The full impact of climate change may be felt in the next 30 years, but preparations should start now at the community level.
Talking to Visayas journalists attending a Climate Change Media Workshop yesterday, Perez, a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), urged local government units to create programs that will mainstream adaptation to climae change.
Increased rainfall in the Visayas increases the risk of frequent flooding.
Climate Change Commissioner Lucille Sering said the government has the institutional framework to address the problem.
Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2104-01 issued last August 7 mandates that the Commission, the Dept. of Budget Management and the Dept. of Interior and Local Governments and LGUs work together to identify and prioritze climate change programs andprojects they will l spearhead next year.
Resources of the national government will made available to LGUs for this purpose.
“It actually gives them more incentives to actually do it than not do it… we might be surprised that some LGU might have already complied,” said Sering.
She said recent calamities like the 2013 Bohol earthquake and typhoon Yolanda makes a strong case for LGUs to participate.
Commitment to Cebu
“We know that Cebu is the second most important metropolis next to Metro Manila. I think the commitment of the local government is really great, but they also need to look at their vulnerabilities,” said Sering.
When vulnerabilities are identified, support will come immediately, she said. Sering said they are targeting 40-60 percent compliance of vulnerable LGUs nationwide with this new policy.
“Commitment is there, the enthusiasm is there but the challenges remain,” she said, referring to the need for political will.
For high-risk areas, Sering highlighted the need for urban planning especially with stronger typhoon visiting the Philippines.
The cost is higher when a development and settlement are already in the area, and calamity strikes because of the need to invest more to make sure that a risk is reduced.
“The government has already put in place policies that will encourage them to do more,” said Sering.
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