The city government of Baguio will hold a summit on climate change on Feb. 9 and 22 at the Baguio Cultural and Convention Center with the theme, “Sama-samang tumutugon sa hamon ng nagbabagong klima.”
One hundred participants from the Baguio Climate Change Committee and other stakeholders will attend the whole-day forum/workshop on Feb. 9, and 100 participants from the barangays, civil society organizations, and youth groups will meet for the summit on Feb. 22.
The program will be live-streamed online to reach more audience, said City Environment and Parks Management Office Assistant Head, Engr. Marivic Empizo.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong will deliver the keynote message for the summit.
The climate change summit is part of Magalong’s seven-point core agenda which includes environment, land use and energy, climate and disaster resilience, urban regeneration, youth empowerment, economic development, and competitiveness.
The mayor also chairs the Climate Change Council with members from the local government unit, government-owned and controlled organizations, private sector, academe, and non-government organizations.
The Environmental Management Board will provide an overview on climate change, while Cepmo head Atty. Rhenan Diwas will present the Baguio Local Climate Change Action Plan and the salient provisions of the city’s environmental code.
Speaker-representatives from the transport, electricity, water, and waste disposal bodies are from the Department of Transportation, Benguet Electric Cooperative, Baguio Water District, and the Zero Waste Baguio group, respectively.
Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda will present the city’s legislative support and initiatives for environmental programs while City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office head Antonette Anaban will report on resilient cities.
The summit aims to promote awareness and implementation of interrelated programs to help decrease the effects of climate change. Adaptation and mitigation action and practices to reduce greenhouse gas emission will also be discussed.
A synthesis of the presentations and inputs will be presented at the end of the forum to establish the needed action and ways forward among the stakeholders. – Julie G. Fianza
