NEWS

16.06.2016

Philippines: More LGUs to undergo training on climate change

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The Climate Change Commission (CCC) is set to gather this week local government units (LGUs) and stakeholders most vulnerable to disasters caused by extreme weather conditions to train them in handling adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction and management.

The Communities for Resilience, or CORE Convergence Forum, to be held on June 8 to 9 in Cagayan de Oro City, will bring together LGUs around the Buayan-Malungon, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Tagoloan River Basins, which are part of the 18 major river basins and communities covered by CORE.

The CORE river basins and communities, which are considered high-risk areas, have been identified by experts as pilot areas and models for the convergence of climate change adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction and management programs of the government.

The forum, the second in the series to be conducted across the country by CCC, aims to increase the competency of LGUs on risk information database, competency development on risk management, mitigation, mainstreaming of climate change and disaster risk reduction in local planning and knowledge management.

The first convergence forum in Davao City last March was attended by 18 LGUs.

“The convergence forum’s main strategy is the development of capacities of key national and local stakeholders, particularly the latter who bear the brunt of the impacts of climate change and are expected to be at the forefront of the response actions,” said CCC vice chair, Secretary Emmanuel de Guzman.

Secretary de Guzman added that capacity gaps need to be immediately addressed if a vulnerable country like the Philippines is to be on track in terms of sustainable development.

“Innovation and generation of local solutions, which are science-based, will be utilized to address awareness and understanding gaps on climate change and disaster risk reduction. This will significantly contribute in reducing the country’s mortalities and economic losses from natural hazards and disaster risks,” he said.

The CORE Convergence Forum will be conducted throughout the year to cover other major river basins across the country, among them the Pasig-Laguna, Pampanga, Agno, Abra, Cagayan, Agusan, Mindanao, Ilog-Hilabangan, Ranao (Agus), Bicol, Panay, Jalaur, and Apayao-Abulug river basins.

The 18 major river basins are identified as key priority areas by the Cabinet Cluster for Adaptation and Mitigation.