Philippines: Local govts urged to integrate DRR, climate change adaptation in plans
Cauayan City, Isabela – The Regional Development Council (RDC) has urged local government units to pass a resolution adopting President Aquino’s administrative order no. 1 directing local government units (LGUs) to integrate the disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) to all local development plans.
National Economic and Development authority (NEDA) 2 Assistant Regional Director Mary Anne Darauay said that President Aquino has issued Administrative Order no. 1 instructing LGUs to integrate DRR strategies in the development planning process aimed at reducing or preventing the harmful effects of disasters.
The NEDA, being the nation’s economic and development planner, which presented the President’s 1st administrative order, said there is a need to integrate disaster risk reduction in all LGUs in Cagayan Valley to avert future damages on lives and properties.
In her presentation to the council during the 102nd RDC 2 meeting held in this city yesterday, Darauay presented great natural catastrophes from 1950 to 2009 which registered deaths and injuries.
She said in ten years from 1980 to 1990, there are registered deaths of 5,220, injured 19,315 and affected 13,713 persons. In 1990 to 2000, deaths increased to 17,249, injured 15,166 and affected 68,911 and in 2000 to 2006 there were registered 8,555 deaths, 6,201 injured and 42,543 persons affected.
Darauay said climate change has been seen as the reason for the change in temperature, shortfall in water supply in some regions while increased in rainfall in some parts of Luzon and decreasing of rainfall in Visayas and Mindanao.
“There is increased frequency of hot days, warm nights and heat waves, more intense and longer droughts over wider areas since 1970’s and increase of intense tropical cyclone activity in the North Atlantic,”, Darauay said.
“Climate change has a great impact on agriculture, forestry, coastal areas, water and health,” the NEDA assiatant director said.
President Aquino’s marching order to integrate disaster risk reduction in the development plans of LGUs would avert more damages on lives and properties as LGUs will be prepared in bracing the brunt of disaster that may hit their certain areas. #PIA - Isabela