Capiz, Iloilo unites for climate change adaptation

ALLIANCE. Evelyn Trompeta (left), regional director of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG-6), leads the signing of the memorandum of agreement for the Panay River Basin Alliance last August 30. Joining her (from left) are Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco Sr., Iloilo Vice Gov. Raul Tupas, Office of Civil Defense (OCD-6) regional director Rosario Cabrera,Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-6) regional director Leo Van Juguan, and Roxas City Mayor Angel Alan Celino. (Tara Yap)

TWO neighboring provinces in Panay Island have united to combat climate change while strengthening the resiliency of communities against natural disasters.

Initiated by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG-6), the Panay River Basin Alliance for Capiz and Iloilo provinces was formally launched last August 30 in Iloilo City.

“Local governments are taking part in building a disaster-resilient and climate change adaptive local governments,” said DILG-6 regional director Evelyn Trompeta.

“For the past few years, several typhoons have passed through the communities along the Panay River Basin and people have felt the destructive blows,” noted Trompeta.

To curb the socio-economic impacts, DILG-6 initiated the project to enhance disaster preparedness and climate change adaptability in 24 local governments found in Capiz and Iloilo provinces.

The province of Capiz had the most number of local governments that are part of the project. The 15 local governments are Cuartero, Dao, Dumalag, Dumarao, Ivisan, Jamindan, Maayon, Mambusao, Panay, Panitan, Pontevedra, Sapian, Sigma, Tapaz, and Roxas City.

Nine local governments from Iloilo are part of the project: Ajuy, Batad ,Barotac Viejo, Bingawan, Calinog, Lemery, San Dionisio, San Rafael, and Sara.

Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco Sr. said the alliance can help curb the negative impact of perennial flooding that affects 80% of the province.

Iloilo Vice Gov. Raul Tupas said it is imperative that two neighboring provinces to work together and strengthen local development through climate change adaptation programs.

Aside from the local governments, the Panay River Basin Alliance also composes of government agencies.

It includes DILG, Office of Civil Defense (OCD-6), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-6), DENR-6’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-6), Department of Science and Technology (DOST-6), Department of Agriculture (DA-6), National Irrigation Administration (NIA-6), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR-6), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP-6), and the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) of the Philippine Army. (Tara Yap/TheDailyGuardian)