MESSAGE OF THE PENRO

ILOCOS NORTE GREEN SUMMIT AND ENVIRONMENT MONTH CULMINATION PROGRAM

June 30, 2014 La Tabacalera Lifestyle Center Function Hall, Laoag City


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To our guest of honour and speaker, Atty. Joel Garcia; the resource speakers of the
summit who have delivered informative issues and concerns regarding our
environment; the municipal planning and local environment officers from the LGUs, our
friends from the academe, media, church and business sector, and our partners from
the different government agencies and non- government organizations, isang
makakalikasang pagbati po, sa inyong lahat!
First, let me congratulate the organizers and the different stakeholders for the success
of the month- long celebration of environment month thank you po sa inyong lahat sa
inyong walang sawang pagsuporta.
The Philippines is considered as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change.
With impacts ranging from extreme weather events and periodic inundation to droughts
and food scarcity, climate change has been a constant reality that many Filipinos have
had to face.
Most affected are those living in coastal communities and the lower rung urban
communities that lack awareness on proper disaster preparedness measures to take. As
it is, climate change impacts have not only intensified from an imbalanced natural eco-
system, but every onslaught has become unpredictable.
Last week, the World Bank launched a global report titled Turn Down the Heat: Climate
Extremes, Regional Impacts and the Case for Resilience. The study says that climate
change-related impacts are projected to increase in the coming decades, threatening in
particular:
Coastal populations: Climate change is expected to lead to more intense typhoons,
higher sea levels, and storm surges. Storm surges are projected to affect about 14
percent of the total population and 42 percent of coastal populations. Informal
settlements, which account for 45 percent of the Philippines urban population, are
particularly vulnerable to floods due to less secure infrastructure, reduced access to
clean water, and lack of health insurance.
Farming and fishing: Climate-related impacts are expected to reduce agricultural
productivity in the Philippines. Also, warming oceans and ocean acidification affect coral

MESSAGE OF THE PENRO
ILOCOS NORTE GREEN SUMMIT AND ENVIRONMENT MONTH CULMINATION PROGRAM
June 30, 2014 La Tabacalera Lifestyle Center Function Hall, Laoag City


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reefs which serve as feeding and spawning grounds for many fish species that support
the livelihoods of fisher folks.
In the Philippines, the report entitled Getting a Grip on Climate Change in the
Philippines looks at the innovations as well as gaps in policy and financing of climate
change programs since the country adopted the Climate Change Act four years ago.
The report done at the request of, and in close collaboration with the Climate Change
Commission (CCC) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) provides
detailed analysis and recommendations on how the country could accelerate reforms
for managing the growing climate change impacts and increasing greenhouse gas
emissions while contributing to poverty reduction.
The report provides recommendations along three themes:
Strengthening the planning, execution, and financing framework for climate change;
Enhancing leadership and accountability through monitoring, evaluation, and review
of climate change policies and activities; and
Building the countrys capacity and managing change
The report also underscores that while the government builds resilience to climate
change impacts, it should also ensure that the countrys emissions of greenhouse gases
(e.g. methane and carbon dioxide) remain in check.
Though a minor contributor to climate change globally, the Philippines greenhouse gas
emissions rank in the top 25 percent among low- and middle-income countries, with
significant increases projected in the coming decades. Emissions from the energy sector
are projected to quadruple by 2030, with the transport sector expected to double its
emissions.
In view of the reports, facts, and figures that we have just heardhere lies a big
question that needs a straightforward answer: WHAT CAN WE DO? Particularly in the
local setting?
MESSAGE OF THE PENRO
ILOCOS NORTE GREEN SUMMIT AND ENVIRONMENT MONTH CULMINATION PROGRAM
June 30, 2014 La Tabacalera Lifestyle Center Function Hall, Laoag City


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The answer is Resilience! Now is the time to shout out and raise our voices for
resilience and not the sea level as our theme goes.
The tasks before national and local leaders are straightforward. We have to make Ilocos
Norte and our grassroots communities safer, more resilient, and even more ready to act
when disaster strikes.
Committing to make our cities and municipalities disaster- resilient means increasing
our investments in disaster risk reduction, conducting and sharing risks assessments,
establishing effective and efficient early warning systems, protecting our ecosystems,
more IEC driven activities such as the Green Summit that we have just conducted today,
among other actions.
We must link disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation to national and local
development planning; we must build homes, schools and hospitals that are safe and
secure amidst natural hazards; we must design and construct roads, bridges, and other
infrastructure that help spur economic growth with disaster risk reduction in mind; we
must recover and rebuild from any disaster impacts with building-back-better-and-
greener as objective.
Disaster risk reduction essentially means genuine developmentdevelopment that is
sustainable and economic growth that is resilient.
As local government leaders, planners, and environmental advocates, we have the
moral responsibility, not just our national or provincial government, or the DENR, and
other agencies, to usher in and achieve genuine development for our communities.
Closest to the people, local government leaders have the privilege to translate and
execute national policies, plans and programs into concrete and visible actions for the
people. Much is expected from you by the people.
The people expect good governance. But let me assure you that governing with effective
disaster risk reduction is certainly a mark of good local governance.
I am sure that we, Ilocanos expect a better life, a brighter future. Let me further assure
you that there is no better way to realize that aspiration than planning rightly and
MESSAGE OF THE PENRO
ILOCOS NORTE GREEN SUMMIT AND ENVIRONMENT MONTH CULMINATION PROGRAM
June 30, 2014 La Tabacalera Lifestyle Center Function Hall, Laoag City


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pursuing development that promotes equitable and sustainable growth and good care
of the environment.
Delivering well in these two expectations are legacies that you could certainly be proud
of and for which the people will surely appreciate and long remember your service to
them.
Again, congratulations to all of us for another fruitful celebration of environment
month. May we all keep on raising our voices for resiliency and continue to be vigilant in
safeguarding our environment. Thank you and good afternoon to all!