MALOLOS CITY—Climate Change Commissioner Mary Ann Lucille Sering and Undersecretary Benito Ramos led the environmental summit here yesterday.
Both talked on the theme “Effective Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Program.”
Sering noted the impact of climate change on every community, while Ramos urge continued upgrading of the local government units’ ability to prepare for disasters, given the average of 20 typhoons hitting the country annually.
Lawyer Rustico De Belen, head of the Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (Benro) which organized the summit said that it is part of the observance of the Environment Month in the province.
De Belen said at least 500 participants from local government units and schools attended the event held at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center here.
He said that the summit was meant to equip local leaders as well as citizens in crafting climate change adaptation measures as well as enhance community preparedness on climate related disasters.
For his part, Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado said the summit is part of the provincial government’s aggressive campaign against climate change and serious efforts to promote a balanced and healthy ecology.
“It is part of our 7-point Agenda to address the environmental issues. We need to be prepared for any kind of disaster that may occur in our province,” said Alvarado.
The governor noted that last year’s flood spawned by typhoons Pedring and Quiel left valuable lessons to some Bulakenyos.
An example is Calumpit town which was inundated, but later came up with aggressive program to address the impacts of flooding.
This includes requiring all villages to have at least one boat that can be used during disaster, and the creation of data base for flood prone areas.
“Local government units in Bulacan are ready to respond to disaster, but some need to further institutionalize it,” he said referring to some towns and villages.
Among the topics discussed were Disaster and Climate Change: Science, Impacts and Policy Responses; Managing Disaster Risk from Natural Hazards; Managing Risks from a Changing Climate; Katutubong Kaalaman Pangkapaligiran, Hamon sa Makabuluhang Lipunan; and Legislative Actions Addressing the Emerging Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Agreement.
Aside from Sering and Ramos of the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC) other resource persons in the summit were Bulacan State University (BulSU) President Mariano De Jesus, College of Social Science and Philosophy Dean Reynaldo Naguit and CIBAC Partylist Representative Sherwin Tugna.
