Caraga stakeholders gather for Interfaith Dialogue
on Climate Change
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 4 (PIA) - The Climate Change
Commission (CCC) together with the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) Caraga gathered some 200 representatives from government
agencies, religious sector, academe, non-government organizations, and media
for the Interfaith Dialogue on Climate Change held on Thursday at Dotties Place
Hotel, this city.
DENR Caraga regional director NonitoTamayo
recalled that the Interfaith Dialogue was first convened by former senator
Heherson T. Alvarez of the Climate Change Commission in 2010, which promotes
action on environmental protection and sustainability based on religious
teachings. "Interfaith environmental conferences are bringing in-depth
focus on environmental issues among faith-based groups that are allied with
NGOs, and young Filipinos deeply concerned about the future of the earth. They
are guided by the teachings of the world's greatest religions," he said.
“The Interfaith Dialogue on Climate Change will
help us broaden our knowledge and understanding on climate change issues, among
religious leaders, laity and their communities; support programs of various
religious communities promoting environmental protection and conservation; help
connect and strengthen interfaith environmental advocates across the country in
a wider process of coordination and cooperation; address the issues of
profligate consumption and wasteful use of resources; raise public
understanding of responsible stewardship in the management of natural
resources; and enhance the citizenry's ethical outlook by stressing moral
responsibility and our obligations to future generations," Tamayo added.
On behalf of Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante
Jr., City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) Officer Grace
Espere delivered the message to all the participants. "We have been
implementing laws in the protection of our environment and enabling the people
to be responsible and active advocates by participating in the different
environmental activities in their respective community," she said.
Also, Evangeline A. Evarolo, advocacy and
capability building program officer shared her experiences working with the
farmers who are also affected by the effects of global warming and climate
change in the Agusan province. "Through human activities, we are
contributing to the causes of global warming and climate change. That's why if
we want to effectively see the change we want for our environment, we must
first start within ourselves. As we do proper hygiene, let us also avoid using
materials, equipment that are harmful to our environment," she stressed.
Commissioner Alvarez emphasized in his message
that people should avoid too much use of carbon dioxide. "If we don't
reduce carbon sufficiently enough, our Earth will become hotter than what we
are experiencing today. Our seas will also be affected and corals will
die," he cited.
Alvarez disclosed that the results of the
interfaith dialogue will be submitted to the higher level and will form part of
the Philippine report to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21)
in Paris, France come November 2015.
The good commissioner further pointed out that
people must change their lifestyle if they want to see the change they opt to
experience in the environment. "As much as possible we must avoid
cigarette smoking for it also contributes carbon in our environment. Instead,
let us all promote healthy living through proper exercise like walking/jogging,
riding bicycle, among others. We should also promote the use of alternative
energy like solar and other potential sources of energy that do not emit too
much carbon," he said.
Belinda Formanes, general secretary of Climate
Change Congress of the Philippines (CCCP) reiterated during today's Interfaith
Dialogue on Climate Change held in the city that the CCCP is a multi-sectoral,
multi-disciplinary and community-based coalition of organizations, individuals
and communities pursuing the struggle against catastrophic climate change
within the context of asset reform and social justice. It was formally founded
in November 2009.
Moreover, Tamayo cited the Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA) signed last year between DENR and Philippine Information Agency (PIA) for
the effective promotion and implementation of climate change advocacy programs in
Caraga region. He considered it one of the significant accomplishments of the
department with partner agencies.
Meanwhile, participants from different sectors
were able to ask questions and raised their issues and concerns related to
climate change.
The Climate Change Commission is tasked to help
undertake pioneering projects that advance renewable energy technology in the
Philippines, reduce all forms of pollution, and enhance the environment. It is
also the sole-policy making body of the government tasked to coordinate,
monitor and evaluate the programs of the government relating to climate change.
It is an autonomous body with the status of a national government agency. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Congress deliberates on Fortun’s tourism bill
QUEZON CITY, Sept. 4 (PIA) - The deliberation on
the proposed House Bill 4823, a legislative measure declaring Butuan City as a
heritage tourism zone, continues as Agusan del Norte representative Lawrence
Lemuel Fortun presented before the House Committee on Tourism last week.
August last year, Rep. Fortun filed the said bill
in Congress, and was then subsequently referred to the Committee on Tourism.
