Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Jonas Leones said Monday that the Philippines cannot escape the threats of climate change and can only adapt to its effects.
At a public briefing, Leones answered questions about DENR's actions in the light of the issue of climate change, which President Rodrigo Duterte claimed was the reason for the excessive floods in Cagayan.
“Despite our efforts to rehabilitate our forests through our national greening program, talagang ang pagbabago ng klima talagang hindi natin maiiwasan. Nandito na po sa ating paligid 'yan,” Leones stated.
He stated that what Filipinos need to do is to adapt to the effects of climate change, adding that there is a need to do and implement projects to combat this problem.
“Napansin natin sa Cagayan, malakas po talaga ang tubig, ang bagyong dumaan diyan at maraming tubig ang bumababa kung kaya't nagpabaha diyan. Nagkaroon ng flooding sa Cagayan,” Leones added.
According to Leones, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar can collaborate in developing innovative infrastructures that can help in controlling floods.
President Duterte stated on a briefing on Sunday that "Ang problema talaga is whether we accept it or not, yung climate change. The warm climate that boils the Pacific Ocean, there's a lot of water vapor going upstairs and accumulating into so much rain."
Duterte claimed that climate change caused severe weather disturbances in the country, resulting in the massive flooding in Cagayan and Isabela, to cite a few.
Words by Lorille Antoinette Mata Layout by Kiziah Magbanua
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