Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Philippines' Arroyo puts climate change on agenda

Reuters (Environment): Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo urged the two chambers of Congress on Tuesday to swiftly enact legislative measures addressing climate change while taking steps to prevent flooding and landslides….

The president gave Congress leaders a priority list of 28 legislative measures her government wanted enacted during the next 12 months, classified into three areas -- economy, social equity and rule of law.

"The present water and power shortages due to the dry spell deliver a wake up call for our generation to urgently embark upon a determined, well-planned and -funded wide-ranging strategic initiative to conserve resources," Arroyo said.

Authorities have said they may have to cut water supply to Manila due to an unusual dry spell drying up dams and ricefields in the north of the country.

"We must also build up the environment through forest conservation and expansion to absorb greenhouse gases warming the world and to enhance our water resources while preventing floods, erosion and situation," Arroyo said.

Nearly 2,000 people were killed or declared missing and tens of thousands were homeless after a slew of typhoons crashed into the centre of the country last year, triggering floods and landslides.

The president said she had instructed cabinet members handling energy, environment and economic planning to draw up policies and programs designed to "reduce the usage of water and energy per unit of farm, factory and other economic output."

Among the legislative measures focusing on the environment her government submitted to Congress were laws on renewable energy, land use and a national strategy to conserve resources and help arrest climate change.

No comments: