If we are really serious about beating the heat that’s been torturing us all for some weeks now, let’s plant more trees. Seriously.
Almost three years ago, I had written in this column space the need for more trees to combat extreme heat levels – especially in some places here in San Pedro City where there’s practically no green spaces at all.
Here’s a few words from that column, which to me still rings true to this day:
“The problem is that in the mad rush to provide more room for residents in Laguna's "Dormitory City," almost no thought has been given to providing open spaces such as nature parks.
“Heck, trees aren't even a part of the landscape in some thoroughfares in the city such as Pacita Avenue.
“The problem is, without the protection the trees offer, just walking through the pavement surrounded by buildings has become torture for me especially in the summer months.
“In the last few months, I had to take a tricycle to our office just to escape the relentless heat beating down on the concrete.”
Fast forward to 2024, and it appears that we still haven’t learned.
-o0o-
Speaking of which, what’s this I heard that a certain representative here in the province has recently donated air-conditioning units to schools?
I’m sure that representative has the best intentions at heart – of minimizing the harmful effects of this dreadful weather for teachers and students – but I couldn’t help but be reminded of what another representative here in our province has to say about it.
Last year, OpinYon Laguna ran an article about how this particular representative expressed the belief that air-conditioning public schools, as some sectors had advocated, would be an “expensive and unrealistic” solution (and I’m quoting the solon verbatim here).
Rather, this representative argued, what our students and teachers need are school buildings that have been “adapted” to the current extreme weather conditions.
This particular solon had advocated for insulating classrooms against heat, as well as improving ventilation inside classrooms and planting tall shade trees outside.
These solutions are more practical, long-lasting and, from a fiscal viewpoint, affordable.
It’s much better than putting up air-conditioning units that would not only be expensive to operate and maintain (a problem for schools that had already suffered budget woes) but, let me point out, actually contributes to the high heat experienced outside rooms where these units operate.
If we are really serious about ensuring that our students’ education is not disrupted amid this extreme weather we’re enduring, let’s look beyond “band-aid” solutions that would only end up costing taxpayers more.
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#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #ColumnbyJamesVeloso #UnCommonSense #PracticalSolutions