DENR exec on climate change: ‘Hindi maiiwasan. Kailangan mag-adapt’

An official from the Environment Department said Monday that the Philippines cannot avoid climate change and it can only adapt to its effects.

At a public briefing, Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones was asked about the efforts of the DENR in light of the issue on climate change, which was blamed by President Rodrigo Duterte for the flooding in Cagayan recently.

“Despite our efforts to rehabilitate our forests through our national greening program, talagang ang pagbabago ng klima talagang hindi natin maiiwasan. Nandito na po sa ating paligid 'yan,” Leones said.

“Ang kinakailangan na lang natin ay talagang mag-adapt dito sa mga epekto ng climate change.Hindi natin maiiwasan kapag nagbago ang klima, talagang kailangan may gawin tayong bagay, mga proyekto,” he added.

For Leones, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar  can work on developing infrastructures that will help in controlling floods.

“Napansin natin sa Cagayan, malakas po talaga ang tubig, ang bagyong dumaan diyan at maraming tubig ang bumababa kung kaya't nagpabaha diyan. Nagkaroon ng flooding sa Cagayan,” Leones said.

“Para maka-adapt tayo diyan, siguro makikipag-coordinate ang ang mga secretaries natin [na] sina Secretary Cimatu and Secretary Villa kung paano magkakaroon ng infrastructure development diyan,” he added.

Citing Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba, Leones said Cagayan River should undergo dredging to widen its river systems to prevent flooding in nearby areas.

“Sa amin pong department, tuloy-tuloy pa rin po ang aming National Greening Program, pagtatanim po sa kagubatan para at least ma-cushion po ang epekto ng climate change,” Leones added.

In a situation briefing on Sunday, Duterte attributed to climate change the severe weather disturbances in the country causing massive flooding like in Cagayan and Isabela.

"Ang problema talaga is whether we accept it or not, yung climate change. The warm climate that boils the Pacific Ocean, there's a lot of water vapor going upstairs and accumulating into so much rain," he said.

Typhoon Ulysses caused widespread flooding throughout Luzon, from the southern Bicol provinces to Metro Manila and Central Luzon to the Cagayan Valley region in the north.

It was the 21st cyclone to enter the Philippines this year.

Duterte also recalled that during the East Asia Summit he attended over the weekend, he emphasized the need for nations to address climate change. — RSJ, GMA News