• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Three mayors of Negros Occidental are supporting the proposal of 3rd District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez for a “science-based disaster prevention and risk reduction”, particularly on flooding, and to establish a national climate resilience institute.
Mayors Joedith Gallego of Silay, Gerry Rojas of Murcia, and Matthew Malacon of E.B. Magalona, who attended the Climate Resiliency Summit Sept. 14 in Talisay City, initiated by the Office of Benitez, said their respective sanggunians will also pass a resolution of support to the solon’s proposal.
Benitez filed House Bill 2577, which seeks to elevate the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI) into a national institution…to address institutional gaps by creating a publicly-funded, permanent scientific hub to support national and local risk planning. “Kung may layi, mas hapos pondohan. We will certainly do what we can, best effort (for this bill to be passed).”
Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay, executive director of the UPRI, and director of its core component, the UP Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) Center, said in a press conference after the summit that while the 3rd District flood risk in high, the adaptive capacity of local government units is also intermediate to high.
“This means meron mga ginagawa ang DRRM officers and policy makers na maganda, na puede pa e-improve. Maganda na nag file ng bill si congressman Javi para yong UPRI, with NOAH as core component, maging batas. Para mas sustainable, mas regular ang pondo, at mas malawak ang aming puedeng magawa,” Lagmay stressed.
HB 2577 seeks to establish and institutionalize a national system for resilience-oriented research, foresight, and knowledge integration to advance science-based, anticipatory, and adaptive resilience governance; and facilitate collaborative projects with universities, local government units, scientific institutions, civil society organizations, and private sector partners…translating research into actionable policies and local solutions.
Benitez, in the bill, said there is need to develop and maintain a centralized public repository of resilience data, and ensure that resilience-related research outputs are converted into practical guidance materials, toolkits, planning aids, and operational templates for use by LGUs, local communities, and institutions.
He also said that what were discussed at the summit will be cascaded to LGUs and barangays, and will be incorporated in the flood mitigation and climate resiliency plan of the 3rd District.
The summit aims to assess all flood control projects in the district, with the help of LGUs, experts, and other stakeholders; and will “attempt to rationalize flood mitigation and climate resiliency plan in the 3rd District of Negros Occidental for a more secure and responsive future with LGUs in the lead”. | CGC
