The most notable environmental changes in the Province are the climactic condition, the frequent occurrence of flashfloods, typhoons, and the unpredictable weather condition. I think the people of Negros Oriental are not coping well enough with these changes although there are some who are trained to respond speedily in times of disasters or calamities like the barangay officials and the local Disaster Risk-Reduction Management Council. Although the ENRD has programs and projects to mitigate, adapt, and reduce impact of disasters or calamities, the government through the PDRRMC is responsible to respond in times of calamities. There are management programs involving the protection of identified watershed areas, the protection of marine reserve areas and coral reefs, waste segregation, the establishment of potable water systems, disaster risk reduction in coordination with PDRRMC, the Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation program, and responsible mining and quarrying.–Joaquin de la Peña, project development officer, Negros Oriental Environment & Natural Resources Division
The Annual Investment Program requires every government agency to allocate five percent of the total budget for the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund. For 2014, this will be around P77.2 million. It will be for infrastructure and preparedness, post-disaster activities and quick response. Seventy percent of this amount is for pre-disaster preparedness activities, and 30 percent for quick response. We have ongoing preparedness projects like river controls and dredging, and the building of roads. Areas prone to calamities have also been given priority. We continue to get damage reports and cost reports on recent floods that affected many areas in the Province. So far, our dump trucks are assisting the Department of Social Welfare & Development, and our backhoes and steamrollers are in the respective sites for rehabilitation. — Engr. Franco Alpuerto, provincial engineer, Negros Oriental
There are many aspects of preparedness including equipping our response capabilities, training on search and rescue, facilitating of the community-based disaster management program. We are now implementing the mandate of RA 1012: Philippine Disaster Risk-Reduction and Management Act of 2010 which involves four thematic areas: Preparedness, Mitigation & Prevention, Response, and Recovery & Rehabilitation. Take for example Banica River along which houses are built. The adaptation measures we can do is to relocate them, or to prepare them for early warning signs such as dark clouds and thunderstorms. Or government will rescue them, if need be. For pre-disaster, we do trainings, advocacies and information campaigns. Section 14 of RA 2012 also says that the Disaster Risk Reduction Program shall be implemented in the curriculum of schools. But until today, it has not been incorporated by the Department of Education and CHED. — Adrian Sedillo, executive director, Provincial Disaster Risk-Reduction Management Council
It’s very frustrating, we’re discussing these things, everybody’s showing concern, but no one’s actually doing anything to solve these problems. It’s the same hypocrisy. I dont think we can address climate change but we should act now. We should plant more trees, clean the rivers and seas, build dikes, improve our drainage canals, and evacuate people living along the Banica River. — Jose Chiu, head, City Disaster Risk-Reduction Management Office
We are adapting to impacts of climate change by minimizing the use of energy. We also do a lot of awareness campaigns. —Woodrow Maquiling Jr., operations officer, City Tourism Office
Our low areas should be rehabilitated. Conduct awareness programs and advocacies, as well as training and information dissemination regarding environmental problems and climate change. We should be aware and be prepared. We should always remember the 5 Ps: Patience, Pursuit of plans, Perseverance, Proper planning, and Prayer. — Atty. Eliezer Escorial, Dumaguete City Prosecutor
The impacts of climate change vary depending on where you are. For example, one’s adaptation to extended rainfall will depend on where one resides — whether urban or rural, coastal or upland, in the plains or in the mountains. For increased temperatures, it would again matter where one resides and what types of activities/livelihood one is in. There are many other scenarios to impacts of climate change: sea level rise, extended drought, more and stronger typhoons, onset of opportunistic diseases, coral bleaching, loss of marine and terrestrial biodiversity, etc. All these have disastrous consequences but if properly understood early on, adaptation measures can be done to alleviate its effects. But know that climate change is a consequence of Global Warming, which is a major science in itself. — Leo Mamicpic, environment advocate
