Climate change body to go beyond relief operations

MANILA, Philippines - In preparing for La Niña this year, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) will go beyond normal relief operations.

CCC vice chairman Heherson Alvarez urged stakeholders, including concerned government agencies, private groups and civil society organizations, to band together “to act on our vulnerabilities and minimize the risks” through appropriate policies and programs.

“The Philippines is being visited by more than 20 super typhoons each year. But due to our socio-economic standing, most often we are caught unprepared by the disaster brought about by these intensifying typhoons.”

Alvarez said this results in destruction of property, including farmlands, as well loss of many lives.

“That is why the CCC spearheads the promotion and pressing forward of a country that has the culture of preparedness.”

The CCC was among the agencies that participated in the La Niña Summit at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management in Quezon City.

Through the CCC, the national government has already formulated the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change (NFSCC), which will be the roadmap for the eventual drafting of the National Climate Change Action Plan that will consequently be streamed down to local governments, which will in turn make their local climate change action plan.

Alvarez said with the passage of the Climate Change Act of 2009 and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010, the national government “is gearing up the nation for whatever nature will bring.”

“Going beyond the normal relief operations, the NFSCC shall expand and upgrade the country’s capacity to address and anticipate disasters.”

Alvarez said the NFSCC would bring a renewed focus on science-based early warning systems and capacity building for LGUs and organizations for disaster preparedness and risk management.

“Filipinos should move together, to create a shift of paradigm, from reactive to proactive approach to disasters,” he said.