Negros Oriental to hold summit on climate change

MANILA, Philippines - Government officials and environmentalists will take part in a summit on climate change in Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental province on May 23. Online news site Visayan Daily Star reported that the Negros Oriental Advisory Council on Climate Change has invited Science secretary Estrella Alabastro to key note the event. Alabastro was chosen on the suggestion of Dr. Henry Sojor, president of the Negros Oriental State University. Sojor said Alabastro an expert on global warming, will tackle scientific and technical matters involving climate change. The summit is expected to draw over 400 participants from both the Oriental and Occidental sides of Negros Island. Other speakers include environmentalist Angel Alcala who will speak on the vulnerability of Negros Island to global warming and Silliman University president Ben Malayang III, who will talk on the mitigation aspect of the effects of global warming. The summit will include a plenary presentation in the morning and a workshop in the afternoon. Local Environment and Natural Resources Division chief Mercy Teves said participants will be divided into five groups and each will discuss one of the following topics: forest and water, agriculture, health, clean energy and coastal matters. Expected to attend are governors, vice governors, chairmen of the committees on environment, health and agriculture as well as the provincial, city, municipal planning, environment, health and agriculture officers of the two provinces. At the end of the summit, participants are expected to come up with a unified stand and commitment to address the global environmental threat. - GMANews.TV