ZAMBOANGA
CITY - - Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday called on residents of the city
and the region to remain vigilant and heedful to climate change adaptation and
disaster risk reduction, as various agencies, the city government included,
continuously undertake measures to stem the effects of global warming.
Lobregat issued this call as he warmly welcomed
over 300 participants from local government units (LGUs), non-government
agencies and other stakeholders from all over Region 9 to the Regional Forum on
Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction: A collaboration workshop
for the Zamboanga Peninsula River Basins.
The day-long forum, held at the Garden Orchid
Hotel convention center was organized by the Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo
(AECID), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the
Local Government Academy (LGA), and Senator Loren Legarda, chairperson of the
Senate Committee on Climate Change. It was intended to provide a platform for
cooperation in addressing the threats of disasters and climate change brought
about by global warming.
Lobregat said the weather patterns have changed
throughout the country and the world. While in one area rains are more
torrential, droughts in other areas are more intense, he said.
He said people should follow and not take for
granted the things that should be done to better prepare for climate change.
“Some people just take it for granted, and there
should be a wake-up call”, the mayor said in an interview with reporters.
In his welcome message, Mayor Lobregat said the
forum “stresses on the importance of collaboration among LGUs on climate change
adaptation and disaster risk reduction in our bid to stem the effects of Global
Warming”.
He said calamities or disasters—whatever form
they take—bring devastating results, claim lives and destroy properties. “And
while we may not be able to entirely stop calamities from happening, we can
take measures to reduce its impact on our people and our lives.”
The forum yesterday, he emphasized was very
essential to the city, the region and to the people “given the unpredictable
conditions we are experiencing not only locally but globally. Our individual
efforts are not enough, knowing the forces of nature. But I am confident and
hopeful that this collaborative workshop for the Zamboanga Peninsula River
Basins will be able to help us in addressing the problems.”
In his message, the mayor likewise took the
opportunity to present what the city has done and continues to do on the aspect
of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. In the recent past,
city has experienced numerous forms of calamities caused by climate change.
The city government has spearheaded the conduct
of information and awareness campaigns, participation in the yearly observance
of Earth Hour-a 60-minute blackout to reduce the impact of global warming and
the implementation of long term solutions that include reforestation,
protection of city’s watershed, infrastructure development, inter-agency
cooperation efforts through the creation of Task Force Agua, Task Force Vecinos
and Task Force Contra Avenida and tagging operations and spot mapping
activities for structures in the coastlines.
On the drawing board, is the construction of the
proposed City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office which will serve as a
depot or warehouse for emergency supplies and equipment.
And for humanitarian reasons, the city has also
been quick to respond to disasters or calamities not only in the city but in
other parts of the country as well, by sending relief assistance in cash and in
kind.
On the other hand, Lobregat said, Zamboanga City,
with its geographical location is also bounded by river systems and with
climate change, these rivers systems overflow whenever there is incessant or
torrential rains. “Only last Saturday, I had to rush to Curuan to personally
oversee rescue and relief operations when the Curuan River overflowed,
resulting in flash floods in communities along the river banks.”
That is why, he said, aside from constructing
slope protection and rip rap projects, the City Government of Zamboanga is also
strongly collaborating with the Department of Public Works and Highways which
has recently completed the conduct of a master plan and feasibility study of
flood control and drainage projects for selected river basins in Mindanao to
include our very own Tumaga River Basin with a catchment area of 255 square
kilometers.
Sen. Legarda was unable to make it to the event
but sent her staff headed by Marvin de Guzman to represent her. Also present
were officials from the LGA and DILG officials headed by Assistant Director
Pedro Cuevas Jr. and several others. (JPA/SC/CIO/PIA9-ZBST)