AGRO-INDUSTRIAL INITIATIVES. Climate Change Commission (CCC) commissioner Albert dela Cruz Sr. (left) on Wednesday (Feb. 15, 2023) visits Ocampo, Camarines Sur to meet with the town mayor, Ronald Allan Go (right), as well as with Presidential Adviser for Bicol Affairs Undersecretary Rex Villegas and other municipal officials, to discuss the climate action plans. During the meeting, dela Cruz emphasized the need to pursue agro-industrial initiatives to ensure food and human security in the country. (Photo courtesy of CCC)
MANILA – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) on Wednesday sought to strengthen its partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) for more agricultural ventures.
In a statement, CCC Commissioner Albert dela Cruz Sr. said jumpstarting new agriculture ventures with DA would help local government units (LGUs) and other stakeholders establish a "whole-of-nation and community" approach to addressing climate change and global warming.
Dela Cruz issued the statement, as he emphasized the need to pursue agro-industrial initiatives to ensure food and human security in the country.
In line with the Marcos administration’s climate action advocacy for sustainable development through the Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP), dela Cruz went to Ocampo, Camarines Sur to discuss climate action plans with the town mayor, Ronald Allan Go, the CCC said.
The meeting, also attended by Presidential Adviser Undersecretary Rex Villegas, other municipal officials, and private proponents, was held at Go's office.
The CCC said dela Cruz and Go are eyeing a collaboration to make Ocampo town become the "country's food basket," particularly in the Bicol region.
"With regard to plans of action within Ocampo town, dela Cruz conferred with Mayor Go the possibilities of ensuring safe and compliant slaughterhouse facilities in the municipality through the National Meat Inspection Service," the commission said. "Aside from this, dela Cruz likewise discussed with the local government chief executive how the CCC could assist in the formulation of a comprehensive land use plan that would benefit his constituents and the whole country."
On Monday, CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert Borje pledged to continue stepping up cooperation with various sectors to help the country achieve climate-resilient agriculture practices.
The Philippines' geographical location and archipelagic formulation make it one of the most vulnerable nations in the world to climate change.
Dela Cruz, along with fellow CCC commissioner Rachel Ann Herrera, repeatedly emphasized the importance of partnerships with LGUs for the speedy implementation of climate action nationwide to attain sustainable development.
Dela Cruz and Herrera both believed that the creation of more green jobs and other pro-environment efforts would mitigate the impact of climate change, as well as help the country adapt and gain benefits from the phenomenon.
“Climate action has no political color like what our beloved President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Romualdez Marcos Jr. has repeatedly said. It is an issue we should all face in unity and with each other’s help,” dela Cruz said. (PNA)
