A solution that holds water

MANILA, Philippines - Man cannot fight nature, says environmentalist and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Antonio Oposa Jr. Eventually, the water will reclaim what is hers. There are simple ways, however, to prevent flood-related disasters that have been plaguing the country.

“What we can do is provide rainwater somewhere to go so it will not develop into floods,” Oposa said.

One of the catchment systems readily available to the public, he explains, is the natural rainwater catchment, dubbed as “sahud ulan.” He says this can be easily built by digging pits in one’s backyard or in a vacant space in every barangay.

While there are other flood-control projects being done, these require millions of pesos and use tons of concrete. Oposa’s “sahud ulan,” being a simple pit dug in soil, costs much less and is also a more sustainable alternative.

Furthermore, Oposa explains that cement is eventually destroyed by water, but using soil and rocks ensures that water will naturally seep back into the water cycle.

Oposa discussed the catchment system during the joint congressional oversight committee on the Clean Water Act held recently at the Department of Science and Technology compound in Taguig City, where he demonstrated how to create the rain catchment and discussed its benefits with Sen. Pia Cayetano and Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, who led the planting of spinach and banana stalks and released tilapia in the pond.

With vegetation and fish thriving in the natural catchment, flood is not only prevented, but a source of food arises.

The environment expert urged the local government to consider his flood control plan.

Antonio Oposa Jr. leads the discussion on creating natural catchment systems or “sahud ulan“ in every barangay.

The typhoons will not go away, he said. In fact, they are expected to become “weirder” in the coming years. The “sahud ulan,” meanwhile, can make Filipinos resilient enough to withstand this problem.

After all, he adds, the law, as early as 1989, has required each barangay in the country to put up catch basins. But “the law in the Philippines is nothing but a suggestion,” he notes wryly.

Republic Act 6716, approved in March 1989, mandated the construction of rainwater collectors in every barangay throughout the country. “But until now there isn’t even one,” Oposa notes.

Using the natural rain catchment system is like hitting two birds with one stone. It solves not only the problem on floodwater but also food shortage.

Oposa suggests that if people would surround this pit with vegetation and plants “then no one would go hungry.” The people can also grow fish in the pond.

“People go hungry because they don’t plant anymore. With this, they can easily grow spinach, banana, and camote, among others on the soil surrounding it,” he explains.

This will also help people earn money and do something productive instead of simply staying home or bumming around – especially in barangays where most women only stay at home.

The women, he says, can look after the plants while the men maintain the pond.

“Nature has already provided the solutions to our problems on flood and food. All we have to do is listen,” he says.

Not even the dreaded mosquito-borne disease dengue will arise from the creation of the natural rain catchment.

According to Oposa, all the residents have to do is grow water lilies in the pond to attract frogs. These amphibians will, in turn, take care of the mosquitoes.

“Common sense. Let’s use common sense to solve the problems,” he said.

Floodwater indeed has been threatening to engulf man-made structures, reclaiming what once belonged to nature. But, man can counter the negative effects by returning to nature, too.

“Nature already provided solutions when it created ponds and creeks – and yet we had them paved over,” says Oposa. “We need to humble ourselves and return to natural systems.”