Region XIII

I. Table and Map

Risk Frequency Table

River Floods High

Coastal Floods High

Urban Floods High

Landslides High

Tsunamis High

Volcano High

Cyclones High

Extreme Heat Medium

 Wild Fires Medium

Water Scarcity Very Low

II. RELEVANT EVENTS

A. Tropical Depression Vicky in San Francisco, Agusan Del Sur

While the picture depicts happy children playing in the flood and rain, the people in San
Francisco, Agusan Del Sur experienced a severe flood that was caused by the constant
rainfall which contributed to the overflowing of water from the local river. Tropical
Depression Vicky was stated to have been a deep flood, with a lowest recorded depth of
"knee-deep" waters to ceiling level heights, As the rainfall was constant for over eight
hours, it was a miracle that no one was injured or found dead during this natural
disaster, which is thanks to the evacuation efforts that lasted throughout the evening,
even amidst a brownout.

B. .Wildfires in Surigao Del Sur

According to Global Forest Watch, Surigao del Sur has lost 987ha(hectares) of natural
forest, which equates to 683kt (kiloton) of C02 emissions in 2021, and in 2019, 211ha of
forest was burned down and lost to fires, making up 8.1% of tree cover lost in that year.

C. Tropical Depression Agaton/Basyang hits Dinagatan Islands

 The photo depicts the aftermath of the Tropical Depression Agaton, more colloquially
known as Basyang, in its path through the Dinagatan Island. The Flood that occured on
April 10, 2022 came with heavy rain fall, strong winds and rough to very rough waves,
with an estimated death toll of 178 fatalities.

Sources:
https://thinkhazard.org/en/report/196-philippines/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/newsinfo.inquirer.net/1373383/vicky-brings-heavy-rains-flooding-
to-agusan-sur-areas/amp

Global Forest Watch. org

NDRRMC: 'Agaton' death toll rises to 178 | Philstar.com

Health Effects of Climate Change

Climate change can contribute to human health in one of two ways, First is the exacerbating or
increasing the severity off already existing health problems. With The climate becoming hotter,
diseases that spread during humid to hot weather like Hyperthermia, Heat strokes, and Heat
Exhaustion, which can develop into High fevers, flus, high blood pressure and so on, likely
increasing their fatality and infection rates. Another thing of note here is the ailment known as
heat rash, a discoloration of skin that is usually itching, and if aggravated, can lead to scars,
wounds, and other skin ailments. Other prolific diseases that are now more likely to appear are
diseases caused by mosquito and tick bites, like Dengue, as the current climate gives
mosquitoes more time to reproduce and multiply.

Figure X.1: Heat Rash

Tye second way climate change can affect health is through the development of new diseases
and ailments, as it will adapt to the current climate, making it harder to treat or prevent.
Examples of this is the Lymes Disease, originating from the United States, it has since come to
the Philippines. It is caused by a bacterium that will appear as a fever, headache, fatigue, and a
unique rash known as a Erythema Migrans, and was created because of the climate. If not
treated, Lymes disease can prove to be fatal.

Besides the direct effects of climate change has over health, there are also indirect effects that
can negatively impact our overall well being. The environment is one such example as the
waters of the world are now making it easier for algal infections to bloom, affecting marine life
and turning the water itself toxic to us humans, depriving us of a source of drinkable water.
Carbon Emissions pollute the air and is now affecting us as the polluted air contributes to
diminished lung capacity and function and is expected to prematurely claim the lives of 1,000 -
4,300 people in the United States alone, if nothing is done by 2050. Mental Health is not
excluded from the effects of Climate change, as the CDC (Center of Disease Control and
Prevention) has observed, the hotter climates tend to increase the stress levels and further
agitate mental conditions.

Overall, the effect of climate change on our collective health, as it affects our mental health,
exposes us to more allergens, increases vector based illnesses (i.e. illnesses with carriers like
Rabies, Dengue, etc.), Lowers our supply of drinkable water, pollutes the air we breathe, and
introduces more extreme weather, causing us to have a more negative health situation than
those that came before the climate began changing.

Figure X.2: Impacts of Climate Change on Himan Health

Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/default.htm