MANILA, Philippines – With climate change turning Philippine weather more powerful and disastrous, the government has taken a more aggressive stance to fight this modern-day threat to humanity.

According to Sec. Mary Ann Lucille L. Sering, Climate Change Commission Vice Chair, President Benigno Aquino III has not lifted Executive Order No. 23, which declared a suspension of all logging activities in the country.

“Forests are considered as good mitigation approach to climate change. They cleanse the air by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing it as oxygen,” Sering explained.

There is much expectation on the National Greening Program to increase forest cover, where about P6B has been earmarked for its implementation for the year 2012 alone, she added.

She also said that the government has provided sufficient funds for the production of a risks map in 3D.  “The map will show areas that would likely be affected in case of flooding or landslide due to typhoons or heavy rains, for instance. It will provide local executives a reliable guide in planning housing projects or public works and prevent loss of lives and property,” Sering said.  The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), who is on top of this project, is set to come out with the map before the end of the year. In the field of agriculture, farmers are now provided with advance weather information to enable them to adjust their planting activities and avoid crop losses.

 
Government statistics from 1996 to 2006 show that the agriculture sector suffered losses amounting to about P12.43 B, where 70.3% is due to typhoons; 17.9% by drought, and 5% by floods.