PRESS RELEASE
Department of Agriculture RFU 5
San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur
March 30, 2012

The Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the City Environment Office of Naga City conducted a tree planting activity at the GSP compound in Panicuason, Naga City. This is part of the culminating activity of the women's month celebration with a theme "Women Weathering Climate Change: Governance Accountability Everyone's Responsibility".

Over 50 RIC members,4H club members and DA employees joined in the activity. Aside from tree planting a Seminar on Ecological Waste Management and Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation was also conducted at Peñafrancia Resort in Naga City.

According to DA GAD focal person Aloha Gigi Bañaria, the activity proves that disaster risk reduction and building resilient communities is everyone's responsibility. She underscored the important role of women as powerful agents of change in relation to disaster risk reduction. She challenged the group to help build a gender-responsive and resilient communities where everyone should be vigilant, responsible and prepared for any disaster that come their way. She also encouraged the women to participate in any government programs and projects geared towards DRR and climate change adaptation. She commended the group for joining in the tree planting and plans to conduct another similar activity to the area and monitor the pili trees planted to ensure they really grow and plant some more.

Mr. Nolasco Jesalva representing Civil Service Commission (CSC) Director Jocelyn Marifosque said that they lauded the efforts of the DA for coming up with this activity. He said that climate change is here and we are experiencing it now. Planting trees, waste segregation are only part of the many activities that could help mitigate climate change. He believes that working together and empowering women would somehow address some of the pressing issues in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

ENRO chief Oscar Orozco on the other hand discussed the projects and programs of Naga City on ecological waste management. He reminded the group of the earth hour scheduled March 31, 2012 at 8:30-9:30 pm. But Naga City will practice earth hour everyday as a gesture of going beyond the hour to commit to lasting action on climate change and in protecting planet earth. Orozco explained that Naga City has strictly implemented RA 9003 or an act providing for an ecological solid waste management program. Under its solid waste management system it has transformed from open dumpsite to controlled dumpsite to materials recovery facility and now they are into waste to energy. The waste to energy project will formally operate by mid 2013. With 100 tons of garbage it can gasify to generate 8 megawatts electric power.

DA Agriculturist Lorenzo Alvina also discussed climate change adaptation and emphasized the good practices for risk reduction. He provided the participants with the options to enhance the resilience of farming systems of vulnerable households and communities. (mabelle r.ilan)