-1,541 dead, affected families/person-2,062,647 families/9,867,622 persons, totally damage houses-38,088 houses, and damage to properties-Php 26,502,337,198.73 Trillion.  Among the 10 destructive TCs, TS Sendong was the most destructive.

            With these records, it is evident that the threat posed by these natural calamities further enhanced by climate change/global warming generates more casualties than any other threats like crimes and insurgency problem.

            “We will be seeing the death of insurgency and the birth of development in Regions 1 and 3 and we will be fighting a different war, a war on Climate Change”, General Catapang said.

            “Why do we only declare ceasefire after a disaster happened when there are already loss of lives and casualties; Let us declare it NOW”, Commander added.

7ID believes that safety is paramount-no one is more concerned with our people than we are. Let us unite and fight the new kind of war “The war on Global Warming and Climate Change”.