Three hundred thirty nine (339) participants from Zamboanga Peninsula responded to the regional forum on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction: a collaboration workshop for Zamboanga Peninsula River basins on September 6, 2012 at Garden Orchid Hotel, Zamboanga City.

LGUs, Regional Line Agencies, NGOs, CSOs, Academe, Representatives from the Senate and the media composed the number of the participants. Invited also were the Punong Barangays from Zamboanga City. The theme, Building Climate Adaptive and Disaster Resilient Communities, aims to initiate coordination between and among the stakeholders (LGUs, NGOs, NGAs, Academe, etc.) within the periphery of the Zamboanga Peninsula River Basin to specifically list the organization and actions that are underway or have been implemented in the river basin, to determine issues that arises about alliance in the river basin and give recommendation and to acknowledge the opportunities that benefits both the alliance and the river basin itself by creating harmonized efforts and ladderized initiatives, proactive and collaborative approach in building communities’ resilience to disasters.

In this workshop, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) region IX through the Local Government Academy (LGA)  partnered and funded by the Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) and Senator Loren Legarda, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on  Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) UN Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction  (DRR) and CCA for Asia – Pacific initiated this shift from a reactionary into a proactive and collaborative approach, and as a valuable means of the proposed Philippine River Basin System Administration Act of 2012 as input to its strategic operationalization by enhancing the capacity of the Local Government Units(LGUs) being the forefront of the government’s initiative to adapt, mitigate and prepare for climate change and disasters.

In the welcome message of Zamboanga City Mayor Celso L. Lobregat, he believed that such event is very important to the region, to the city, and to the people given the unpredictable conditions being experience not only locally but also globally, citing some instances of the preventive measures to reduce their  impact to the people’s lives and properties.  He confidently added that individual efforts are not enough against the forces of nature but through collaborative work, particularly this collaboration workshop for Zamboanga Peninsula River Basins, there can be solution to any problems.

On behalf of the DILG Regional Director Paisal O. Abutazil,  ARD Pedro Cuevas Jr.  added that such event is not only an important activity but also timely to plan, assess and reassess what is presently being done and to be done as preparation to a phenomena  to avoid serious possible casualties and grave damage of properties as the saying goes, “ an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” He further supplemented that the keyword of the affair is centered on collaboration or cooperation, knowing that disasters and climate change determines no geographical and territorial boundaries. “If we work together in unison and in one direction much can be accomplished not necessarily for our benefit alone but also for the future of the next generation” he said in his closing.

The idea is evidently conveyed in the speech of Senator Legarda represented by Manny de Guzman, in which she stressed strongly that through local coordination of environmental rehabilitation and disaster prevention efforts, Zamboanga Peninsula can be a disaster-resilient.  by learning from the best practices in other regions to provide a sense of direction.

The workshop according to her aims to promote the integration of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into local governance, and share best practices on successful collaboration among local executives and stakeholders towards effective river and watershed management.  She also emphasized that the People’s Survival Fund bill has been signed into law recently which strengthens the Climate Change Act of 2009 by helping achieve its objectives through provision of funds to local governments and communities for their climate change adaptation programs.  Likewise, filed Senate Bill 3105 or the proposed “Philippine River Basin System Administration Act”, which recommends a framework to establish a comprehensive river administration system for flood control, water use and environmental conservation.

In her closing she said, “Our political will, clear understanding of risks, genuine regard for environmental protection and disaster prevention, preparedness for effective response, good governance, and our concern and vigilance – all these will prevent natural hazards from turning into disasters. Now is the time to secure the future that we want for our people.

Other  segment of the forum includes the workshop proper dealing on the three (3) modules namely: Harmonizing Initiatives Towards DRR and CCA Mainstreaming in Local Governance with topics of Integrated Water Resources Management and the Role of LGUs discussed by Dr. Rex Victor Cruz, Chancellor, UPLB, Harmonizing CCA and DRRM in Local Government Context discussed by Dr. Aser B. Javier, CPAf-UPLB, Creating a Common Action – The Zamboanga Peninsula River Basins: A Situationer discussed by Dir. Vicente B. Tuddao Jr., RBCO-DENR, and Building Ownership: The Zamboanga Peninsula River Basins Initiatives discussed by MINDA; Module II: Moving Forward Towards a Common Path with topics of Alliance Building for LGUs discussed by Dir. Marivel C. Sacendoncillo, Executive Director-LGA-DILG, Mobilizing Networks and Building Alliances Towards a Pro-Active River Basins discussed by Mr. Silverio L. Tandog, Program Director of AVLDA; and Module III: Defining the Roadmap for the River Basins: The Way Forward, Crafting the Roadmap Towards Creating a Dynamic River Basin (Common Action Agenda) Workshop with four areas facilitated by Provincial Directors and City Director

After the thorough deliberation of various topics, the facilitator entertained the presentation workshop outputs in which the participants were grouped into four, discussing and producing outputs based on their designated areas such as: Management Mechanism, Governance Structure, Financing Scheme, and Performance Evaluation.

Immediately, when all the teams had finished reporting, ARD Cuevas wrapped up the activity in a synthesis. The participants took part also in taking oath regarding Zamboanga Peninsula river basin commitment led by Pio Zambales, Siay, MENRO Officer,

Meanwhile, they also affixed their signatures in the signing of commitment, a manifesto supporting for the Zamboanga Peninsula River basin, bearing the commitment of the challenges that are yet to come.

The gathering also paid tribute to the late SILG Jesse Robredo during the lunch break in which the delegates witnessed the audiovisual presentation of Robredo’s remarkable contribution while enjoying their meals.

The workshop culminated by a closing remarks given by ARD Cuevas in which he extended his gratitude to all the participants, resource speakers, facilitators, sponsoring agencies, and other support staff who responded actively to the invitation and took part in the general success of the event.  In closing, he encouraged all the participants to take part on enhancing and capacitating the communities to be resilient on disaster and for the betterment of Region 9.