Rep. Fortun in his explanatory note has elucidated
that “Butuan City has a vibrant history and rich cultural heritage. Before
colonization, it was called the Kingdom of Butuan and was known for its
metallurgic industry and sophisticated naval technology.” Exigency of the bill
is anchored on Section 15 of Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution, which reads:
“The State shall conserve, promote and popularize the nation’s historical and
cultural heritage and resources, as well as artistic creations,” and also in
Section 16 of the same article: “All the country’s artistic and historic wealth
constitutes the cultural treasures of the nation and shall be under the
protection of the State which may regulate its disposition.”
Butuan has been the discovery site of the first
wooden watercraft excavated in Southeast Asia, the Balangay Boat, believed to
rule Southeast Asian waters as early as 320 AD. The utilization of these boats
to maintain trade relations with neighboring islands and empires prove robust
commercial activities in the area. Numerous archeological artifacts have also
been excavated – gold jewelry, death mask, weighing scales and porcelains –
beefing up Butuan’s claim as then center of trade and commerce in the region.
Numerous historical accounts show that on March
31, 1521, an Easter Sunday, Ferdinand Magellan ordered the celebration of a
mass in Butuan. “In remembrance of this important historical Christian event
that is claimed to be first in the country, the Bood Promontory...was built,”
Fortun added. Butuan is also the host of Banza Church Ruins, a church built by
Spanish friars in 1625 and believed to be the first Christian Church in
Mindanao.
Way older than the mentioned historical and
cultural treasures are the Bequibel and Bitor shell middens in Brgy. Bonbon,
supporting claims of human habitation and activities of early thriving
civilization in Butuan – as early as the Neolithic Age or about 7,000 years
ago.
Once the bill is passed, Butuan will be accorded
with priority development by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in coordination
with the National Historical Institute, the National Museum and other concerned
government agencies. It will also recognize areas of potential for historical
and cultural tourism development, such as historical and cultural landmarks,
rivers and mountain resources, indigenous communities, among others. (Lawig
Katawhan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
DILG-13 trains 18 Caraga LGUs on GIS
By Naomi C. Orog
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 4 (PIA) - The Department of the
Interior and Local Government Region XIII (DILG 13) conducted a Training on Geographic
Information System (GIS) for Climate and Disaster Risk and Vulnerability
Reduction for 18 local government units in the region. The activity was held in
two batches, the first was held on August 12-14, 2015 while the second was on
August 17-19, 2015 in one of the convention centers here.
Target participants of the training were the
Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (MDDRMOs), Municipal
Planning and Development Coordinators (MPDCs), Information and Technology
Staff, and DILG Municipal Local Government Operations Officers (MLGOOs) of the
municipalities involved.
The participants were coming from municipalities
of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands which are located
along the eastern seaboard and others that are highly vulnerable to disasters.
Those involved for the first batch were: Surigao del Sur’s Carmen, Carrascal,
Cortes, Lianga, Madrid, Marihatag, Tago and San Agustin. While those trained
during the second batch were: Surigao del Sur’s Cantilan, San Miguel and
Lingig; Surigao del Norte’s Del Carmen, General Luna, and San Isidro; the
Province of Dinagat Islands’ Dinagat, Basilisa and Tubajon; and Agusan del
Norte’s Nasipit.
The main objective of the training was to train
remaining highly vulnerable coastal LGUs to develop a local geographic
information system which they can use to enhance their disaster preparedness
and response capacity, specifically, to produce respective geographical hazard
maps towards better decision-making on local development planning and disaster
mitigation.
Geographic Information System (GIS) is an
application that integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing,
managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced
information. It allows the user to view, understand, question, interpret, and
visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in
the form of maps, reports, and charts.
At the end of the training, the participants were
able create and print hazard maps of their own municipality showing the areas
that are vulnerable to flood, storm surge, tsunami, and other hazards. The Post
Evaluation Result also showed a huge increase in their level of understanding
or knowledge about the topics. The activity increased the capacity of local
government units as frontline stakeholders. Through this training, the LGUs
were able to enhance their disaster preparedness and response capacity.
Last year, the same GIS training was given to
vulnerable LGUs along the Agusan River Basin, i.e. all 14 LGUs of Agusan del
Sur (Bayugan City, Bunawan, Esperanza, La Paz, Loreto, Prosperidad, Rosario,
San Francisco, San Luis, Sta. Josefa, Sibagat, Talacogon, Trento and Veruela)
along with the province; Butuan City; and Agusan del Norte’s Las Nieves, and
Buenavista. (DILG-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Pamahalaan pinag-aralan ang mga
hakbang sa paghanda ng pagdating ng El Nino
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Setyembre 4 (PIA) - Nagbigay ng
kasiguruhan ang isang opisyal ng Palasyo noong Huwebes na pinag-aralan na ng
pamahalaan ang lahat ng opsiyon kung papaano mapababa ang epekto ng El Nino
weather phenomenon.
