Philippines: Mayor cautions against climate change
Zamboanga City -- Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday called on residents of the region to be vigilant against climate change as several agencies continuously undertake measures to stem the effects of global warming.
Lobregat issued this call as he welcomed over 300 participants from local government units, non-government agencies, and other stakeholders to the Regional Forum on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction: A collaboration workshop for the Zamboanga Peninsula River Basins.
The day-long forum at the Garden Orchid Hotel convention center was organized by the Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo, the Department of Interior and Local Government through the Local Government Academy, and Senator Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Climate Change.
It was intended to provide platform for cooperation in addressing threats of disasters and climate change brought about by global warming.
Lobregat said weather patterns have changed throughout the country and the world - one area may have more rains while another may have intense drought.
“Some people just take it for granted, and there should be a wake-up call,” he said in an interview with reporters.
In his welcome message, Lobregat said the forum “stresses on the importance of collaboration among LGUs on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in our bid to stem the effects of global warming.”
He said calamities or disasters, whatever form they take, bring devastating results, claim lives, and destroy properties.
“And while we may not be able to entirely stop calamities from happening, we can take measures to reduce its impact on our people and our lives,” Lobregat said.
According to him, the forum yesterday was very essential to the city, the region and to the people “given the unpredictable conditions we are experiencing not only locally but globally.”
“Our individual efforts are not enough, knowing the forces of nature. But I am confident and hopeful that this collaborative workshop for the Zamboanga Peninsula River Basins will be able to help us in addressing the problems,” he said.
The mayor also took the opportunity to present what the city has done and continues to do on the aspect of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
Some of them include the conduct of information and awareness campaigns, participation in the yearly observance of Earth Hour, and implementation of long-term solutions like reforestation, protection of city’s watershed, infrastructure development, inter-agency cooperation efforts through the creation of task forces Agua, Vecinos and Contra Avenida, and tagging operations and spot mapping activities for structures in the coastlines.
On the drawing board is the construction of the proposed City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office which will serve as a depot or warehouse for emergency supplies and equipment.