Aquino inaugurates Climate Change Academy of Albay
LEGAZPI CITY: President Benigno S. Aquino III inaugurated Friday the Climate Change Academy of Albay as part of the government thrust to combat climate change and its ill effects particularly on the economy.
“Maituturing din po natin na makasaysayan ang araw na ito nang mapasinayaan natin ang kauna-unahang paraalan sa bansa na nakatutok sa climate change—ang Climate Change Academy of Albay,” the President said in his speech after the inauguration.
“Sa pagkakaroon ng programang nakatuon sa climate change adaptation at disaster risk reduction and management, tiwala ako na ang gusaling ito ay hindi lamang magiging pugad ng karunungan ngunit magsisilbi ring silungan ng ating mga kababayan sa oras ng kalamidad.”
The Climate Change Academy, built inside the campus of the Bicol University in Legazpi City, is aimed at contributing to the national effort to fast track the development of climate adaptation capabilities of the country particularly local government units (LGUs).
The academy empowers and trains LGUs for disaster risk management, evaluation of climate risk hazards and adaptive capabilities, planning, and programming.
It is also expected to provide guidelines on experimental learning in the implementation of “disaster proofing” of local stakeholders.
The academy’s strategic approach include raising awareness on disaster risks, progressive training on scenario building, climate and disaster risk assessment and management, and technical assistance for local management and planning.
Recently, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda underscored the importance of institutionalizing the fight against climate change through the academy as well as raising public awareness with the help of media.
“Ang Climate Change Academy is first of its kind in the world, wala pa pong ganyan sa buong mundo. It’s essentially a knowledge management institution,” Salceda said.
Given the vulnerability of the Philippines, being the third most vulnerable country in the world, Salceda said battling or reducing the impacts of climate change is a paramount concern of the government.
Countries that sent students to the Climate Change Academy of Albay include those coming from Laos, Myanmar, Kenya, Nepal and many others, Salceda said.
The provincial government of Albay worked with other government agencies and international organizations in putting up the Climate Change Academy.
Among its partners include the Climate Change Commission, the United Nations System in collaboration with the Philippine government, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of National Defense (DND), Bicol University, University of the Philippines-Los Banos (UP-LB), International Center for Agroforestry (ICRAF), and University of Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. (PCOO)
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Safety measures against disasters always in place, says President Aquino
LEGAZPI CITY: President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Friday that the general population is safe from disasters because of the current initiatives against natural calamities.
LEGAZPI CITY: President Benigno S. Aquino III inaugurated Friday the Climate Change Academy of Albay as part of the government thrust to combat climate change and its ill effects particularly on the economy.
“Maituturing din po natin na makasaysayan ang araw na ito nang mapasinayaan natin ang kauna-unahang paraalan sa bansa na nakatutok sa climate change—ang Climate Change Academy of Albay,” the President said in his speech after the inauguration.
“Sa pagkakaroon ng programang nakatuon sa climate change adaptation at disaster risk reduction and management, tiwala ako na ang gusaling ito ay hindi lamang magiging pugad ng karunungan ngunit magsisilbi ring silungan ng ating mga kababayan sa oras ng kalamidad.”
The Climate Change Academy, built inside the campus of the Bicol University in Legazpi City, is aimed at contributing to the national effort to fast track the development of climate adaptation capabilities of the country particularly local government units (LGUs).
The academy empowers and trains LGUs for disaster risk management, evaluation of climate risk hazards and adaptive capabilities, planning, and programming.
It is also expected to provide guidelines on experimental learning in the implementation of “disaster proofing” of local stakeholders.
The academy’s strategic approach include raising awareness on disaster risks, progressive training on scenario building, climate and disaster risk assessment and management, and technical assistance for local management and planning.
Recently, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda underscored the importance of institutionalizing the fight against climate change through the academy as well as raising public awareness with the help of media.
“Ang Climate Change Academy is first of its kind in the world, wala pa pong ganyan sa buong mundo. It’s essentially a knowledge management institution,” Salceda said.
Given the vulnerability of the Philippines, being the third most vulnerable country in the world, Salceda said battling or reducing the impacts of climate change is a paramount concern of the government.
Countries that sent students to the Climate Change Academy of Albay include those coming from Laos, Myanmar, Kenya, Nepal and many others, Salceda said.
The provincial government of Albay worked with other government agencies and international organizations in putting up the Climate Change Academy.
Among its partners include the Climate Change Commission, the United Nations System in collaboration with the Philippine government, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of National Defense (DND), Bicol University, University of the Philippines-Los Banos (UP-LB), International Center for Agroforestry (ICRAF), and University of Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. (PCOO)
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Safety measures against disasters always in place, says President Aquino
LEGAZPI CITY: President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Friday that the general population is safe from disasters because of the current initiatives against natural calamities.
