REGIONAL FORUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION

AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION:

A COLLABORATION WORKSHOP FOR ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA RIVER BASINS

“Building Climate Adaptive and

Disaster Resilient Communities.”

06  September  2012

Garden Orchid Hotel, Zamboanga City

I.         Opening Program

The one-day Regional Forum on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction: A Collaboration Workshop for Zamboanga Peninsula River Basins formally commenced at exactly 9:00 o’clock in the morning with an invocation, the singing of the Philippine National Anthem and Zamboanga City Hymn.

Thereafter, Mr. Karl Abalos introduced and acknowledged the three hundred thirty nine (339) participants composing of Local Chief Executives and other stakeholders from the different LGUs of Zamboanga Peninsula, Regional Line Agencies, NGOs, CSOs, Academe, Representatives from the Senate and the media.  Invited also were the Punong Barangays from Zamboanga City.

Mayor Celso L. Lobregat of Zamboanga City gave the welcoming remarks. In his message, he emphasized 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.  For the information of the participants, he proudly mentioned that Zamboanga City has taken the lead in preparing to reduce the effects of climate change through information and awareness campaign. 

On May 27, 2008, they initiated the summit on Disaster Preparedness for Global Warming and Food Security.  Also, on February 05, 2010, they initiated the Multi-Stakeholders’ Forum on Climate Change Adaptation with the theme: “Reducing Disaster Risk in a Changing Climate”.  Every June 25, the Zamboanga City has been observing Arbor Day na Ciudad de Zamboanga which seeks to mobilize all sectors to participate in a tree planting activity, protection of the watershed, infrastructure development that includes drainage, riprap/slope and shoreline protection structures.  They also undertake inter-agency cooperation efforts through the creation of special bodies like Task Force Agua, Task Force Vecinos, and Task Force Contra Avenda.  Furthermore, they also sent relief assistance in cash and in kind citing an example when typhoon Sendong devastated Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro City in December 2011 where they gave P1 Million for the said cities.  They also gave P250, 000 each for the areas of Aurora Province, Marikina City, Dagupan City, Pangasinan, Trece Martires, Cavite, Santiago City, and Calamba, Laguna when typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng hit the country.  Last August 16, 2012, Mayor Lobregat was part of the project of the late DILG Sec. Jesse M. Robredo amounting P10 Million which aims to provide financial assistance to families affected by severe flooding to 19 calamity-stricken municipalities in Metro Manila on the first week of August.  The city government of Zamboanga is also collaborating with the Department of Public Works and Highways to determine the extent and nature of required improvement/construction aspect based on the project’s economic, environmental, and social feasibility and the development suitable and optimal investment plans.

On behalf of the DILG Regional Director Paisal O. Abutazil, ARD Pedro G. Cuevas Jr.  added that such event is not only an important activity but also timely to plan.  He advised to assess and reassess what is presently being done and to be done as preparation to 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.

Following the message of ARD Cuevas, a video clip presentation of Senator Loren Legarda was shown.

Afterwards, Emmanuel de Guzman, consultant for the office of Senator Legarda, delivered the keynote speech on behalf of Senator Legarda. In the speech, the senator stressed strongly that through local coordination of environmental rehabilitation and disaster prevention efforts, Zamboanga Peninsula can be a disaster-resilient.  It is possible by learning from best practices in other regions to provide a sense of direction. 

It is further noted that this workshop basically 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 mentioned that the People’s Survival Fund bill has been signed into law recently.  The amendatory law 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, she 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. She then believed that the challenge to sustain these gains and to do more does remain and that the important starting point is political commitment and our measure for success is more disaster-resilient development investments and, fundamentally, better and greater quality of life for our long-suffering people.  Implementing sustainable management of rivers and watersheds builds the resilience of communities and the economy that result from both effective water governance, which builds adaptive capacity that is vital to successful climate change adaptation and well-functioning watersheds.

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.

II.       Lecture Proper

Other segment of the forum includes the workshop proper dealing on the three (3) modules namely:

1.      Module I: 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, pointing out the importance of the watershed approach as a physical framework for the solution of flood problems and the role of LGU’s to be pro-active in solving such problems.

·         Harmonizing CCA and DRRM in Local Government Context discussed by Dr. Aser B. Javier, CPAf-UPLB, who emphasized the importance of collaboration and harmony amongst LGU’s to face major issues on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction management.  There should be an integrative concept on these issues to decrease the risk of danger to the public and to obtain sustainable development.

·         Creating a Common Action – The Zamboanga Peninsula River Basins: A Situationer discussed by Dir. Vicente B. Tuddao Jr., RBCO-DENR, who strongly believed that existing Integrated River Basin Management and Development Master Plan requiring various integration frameworks such as water resources management framework, watershed management framework play a big part in the Integrated River Basin Programs. These programs may be a council wherein multi-sectoral governance is delivered properly.  He also mentioned that the River Basin Control Office (RBCO), under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is mandated to implement EO No 818 (s. 2009) entitled. “Declaring the RBCO under the DENR as the Load Government Agency for the Integrated Planning, Management, Rehabilitation, and Development of the Country’s River Basins.  He further emphasized that hearing the voices of different stakeholders and awareness of the situations of the River Basins particularly in the Zamboanga Peninsula is the keys in solving its problems. He then showed a media presentation distributing 18 major river basin of the country, about 9 major river basins exist in Mindanao.  Also, in his presentation, he identified 19 principal river basins in Zamboanga Peninsula.

·         Building Ownership: The Zamboanga Peninsula River Basins Initiatives discussed by NEDA OIC-Regional Director Dir Genna Mendoza, who discussed river basin planning and development to minimize rampant illegal logging, deforestation, and unsustainable  agricultural practices to regulate exploitation therefore preventing flood, destruction, and erosion.

2.      Module II: Moving Forward Towards a Common Path with topics of Alliance Building for LGUs with topics:

·         Alliance Building for LGUs discussed by Dir. Marivel C. Sacendoncillo, Executive Director-LGA-DILG, who stated that there should be no political boundaries in case of disaster and that there should be a focus on local government alliance building so as to minimize negative impact of climate change and disaster.

·         Mobilizing Networks and Building Alliances Towards a Pro-Active River Basins discussed by Mr. Silverio L. Tandog, Program Director of AVLDA stating the significance of a multi-sectoral approach, commitment of leaders, involvement of all sectors, and coordination of the LGU’s in community improvement.

III.      Workshop Proper

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 Penuinsula River Basin commitment led by Pio Zambales, MENRO Officer, Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay,

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 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.