Manila, Philippines “ Manufacturing productivity in the Philippines is expected to decline by 16 percent in the next 30 years due to climate change according to British firm Verisk Maplecroft. The study also reports major declines in production in other Southeast Asian countries affected by rising temperatures.
œIncremental rises in global temperature and humidity due to climate change are likely to increase the number of working days exceeding safe levels of heat stress, which can cause absenteeism through dizziness, fatigue and nausea and even death in extreme cases,” the report said.
The Philippines– labor force currently has 276 œheat stress days”, a number expected to rise to 337 by 2045. If left unaddressed, the issue could lead to workforce and economic losses. œGovernments and business need to identify which assets, sectors, commodities and groups are most at risk and what protective measures should be put in place,” said Environment head of Verisk Maplecroft James Allan.
Allan further warned stakeholders of the possibility of an economic stand-still in the Southeast Asian region if the heat stress of the countries– workforce remains overlooked. Manufacturing costs in the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia may rise if precautionary measures against heat stress are not implemented.
Meanwhile, funding amounting to Php1B has been approved for the People–s Survival Fund (PSF), a government initiative geared to address the problems involving climate change in the Philippines. The funding will be allocated to adaptation projects initiated by local government units (LGUs) and community organizations.
Specifically, the PSF will go to adaptation activities and innovative projects that will protect the most vulnerable resources such as water, land used for agriculture, fisheries and workforce health.
The private sector is also ramping up environmental awareness programs and projects to help address the worldwide issue. Public education through media and shows like that of the [Malagos Garden Resort Interactive Bird Show](http://www.philippinetraveler.com/malagos-bird-show/) has proved to be an effective way of cascading vital information.
VIDEO: [Interactive Bird Show at Malagos Garden Resort](https://youtu.be/j2yj2WGTM5Y)
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