Mayor: Public should remain wary vs climate change

MAYOR Celso Lobregat has called on residents of Zamboanga City, and the region, to remain vigilant and heedful to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, as various agencies continuously undertake measures to stem the effects of global warming.

Lobregat issued this call as he warmly welcomed on Thursday the 300 participants from local government units (LGUs), non-government agencies and other stakeholders from all over Zamboanga Peninsula to the Regional Forum on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction, which is a collaboration workshop for the Zamboanga Peninsula River Basins.

The day-long forum, held at the Garden Orchid Hotel convention center, was organized by the Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the Local Government Academy (LGA), and Senator Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Climate Change.

Legarda was unable to make it to the event but sent her staff headed by Marvin de Guzman to represent her.

The forum was intended to provide a platform for cooperation in addressing the threats of disasters and climate change brought about by global warming.

Lobregat said the weather patterns have changed throughout the country and the world citing that while in one area rains are more torrential, droughts in other areas are more intense.

The people should follow and not take for granted the things that should be done to better prepare for climate change, Lobregat said.

“Some people just take it for granted, and there should be a wake-up call,” he said.

Lobregat, in his welcome message, 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,” he added.

He 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.

Zamboanga City has experienced in the recent past numerous forms of calamities caused by climate change.

The City Government has spearheaded the conduct of information and awareness campaigns, participation in the yearly observance of Earth Hour- a 60-minute blackout to reduce the impact of global warming- and the implementation of long term solutions that include reforestation, protection of city’s watershed, infrastructure development, inter-agency cooperation efforts through the creation of Task Force Agua, Task Force Vecinos and Task Force 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. (Bong Garcia)