2009news Clip: Civil Society Meet Over Climate Change Concerns

ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews) — Representatives of civil society here gathered last Friday to respond to growing concerns on climate change.
Mark Cervantes, program officer of Disaster Risk Reduction under Ecoweb Inc., said “civil society will be joining the worldwide call to prioritize the enforcement of environmental protection policies.”
Cervantes bared that Global Climate Risk Index ranks the Philippine archipelago as fourth in terms of risk and vulnerability to climate change impacts, thus its essential for us to be part in a global action though we will be drumbeating local movements.”
Cervantes added that 50 of our country’s 80 provinces are predicted by scientists to experience the effect of one-meter sea level rise based on research.
“The Asian Development Bank says that the Philippines, along with Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia will experience a decline in rice productivity by as much as 40 percent to 75 percent by the end of the century, owing to changing climatic patterns in Southeast Asia,” he bared.
“Thus, there is a need for civil society to commit to this advocacy (responding to climate change) as we learn from the disasters in Manila that destroyed lives and properties as well as the earthquake that hit the Pacific Ocean which triggered a tsunami that killed about 1,100 people and destroyed properties.
“These experiences prove that natural hazards have already aggravated climate change and yet communities lacked the mechanism to either prevent or mitigate its impacts,” he said.
Helen Tejero of the Iligan Save the Rivers Movement said they’ve been into disaster risk reduction focused on micro-watershed management piloting barangay Pugaan river basin of the 26 flood-affected areas of Iligan city. They are also into river bank stabilization and enhancing agro-eco-cultural tourism program.
Anita Sescon of the Mindanao Commission on Women bared, “Rotary Club of the city has started reforesting 30 hectares of Mount Agad-agad. They have also advocated for electric powered motorcycle.
Sescon said, “women groups have joined tree planting; advocate environmental protection on radio; recycling of products (done by members of Mother’s for Peace); and plan to make a checklist on “thoughts and acts for Mother Earth” that will be posted on a wall where everyone could signify their commitment.”
Mariam Maranda of Kapamagogopa Inc., a volunteer sending organization said they deploy volunteers to partner with environmental and peace advocacies.
Jun Tenorio of the Civil Society Organization-Forum for Peace Inc. (CSOFP) said networks have been engaged in environmentalism by participating in tree planting at barangay Bonbonon of this city where the central facility on solid waste management is located.
CSOFP also participated in localizing the international coastal cleaning day at the eight barangays at Kolambugan town of Lanao del Norte with elementary pupils and of Lafccod Inc.
Tenorio said they discuss environmentalism on radio.
Naima Abdulrachman of Kalimudan Foundation Inc. an NGO based in Marawi city said they initiated Earth day movement in Lanao Sur; conducted mount climbing at Mt. Mubu of Marawi; started the clean up drive in Lake Lanao shores and campaigned for its preservation as well as conduct disaster preparedness training.
Libertine Capangpangan of Serviamus Foundation narrated they participated in tree and mangroves planting. They also helped provide jetmatic water system for pilot barangays, advocate for recycling and segregation of wastes.
Merlita Parojinog of BirthDev Inc., an organization providing psychosocial therapy for conflict-affected communities, said they joined mangrove planning in Barangay Napo of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte that have experienced tragic flood in 1999.
Janet Braza of Iligan City Community Responsible Newspapers shared their campaign on recycling paper into creative work of arts.
Fr. Albert Mendez of the social action center of Iligan Diocese exemplified organic farming in select towns in Lanao del Norte in partnership with Department of Education (DepEd) and local parishes.
Mendez is also into biking as mode of transportation as part of clean air campaign. He encouraged everyone to “stop smoking, stop drinking liquor or soft drink and instead take in camote or kalamansi juices.
Sally Libot of Research and Communication for Justice and Peace (RCJP) said they are taking initiatives for the annual celebration of Earth day in April; conduct mount climbing with partners; and tap Iligan bikers for tree planting at Acmac, Iligan city.
RCJP worked with residents of barangay Tambacan to make use of environment-friendly materials rather than plastics that have contributed in the clogging of drainage systems.
Engr. Cesar Y. Yamuta from the fraternity of Eagles said they are obliged by their magna carta to plant tree once a year.
He said that Eagles planted 5,000 of mangrove trees in Barangay Barinaut recently and helped in the rehabilitation of barangay Pugaan.
Jajji Actub of the Santiago Livelihood and Development Association advocate for the closure of Iligan city’s dump site and for its rehabilitation.
Regina Antequisa of Ecoweb Inc. said these environmental initiatives will be showcased in an exhibit on October 24 this year at MSU-IIT campus to show to the world that there are many environmentalists here and that we join other organization worldwide in working on protective measures from climate change.
The exhibit will also expose hazards and disaster prone areas of the city that needs social action and response from the local government.
Antequisa said the continued logging and small scale mining in the hinterland of the cities have contributed to overflowing of floods in the barangays.
She also expressed concern on formation of water catchment in two hinterland barangays as a result of landslides.“Heavy rainfall might further collapse it and water will overflow in the lowland areas,” she said.
This should be part of our call to ask local government to aggressively undertake riparian system by planting bamboos in these areas or those trees that can seep water to prevent disaster,” Antequisa said.
Antequisa said that the event on October 24th is International Day of Climate Action which will also highlight forum and fellowship with local cultural groups.
They plan to engage 44 barangays with 1,008 zones of this city in this campaign and other civic groups. (Violeta M. Gloria/MindaNews)
jsbraza/iligan

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