LOS BAÑOS, Laguna- Responding to the recent calamities that pummeled the country, the Philippine Federation for Environmental Concern (PFEC) has organized the 15^th National Environmental Congress on Oct. 14-16 to tackle the impacts of climate change.

                Taking up the theme, “Strengthening the Community’s Coping Mechanisms with the Challenges of Climate Change-Induced and Human-Aggravated Natural disasters,” some 100 participants, including experts, have gathered for the three-day congress held at the SEARCA Drilon hall of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB), Laguna.

                Dr. Luis Rey Velasco, Chancellor of the UPLB, welcomed the participants, stressing that the event was “timely” as the country is still reeling from the effects of recent typhoons that entered the country.

                According to Dr. Roger Z. Guzman, PFEC executive director, the 15^th National Environmental Congress served as a venue for mainstreaming the issues and problems of adaptation to climate change.

                “There is a need to integrate adaptation strategies that are realistic and holistic in the decision-making processes and structures,” Dr. Guzman said.           

               Quoting reports from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  (IPCC),  Dr.  Rodel D. Lasco,  (IPCC) coordinating lead author,  said “Climate change is likely to affect forest expansion and migration, and exacerbate threats to biodiversity resulting from land use or cover change and population pressure in most of Asia.”

                IPCC is a scientific intergovernmental body tasked to assess the risk of climate change caused by human activity. The panel was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), two organizations of the United Nations.

                Dr. Lasco, who also serves as the country coordinator of International Center for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF),  warned that the earth is “warming” and that it would have “adverse impacts on the environment.” He then urged participants to “adapt now and we cannot wait any longer.”

                Ten resource speakers from academic institutions, government agencies, and other non-government organizations helped shed light on climate change, its impacts, and measures that people can do to address this phenomenon.

                Ricardo M. Sandalo , National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) progamme manager, and Dr. Rosa T. Perez, senior climate specialist of Manila Observatory in Ateneo De Manila University, both discussed climate change in a national context.  Sandalo presented the “National Climate Change Program,” while Perez tackled the Philippines’ vulnerability to climate change and disasters.

                The other speakers were Perla Visorro, executive director of Cagayan Valley Partners in People Development (CAVAPPED); Margarita D. De la Cruz, executive director of  Guiuan Development Foundation Inc. (GDFI); and Dr. Hospicio C. Conanan, Jr., president of Konsumo Dabaw. The three presented climate change issues and other environmental concerns in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao respectively.

                Dr. Nereus O. Acosta, associate professor at the Asian Institute of Management and the Ateneo de Manila University, gave a presentation on “Securing Lifeboats and Lifelines: Understanding Sea Level Rise, Storm Surge, and Saltwater Intrusion.” He showed flood simulations in the country that provided a “very rough indicator of areas that may be vulnerable to sea level rise, storm surge, saltwater intrusion, or a combination of these.”

                One of the highlights of the congress was the sharing of community-based initiatives and good practices being carried out by various groups in different areas.  Henry Binahon, president of Landcare-Lantapan in Bukidon shared their experience in agroforestry while Dr. Rowena R. Boquiren of Conservation International-Philippines, presented the efforts of their group in biodiversity.  Pastor Delbert Rice, of Kalahan in Nueva Vizcaya; Marigold Medina of Laguna lake Development Authority; and Dr. Asuncion B. de Guzman of Mindanao State University reported on the development of their projects on forestry, urban area, and marine or coastal environment respectively.

                As part of the workshop done after all the presentations, the participants developed proposals by Island to address specific issues and problems they encounter on the ground. A group of panel of reactors helped the participants improve their proposals. The panel was composed of  Dr. Ruth Sarra Guzman, member of the Technical Review Committee of United Nations Development Program-Global Environment Facility-Small Grants Facility (UNDP-GEF-SGP); Dr. Cely Binoya, director of Research and Extension Department of Central Bicol State University; and Atty. Jose Andres A. Canivel, executive director of Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF).

                The last day of the congress allowed participants to visit LLDA’s biogas project in Nagcarlan, Laguna and the Los Baños Ecowaste Processing Center. ###

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