Saturday, June 07, 2008 Cebu to host forum on energy, climate change
CEBU will be the venue for the Visayas leg of regional plan consultations on energy and climate change next month.
The Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 will take the lead in the consultation of issues and concerns surrounding energy and climate change with the aim of mainstreaming these in the regional and local development plans.
The holistic goal is to generate a Philippine Energy Plan and Climate Change Response Framework Action Plan.
RDC 7 will invite its members and representatives of various local government units (LGUs), agencies, institutions and organizations.
The RDC is not the only government organization concerned about climate change.
Earlier, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 7 warned people of stronger tropical cyclones to hit the country while assuring the public that it has taken steps to lessen the impact of climate change.
A tropical cyclone is characterized by a low pressure center over a warm ocean that usually produces thunderstorms, strong winds and flood.
Data gathered by the DOST and the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) showed that the country has experienced fewer cold days and increasing hot days.
DOST is working to collect more data, enhance local capabilities and share resources with other agencies to mitigate the impact of climate change on the country.
The Cebu Provincial Board (PB), for its part, passed a resolution last month, warning LGUs against bad weather condition and urged officials to set up contingency measures in cases of calamity.
The PB quoted Pag-asa’s forecast that Cebu and the rest of the country is experiencing a wet summer because of the La Niña phenomenon. Further, the board warned against possible occurrence of tornadoes and hailstorms as a result of climate change.
As for the RDC-initiated consultation in July, the information-education campaign intends to “inform the public on the country’s strategic response to avert the impact of global warming and to draw out the much-needed broad-based support on the programs designed to confront this global change.” (JGA)
