DENR observes rise in climate change briefing
ROXAS CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office in Capiz has noted an increase on the request for climate change and global warming orientations in the province.
“We have been in schools and barangays since January this year in response to requests for briefings,” said DENR – Capiz Forest Management Specialist and climate change resource speaker Edwin Borja.
The requests also included the Philippine Information Agency’s (PIA) briefing on climate change and global warming for Capiz Association of Government Public Information Officers, Inc. (CAGPIO) members, government owned and controlled corporations (GOCC) and local government unit (LGU) information officers.
The LGUs will be the frontline agencies in the formulation, planning and implementation of climate change action plans in their respective areas based on the Climate Change Act of 2009 that President Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo is set to sign on October 30.
The law, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, aims to mainstream climate change into policy formulation, development panning, and poverty reduction programs. It also creates a Climate Change Commission (CCC) to coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the programs and action plans of government relating to climate change.
The CCC will be headed by the President. It will be composed of three Commissioners, one of whom shall be the vice-chairperson.
The Commission is mandated to formulate “a framework strategy on climate change, which will serve as the basis for a program for climate change planning, research and development, extension, and monitoring of activities to protect vulnerable communities. (PIA/A.Lumaque)