The President said the government has completed geo-hazard mapping that identify flood and landslide prone areas in different parts of the country to make local government units more prepared in handling and preventing disasters.
“Nasa 65,000 na po ang geo-hazard maps na napagkaloob natin sa mga lokal na pamahalaan upang magsilbing gabay sa kanilang mga inisyatiba kontra sakuna,” the President said in a speech after the inauguration of the Climate Change Academy of Albay in Legazpi City.
With the help of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and other agencies, the government was also able to release multi-hazard maps to 13 provinces in the country, the President said.
Currently, the government is preparing the release of 3D mapping for Metro Manila, he added.
“Ramdam na rin po ng karamihan sa inyo na napagbuti na natin ang ating weather forecasting sa pagsasanib puwersa ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST) at nang Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA),” the President said.
The government not only relies on modern technology for forecasting, he said, noting that with the help of several government agencies, it is now promoting the use of coco coir as erosion control material.
Also the government, through the National Greening Program was able to plant 35 million seedlings in more than 75,000 hectares of land in the entire country. The government targets to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares of land from 2011 to 2016, the chief executive said.
While the government focuses on the security of the nation’s future, at the same time, it will fight the changing weather conditions with the National Climate Change Action Plan, President Aquino said.
“Sa komprehensibong planong ito nakabalangkas ang mga espesipikong mga programa at mga estratehiya para sa paghahanda natin sa climate change mula 2011 hanggang 2028. Nakatuon po ito sa ilang prayoridad: food security, water sufficiency, environmental and ecological stability, human security, climate friendly industry and services, sustainable energy, at knowledge and capacity development,” he said.
The President signed this week the National Climate Action Plan in compliance with the country’s international commitments, especially with the United Nations Framework for Climate Change Convention.
The action plan will become the basis of any assistance that will come from industrialized countries once the release of a green fund is approved in Durban, South Africa late this month.
The Philippines is joining other countries in the climate change conference in South Africa on November 28 until early December to discuss assistance from rich countries to developing countries gravely affected by changing weather conditions. (PCOO)
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Aquino orders extensive review of major infrastructure projects of government
LEGAZPI CITY: President Benigno S. Aquino III said he has instructed concerned government agencies to review all the projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) before major infrastructure projects could be built.
The president was asked on Friday by reporters about the government plans on constructing new airports and seaports under the PPP program. The chief executive is in Legazpi City for the inauguration of the Climate Change Academy of Albay.
“Ang tinitingnan diyan ay ang Daraga, kung ito ang pinaka-feasible. Ang inutos lang natin i-review lahat ng mga projects lalo na doon sa PPP program. Meron po tayong mga batayan na dapat masunod,” he said when asked about the construction of Daraga airport in Albay.
The president said he wants a review of the projects to ensure that the government is building the right project at the right price and right contractors. He also wants to make sure that projects to be built are constructed on the right time to ensure full benefit to the people.
“Lahat nitong mga prinsipyong itong batayan ay kailangan matugunan para masabi natin na hindi tayo gumawa ng monumento lang, na may ginawa tayong may saysay sa pangangailangan ng sambayanan,” he said.
The government also received offers from a foreign company to improve the roll-on, roll-off (RO-RO) system from Luzon to Mindanao, drastically cutting travel time significantly, the President said.
“Pero kailangan nating siyasatin, pag-aralan na mabuti iyong kanilang mungkahing plano para mabawasan ang gastos ng taumbayan at mapakinabangan sa lalong madaling panahon. Kasama na nga itong airport ng Daraga,” he said. (PCOO)
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Public needs to help government in protecting coastal waters from illegal fishing
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay -- President Benigno S. Aquino III said that his administration needs the help of the public in protecting the country’s coastal waters from illegal fishing activities.
President Aquino, who led the inauguration of the Climate Change Academy of Albay here in Legazpi City, made the statement during an interview with reporters here in Legazpi City, Albay province.
“We have 36,000 nautical miles of coastline,” the President said. “We need the help of people in their respective constituencies to share their information with us, so we can apprehend people who are violating our laws.”
The President noted that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has already deployed a vessel to intensify its effort to curb illegal fishing in the country, and some 11 commercial fishing vessels have been apprehended by the said agency.
He said that he will also task the Philippine Coast Guard to help the BFAR, as well as the Philippine National Police maritime to stop the illegal fishing activities in the country.
Catholic bishops in Bicol have asked President Aquino to protect the region’s coastal waters from illegal fishing activities in the province.
The President emphasized that the government needs the help of the public to go after the perpetrators of the illegal fishing activities in the country, noting that the government has only few patrol vessels.
“Kailangan natin ang tulong ng taumbayan para masabi nila sa atin kung saan sila may nakikitang mga ilegal na gawain, para mahabol, matukoy, maaresto at maparusahan ang mga may kasalanan sa ating mga batas,” he said. (PCOO)