We have assigned a group that will inform residents along the riverbank when it’s time to evacuate. Aside from the early warning devices and information dissemination during typhoon and calamities, we have created a committee that would be ready to assist people who are injured and/or affected. —Viriginia Teves, barangay kagawad, Poblacion 2
We need to plant more trees, and the government should conduct seminars on safety precautions on how to prevent being affected by floods. At least we are confident that we can always call on the authorities who can help people evacuate in times of calamities. —Catherine Guardiano, day care teacher, Upper Luke Wright, Barangay 2
It used to be that we would not be affected by these calamities. But because of climate change, we are now experiencing floods. We should be alert and prepared all the time when these calamities hit us by surprise. — Dr. Demetrio Sy, Urologist
We have become used to it already: we evacuate from our house whenever there’s heavy rain. We immediately pack our important things and leave the area. — Maria Delfa Holgado, homemaker
I think it would be best if we first understand what climate change brings, and what it changes, and then we try to adapt to it. For example, if there is a flood, there should be preparations both from the scientific aspect, as well as from the government. We have to look at the things that we have caused to the environment as a human population. — Michael Alcala, biology professor
We have a lot of programs and activities relating to disaster preparedness, especially with regards to flashfloods, like the Local Flood Early Warning System. With the cooperation of GIZ [Germam Society for International Cooperation], they will help set up sensors, and provide solar markers in our bridges dikes that will measure any increase in the water level. That way, we can inform the people and they can prepare ahead of time. The monitoring will be done in the local DRRMC. —Randy Saldua, action officer, Disaster Risk-Reduction Management Council
The City government of Dumaguete has created a disaster risk-reduction plan that can be implemented during floods, typhoons, earthquakes and other calamities that could possibly hit Dumaguete. We monitor for the northeast monsoon flood, the southwest monsoon flood, the intertropical convergence zone, the low pressure area, and other typhoons or tropical storms. Smart Communications has helped the City with a rain gauge that will collect and measure the amount of precipitation. We installed it in the town of Valencia which, when the rainfall is abnormal, can automatically trigger a rain siren installed in barangay Candau-ay. This is the system we have in the City. We have a warning device so that we can know when the water level is critical, which will indicate when we must start of evacuate. — Rolando Gutib, City fireman
Climate change is a natural phenomenon. Wether we like it or not, we need to adapt and prepare for the impacts. We can keep our drainage clean and plant more trees. [Trees reduce topsoil erosion and slow down water run-off when it more easily gets soaked into the ground.] At Silliman, some of our responses to impacts of climate change include keeping our drainage clean twice a year — before the rainy season and after summer. We have also started building appropriate drainage canals. Our Fire & Rescue team has been able to help the City during calamities, in Iloilo City during the Sendong typhoon, and more recently in Bayawan City. — Engr. Edgar S. Ygnalaga, superintendent, SU Buildings & Grounds
To adapt to the impacts of climate change, we need to educate ourselves first to the effects of climate change. We need to practice helping our environment by the principle of Reduce-Reuse-Recycle. We need to create a friendly environment by planting more trees so that [we create a sink for] carbon dioxide emissions. Politicians also should strictly implement laws that will help the environment, at the same time, protect the people from the effects of climate change. In PAG-ASA, we have conducted seminars for the people to be aware that climate change is happening. We maximize the use of media and technology such as Twitter and the Internet to disseminate information rapidly so that people here in Negros are updated on weather changes and can be prepared, in case of calamities. We have warning devices that tell us when a calamity can occur. We have coordinated with the local government unit and the Department of Interior & Local Govenrment so that people can be informed ahead of time. — Neptune Catarata, OIC-Negros Oriental weather station, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration
Since we are experiencing too much heat nowadays, I thought we needed to upgrade our workplace by installing more air conditioners so that our customers will feel comfortable. But air conditioners are bad for the environment so we decided instead to add electric fans. We need to educate ourselves about the impacts of climate change by being more alert and sensitive on the things that are happening in the surroundings.” — Proprietor, Ink Smart Refilling Station
