Mayors to draw up action plans vs climate change

MANILA, Philippines - The mayors of Metro Manila, comprising the Metro Manila Council (MMC), have agreed to formulate their respective climate change action plans, an official said yesterday.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino said the MMC has approved a resolution that urges the metropolis’ 17 cities and one municipality – Pateros – to draft and later execute their own climate change action plans.

“As required by the Climate Change Commission, the local governments will create their own climate change action plans. Their action plans will be harmonious with the national government’s National Climate Change Action Plan, which is the country’s roadmap for climate change adaptation and mitigation,” Tolentino said over radio station dzBB.

“Our main discussion focused on the increased involvement of the local government units to take actions toward responding to the call to mitigate climate change,” he added.

According to Tolentino, Climate Change Commission Secretary Mary Ann Lucille Sering detailed during the MMC’s meeting last Friday the potential economic impacts of disasters to communities brought about by climate change.

According to Tolentino, local governments may request technical and financial assistance from the national government to fulfill their respective climate change action plans.