Sa isang panayam sa media sa Malakanyang, sinabi
ni Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. na ang mga paghahanda ay
ginagawa na para maseguro na ang tagtuyot na dadalhin ng El Nino sa mga
darating na buwan ay makakayanan.
"Sa ngayon ay pinag-aaralan na ang mga opsyon
at hindi pa naman talaga pumapasok doon sa kritikal na panahon,” sabi ni Secretary
Coloma, na pinupuna ang epekto ng El Nino, tulad ng tagtuyot sa mga lugar sa
bansa na nagpoproduce ng pagkain, ay inaasahang makakaranas sa huling tatlong
buwan ng taong ito hanggang sa unang tatlong buwan ng susunod na taon.
Hinihikayat din niya ang publikona magtipid ng
tubig para maagapan ang darating na mga buwan ng tagtuyot.
"Pinaghahandaan ito pero hindi naman
kailangang maligalig ang ating mga mamamayan. Kailangang maging handa at
magtipid sa paggamit ng tubig dahil nga pumapasok tayo dito sa sitwasyon na
maaaring maging matindi ang El NiΓ±o,” sabi niya.
Sinabi ni Coloma na pinag-usapan din ang mga
hakbangin para maseguro na ang bansa ay mayroong sapat na suplay ng pagkain.
"Marami pang ibang mga action measures na
pinag-aaralan patungkol naman doon sa pagtitiyak na meron tayong sapat na
supply ng pagkain at ito ay maaaring makuha ng ating mga mamamayan sa
resonableng halaga,” paliwanag niya.
Sinigurado rin ng opisyal ng Palasyo na walang
hoarding ng suplay ng pagkain.
"Walang hoarding na magaganap, walang
magsasamantala sa sitwasyon na inaasahang maaaring lumubha kapag dumating ang
matinding tagtuyot,” sabi niya. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Cebuano News: ‘Panambay sa Barangay’ gipahigayon
sa lungsod sa Francisco
Ni Mary Jul E. Escalante
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept. 4 (PIA) –
Gipahigayon bag-ohay pa lamang ang 'Panambay sa Barangay' didto sa tulo ka mga
barangay sa lungsod sa San Francisco ning probinsya.
Ang maong kalihukan gipangulohan ni Gobernador Sol
F. Matugas ug dala sa pagbisita sa gobernador mao ang mga serbisyo sa kapitolyo
sama sa panambay sa barangay, pakig dayalogo sa mga opisyales sa barangay ug
pag apod-apod ug mga food packs sa mga lumulupyo niini.
Unang gibisitahan sa gobernador ang Brgy.
Magtangale diin dako gayod ang pagpasalamat ni Punong Brgy. Nestor CompaΓ±a nga
nahidangat sa Magtangale ang gobernador.
Gipaabot usab sa punong brgy ang iyang
pagpasalamat sa mga proyekto nga ilang nadawat sama na sa day care center, sa
tabang pinansyal kantidad P100,000 ug dugang P500,000 alang sa ilang barangay
hall.
Aduna pay P27 milyon nga road concreting gikan sa
Honrado paingon sa Magtangale.
Sunod nga giduaw sa gobernador mao ang Brgy.
Macopa diin ubay-ubay usab ang mga nadawat niining mga proyekto sama sa school
stage ug uban pang mga gipaabot niining mga panginahanglan sa maong barangay
nga nahatagan ug solusyon.
Katapusang giduaw mao ang Brgy. Honrado diin
masadyang gipahigayon ang programa tungod sa ilang giandam nga mga presentasyon
apil na ang mga senior citizen ug mga barangay health workers (BHW).
Kauban sa lakaw sa gobernador mao sila Congressman
Francisco Matugas, Vice Governor Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr, Board Member Melva
Garcia, Victor Borja, Simeon Castrence, Mamerto Galanida, mga kagawad sa San
Francisco nga gipanguluhan ni Vice Mayor Edgar Plaza ug ang Team Capitol. (SDR/PIC-SdN/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
