Binay asks LGUs to intensify fight vs climate change

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay appealed yesterday to local government units to intensify their efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change in light of the massive devastation brought by the recent weather disturbances.

“If we look at the past three or four years, the strongest typhoons that hit our country arrived in November and December. This is becoming the new normal and so we should always remain vigilant even during the holiday season,” Binay said.

“Climate change is a reality that must be addressed head on. We should shore up programs on disaster resiliency,” he added.

Binay visited yesterday Catarman, Northern Samar that was hit by Typhoon Nona last week and caused damage estimated at P974 million.

“The report we received from our briefing with Gov. Jose Ong is that 90 percent of the province was devastated by the typhoon. We were also informed 24 towns were affected and that only five percent of electricity in the province has been restored,” the Vice President said.

After visiting Catarman, the Vice President also conducted ocular inspections in the towns of Bobon, San Jose, Rosario, Lavezares and Allen.

According to the initial report of the Eastern Visayas Regional Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC), Nona destroyed nearly 65,000 houses in Northern Samar alone.

Binay also visited some flood-hit areas in Central Luzon, including Gapan and Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija and San Miguel in Bulacan on Sunday.