BONTOC, Mountain Province – The members of the general public services, social services, and economic sectors of the Provincial Development Council presented and discussed various projects and plans concerning climate change, agriculture and other matters during the council’s second quarter meeting held at the Chico River Breeze Function Hall today, May 22, 2024.
Community Affairs Officer June C. Pinayakan, on behalf of PDC Chair and Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr., opened the meeting with a message expressing his and the governor’s appreciation to the members for their presence and coordination.
“It is but proper that the attendance for today will be more than expected. Why? You are a council for PDC. Your pieces of advice are very much needed for the implementation of not only the provincial programs but also other programs that are being downloaded to our province,” he said.
In his presentation, Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer V Ian Neil D. Culallad informed that the Mountain Province is among the top 24 provinces in the country and the 4th in Cordillera Administrative Region that is highly susceptible to the multiple risks of climate change. Hence, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office came up with the Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP) for CY 2022-2026 as an effort to effectively manage the impacts of climate change in the province.
Culallad said the LCCAP serves as an effective tool against the risks of climate change that contains mitigation and adaptive initiatives for the increasing temperature, floods, rain-induced landslides, tropical cyclones or typhoons, and drought, among others.
Meanwhile, Engineer Jose Aligo from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) also gave a presentation on the DAR’s Value-chain Innovation for Sustainable Transformation in Agrarian Reform Commodities or VISTA Project. Aligo explained that the project aims to reduce rural poverty and increase food security while protecting and enhancing the natural ecosystems in vulnerable upland areas. In addition, it will increase the income, employment and climate resilience of target groups in fragile upland areas, including women, youth, and indigenous peoples by strengthening the inclusive value chains thru conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
Other highlights of the meeting include the presentation of the updated Provincial Commodity Investment Plan by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, the Gender and Development (GAD) programs, projects, and activities of the different Provincial Government offices by the GAD Technical Working Group, and the Provincial Annual Investment Plan for 2025 by the Office of the Provincial Planning and Development Officer. By HENT
