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Deal signed to put up Climate Smart Hub in Bicol

By Mike Dela Rama

March 27, 2019, 8:26 pm

<p><strong>MOU SIGNING.</strong> (From left to right) Mayors Jorem Arcangel of Jovellar town and Noel Rosal of Legazpi City, both in Albay, sign a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of the Climate Smart Hub in the province at Ninong's Hotel in Legazpi City, March 27, 2019. <em>(Photo by Mike dela Rama)</em></p>

MOU SIGNING. (From left to right) Mayors Jorem Arcangel of Jovellar town and Noel Rosal of Legazpi City, both in Albay, sign a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of the Climate Smart Hub in the province at Ninong's Hotel in Legazpi City, March 27, 2019. (Photo by Mike dela Rama)

LEGAZPI CITY -- Members of a multi-sectoral group coming from government and private institutions, academe, media, civic organizations, and religious and business associations signed here on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the establishment of the Climate Smart Hub for Albay.

“It is necessary to establish the LGU hub for transformation from climate vulnerable to disaster-resilient Albay (CVDRAL) and Climate Smart Hub to gather strength and resources in combating environmental problems and to improve technologies in achieving food for the table, water security, environmental stability and other requirements of the country’s economic recovery,” said 2nd District Representative Joey Sarte Salceda in an interview a day before the signing at the Ninong’s Hotel in this city.

Salceda said Albay is highly vulnerable to natural disasters and climate-related hazards such as typhoons, floods, landslide, drought, volcanic eruption, earthquake, lahar and lava/pyroclastic flows and even tsunami that threaten life, properties, natural resources and disrupt social and economic activities.

The MOU was signed after a series of consultative meetings organized by the Local Climate Change Adaptation for Development (LCCAD) and the 2nd Congressional District Office of Albay among representatives from national government agencies, the private sector and other stakeholders.

Salceda said the hub is a support system to transform the province from being climate vulnerable to becoming climate smart and to function basically as coordinative, collaborative, advisory, policy and management body for CVDRAL programs, projects and related activities in Albay or the Bicol region.

“The CVDRAL and Climate Smart Hub is a learning living laboratory, repository of data and processing and the hub shall respect the mandates and authorities of the respective government entities, institutions, and multiple stakeholders,” he added.

The lawmaker said the Duterte administration envisions an empowered Bicol Region where the people are savvy in using future development scenarios to address location-specific climate risks and to determine the best technology for sustainable use of resources.

Salceda is recognized as the country’s “Green Economist” and internationally known as champion of climate change adaptation.

Present during the MOU signing were First District Rep. Edcel Lagman, Mayors Pat Alsua of Ligao City, Noel Rosal of Legazpi and Jorem Arcangel of Jovellar town, who is president of the League of Municipalities in Albay. Salceda failed to attend as he was said to be running a fever. (PNA)

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