By: Emmanuel D. Taghoy
IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – “Do you know what climate change is? What are you doing about it?”
These were the questions posed by Information Center Manager Alma L. Tingcang of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Sibugay to high school students attending the advocacy fora on climate change adaptation and mitigation on Sept. 26, 29 and 30 in the municipalities of Alicia, Imelda and Buug, respectively.
“I believe mankind perceived climate change as something fictitious, but it is real and is happening. What we need to do is change our attitude towards it and adapt to the changes in our climate,” Ms. Tingcang stressed.
PIA-9 is embarking on a massive advocacy campaign relative to Climate Change Resiliency and Adaptation in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
It aims to equip students with knowledge in coping with disasters, address apathy toward climate change, and popularize adaptation measures.
“For people to be proactive, we need to inform them how to handle emergency situation, what to prepare and what to do during typhoons, storm surge, floods, landslides, earthquake and other disaster preparedness tips which would eventually save lives,” said Tingcang.
More than a hundred students attended the advocacy forum in all three schools composed mainly of presidents, vice presidents and secretaries of the different student organizations and clubs.
The school heads have also expressed their gratitude to PIA for the conduct of the advocacy fora in their respective schools.
Alicia, Imelda and Buug are identified as flood, landslide and sea surge-prone municipalities. So, these became priority areas for advocacies on climate change adaptation and mitigation.
