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President Aquino calls for ‘sense of urgency’ in anticipating natural disasters
(Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)” width=”2048″ height=”1513″ />
President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Apolinario Mabini at the Mabini Shrine in Barangay Talaga, Tanauan City, Batangas on Wednesday (July 23). With the theme: “Mabini: Talino at Paninindigan,” the yearlong festivity aims to honor Mabini, the “Sublime Paralytic,” as the brains behind the Philippine revolution. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III, in a recent Cabinet meeting, underscored the need for a “sense of urgency” among all government agencies and local government units in anticipating natural disasters, a Palace official has said.
“President Aquino emphasized the need to promote a sense of urgency among all national agencies and local government units in the aspect of capability building, considering the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a note sent to members of the Malacañang Press Corps on Thursday.
The President presided over the meeting, held on Wednesday (Aug. 6) to discuss the Climate Change Cluster Roadmap.
In attendance were representatives of the departments of environment, agriculture, interior and local government, agrarian reform, energy, and public works, the Metro Manila Development Authority, Climate Change Commission, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission.
The President noted that there must be broad awareness on the use of geo-hazard maps that indicate landslide — and flood-prone areas in each province, municipality or city, “so that the local disaster risk-reduction and management councils can respond in a timely and appropriate manner,” Coloma said.
During the meeting, the Climate Change Cluster reported the occurrence of 543 natural disasters between the years 1900 and 2014, 58 percent of which were storms and 25 percent were floods.
“Responding to the challenge of climate change adaptation and disaster risk management, the cluster has adopted a strategy of improving resiliency to climate change,” Coloma said.
He said the cluster will focus on carbon sequestration through forests and oceans, energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy development, and greater reliance on cleaner energy sources, such as natural gas and geothermal energy.
Climate change adaptation and mitigation is one of the pillars of the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016.
Last June, the United Nations’ (UN) special representative for disaster risk reduction assessed the Philippines’ disaster preparedness at between 6 and 7 or “above average,” with 10 being the highest.
