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Mitigation strategies unified to make PH ‘climate-proofed’
MANILA – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has unified its mitigation measures to make the Philippines climate-resilient, Malacañang said on Saturday.
“The Department of Environment and Natural Resources merges risk and climate change mitigation strategies to conform ‘climate-proofing’ to priority projects of the agency,” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in a Facebook post.
DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga recently directed the implementation of policies and programs that are based on science and evidence, Cruz-Angeles said.
She said Yulo-Loyzaga’s order was to carry out “practical” climate change adaptation mechanisms to attain a more climate-resilient Philippines.
Cruz-Angeles said the DENR’s priority programs that would integrate the “climate-proofing approach” include the Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP); Clean Air; Intensified Forest Protection and Anti-Illegal Logging; Geo-Hazard Groundwater Assessment and Responsible Mining; and Manila Bay Cleanup.
The ENGP aims to rehabilitate denuded forestlands, as well as maintain and protect existing forests, while the Clean Air program is in line with the implementation of Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act, which aims to achieve and maintain healthy air.
The DENR is also intensifying forest protection and the anti-illegal logging campaign to reduce the number of illegal logging hotspots.
On the other hand, the Geo-Hazard Groundwater Assessment and Responsible Mining program is meant to improve the quality of air and water, as well as address solid waste problems by rehabilitating abandoned mines, and assessing coastal geo-hazards and groundwater resources.
The Manila Bay Cleanup drive is the continuing restoration of water quality of the famous natural harbor.
Yulo-Loyzaga assured that the actions and policies taken by the DENR would undergo consultations among stakeholders.