State planners hear local execs share disaster experiences

CEBU, Philippines - State planners from all over the country listened to how Cebu is adapting to climate change and its effects.

Discussions during the 25th convention of League of Local Planners and Development Coordinators of the Philippines had local officials of different offices share their experience in handling disasters.

Cebu Province’s Task Force Paglig-on and Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council chief Baltazar Tribunalo, Jr. explained how Cebuanos displayed resilience during calamities.

Tribunalo’s lecture were on building resilience of communities in local government units as well as integrating DRR and climate change adaptation to rehabilitation and recovery program based on the experience of Cebu province specifically northern Cebu during super typhoon Yolanda.

Moreover, Cebu City also shared how it is managing its growing traffic, which is now keeping up with Manila’s mostly described as horrible.

City Traffic Operations Management executive director Atty. Rafael Christopher Yap discussed its award-winning transport crowd source information and communications technology.

The â€œCebu Traffic” project was hailed winner in the Best in eGov Business Empowerment  search at the Jesse Robredo Award for Excellence in Information Technology for Good Governance.

Also, Nora L. Diaz, Director of HLURB-Policy Development Group, discussed the enhancement of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan recognizing the need to mainstream climate change local land use policies and development strategies; and strengthening disaster risk reduction management. 

Last February 13, the Board of Commissioners approved the HLURB’s Resolution No. 915, Series of 2014 “Suplemental Guidelines for Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan” which was based on the Integrating Climate Change Act of 2009 (Republic Act No. 9729)-mainstreaming climate change in policy formulation; and Strengthening “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (Republic Act No. 10121).

The supplemental guidelines provide entry points in the CLUP and Zoning Ordinace.

Diaz said that the document will still go to some final editing before it will be downloaded to the LGUs and it will be posted in the HLURB website.

Furthermore, despite surviving two disasters months prior, Cebu province successfully hosted this year’s annual national convention of state planners and development officers.

During the opening ceremony, Talisay City planning and development coordinator Engr. Christine Homez thanked every individual who have contributed to this rather memorable hosting of the 25th convention of League of Local Planners and Development Coordinators of the Philippines.

LLDCPI national president and Aurora Province provincial planning and development officer Genevieve Yanga also appreciated the efforts of Cebu to pull the activity off despite the calamities that hit the Visayas region.  (FREEMAN)