Environmental History

LESSON 19:
ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY
DISASTERS
DISEASES AND PANDEMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
Group 3:
Mazon, Ruby Marie
Huelar, Jenson
Loong, Mahathir
Herrera, Alexander Craig
Harain, Francis
Mendoza, Alfrince
Environmental History
The World Risk Index in 2017 ranked the
Philippines among the top three countries with the
highest hazard risk. This is due to its geographical
location in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the Pacific
Typhoon Belt, where it experiences an average of
20 typhoons and 100 to 150 earthquakes annually.
These natural hazards have deeply influenced the

country’s historical development and continue to
shape its resilience as a nation. The Philippines
faces significant challenges in disaster
preparedness and response, but its people
demonstrate strength and adaptability in the face
of frequent natural calamities, fostering a culture
of resilience.
Disasters
It refer to catastrophic events
either natural or man-made that
cause significant harm to
human lives, property, and the
functioning of society.
Natural Disasters
Natural disasters are catastrophic events caused
by natural processes of the Earth, such as weather,
geological, or oceanographic phenomena. The
Philippines is highly prone to a variety of natural
disasters due to its geographical location, climate,
and geography.
Typhoon
Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) was
one of the strongest storms in history,
hitting the Philippines on November 8,
2013. It had wind speeds of 315 km/h
and devastating storm surges.
Around 6,300 people were killed, over

1 million homes were destroyed, and
the economic losses were about $14
billion.
Earthquakes
The 1990 Luzon Earthquake, a
magnitude 7.7 seismic event that
occurred on July 16, struck near Rizal,
Nueva Ecija, devastating Central
Luzon and the Cordillera region.
The earthquake resulted in over 1,600

fatalities, thousands of injuries, and
displaced more than 1.2 million
residents from their homes.
Volcanic Eruption
The Mt. Pinatubo eruption on June 15,
1991, was one of the largest volcanic
eruptions of the 20th century.
Located in Zambales, Luzon, it had a
VEI of 6, causing massive ashfall and
lahar floods.
Over 800 people were killed,

thousands were displaced, and global
temperatures dropped due to the ash
in the atmosphere.
Man-made Disasters
Man-made disasters are catastrophic events caused by
human activities, either directly or indirectly, that result in
harm to lives, property, infrastructure, and the
environment.
Fire Disaster
The Ozone Disco Fire is the deadliest
fire in Philippine history. It occurred
on March 18, 1996, at the Ozone Disco
Club in Quezon City, killing at least
162 people.
The fire was caused by a spark at the

DJ booth, which ignited in a space
that was overcrowded for the number
of people present. The investigation
found serious safety lapses, including:
lack of accessible fire exits and
inadequate electrical supervision
Mining Disaster
The Marcopper Mining Disaster
occurred on March 24, 1996, in
Marinduque, Philippines, and is
considered one of the worst
environmental disasters in the
country’s history.
Toxic waste from the Marcopper

Mining Corporation was released into
the environment, causing severe
ecological damage, displacing
communities, and exposing residents
to health risks.
Maritime Disaster
he MV Doña Paz Tragedy on December
20, 1987, is the deadliest peacetime
maritime disaster in history. The MV
Doña Paz, a passenger ferry, collided
with the MT Tacloban, an oil tanker,
near Mindoro Island in the Philippines.
The collision caused a massive fire,

leading to the deaths of over 4,000
people.
Diseases and Epidemics
A disease is an abnormal health condition caused by
infections, genetics, or lifestyle. In the Philippines,
common diseases include dengue, tuberculosis, diabetes,
and heart disease, driven by poverty. While the epidemics
is the rapid spread of a disease in a specific area, affecting
many people. In the Philippines, examples include dengue,
cholera, and COVID-19 outbreaks.
Diabetes Disease
Over 3.6 million Filipinos have
diabetes, a major non-communicable
disease linked to poor diet, obesity,
and inactivity.
Diabetes increases the risk of heart

disease, kidney failure, and nerve
damage. Effective prevention requires
healthy eating, exercise, and early
screening. Managing diabetes remains
vital due to its rising prevalence and
fatality rates.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of
death in the Philippines, with over
200,000 deaths every year. Major
types include coronary artery disease,
hypertension, and stroke.
Risk factors are poor diet, inactivity,

smoking, stress, and obesity.
Prevention requires healthy living,
exercise, early detection, and better
access to healthcare services.
Dengue Outbreak
The 2019 Dengue outbreak in the
Philippines saw 1.5 million cases and
over 1,000 deaths, making it one of
the deadliest in recent history.
Contributing factors included climate
change, poor waste management, and
urbanization.
The government implemented vector

control, public health campaigns, and
vaccination efforts to address the
crisis and strengthen prevention
strategies.
COVID 19
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the
Philippines in January 2020, leading
to health, economic, and social
challenges. By the end of 2023, the
country reported over 4 million cases
and 66,000 deaths.
The government imposed lockdowns,

implemented testing, and launched a
vaccination campaign in 2021.
Vaccination efforts and health
measures have reduced transmission
risks.
Environmental Degradation
Environmental degradation refers to the deterioration of
the natural environment due to human activities, natural
processes, or a combination of both. It includes
deforestation, air and water pollution, climate change, loss
of biodiversity, and land degradation, which harm
ecosystems and the well-being of communities.
Deforestation
The worst deforestation case in the
Philippines involves the destruction
of forests, particularly in Palawan and
other areas, driven by real estate
development, hotels, and resorts.
These activities result in clearing land

for construction, urban expansion,
and infrastructure projects, leading to
the loss of biodiversity, climate
change, and increased natural
disasters.
Mining
Nickel mining in Tawi-Tawi has brought
economic opportunities but at the cost
of significant environmental and social
challenges. Deforestation, water
pollution, soil erosion, and biodiversity
loss are major concerns.
Efforts like reforestation, stricter

environmental policies, and community
support aim to mitigate these effects
and promote sustainable practices.
Air Pollution
Metro Manila faces severe air pollution
due to vehicle emissions, industrial
activities, construction dust, and waste
burning. Major pollutants include
carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and
particulate matter.
The effects are health risks like

respiratory diseases, environmental
degradation, and economic costs.
Efforts like the Clean Air Act, tree-
planting, and clean transport aim to
reduce pollution.

Environmental History

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Environmental History

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Environmental History

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

LESSON 19:

These natural hazards have deeply influenced the

Around 6,300 people were killed, over

The earthquake resulted in over 1,600

Over 800 people were killed,

The fire was caused by a spark at the

Toxic waste from the Marcopper

The collision caused a massive fire,

Diabetes increases the risk of heart

Risk factors are poor diet, inactivity,

The government implemented vector

The government imposed lockdowns,

These activities result in clearing land

Efforts like reforestation, stricter

The effects are health risks like

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.