MARIKINA CITY, July 19 (Lamudi) – Preservation of peace and environment is the emphasis of the third forum before President Duterte delivers his State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 22. Resiliency underpins this pre-SONA forum held at SMX-Davao City last July 17.

Among cabinet members present are Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Secretary Delfin Lorenzana of the Department of National Defense, and Secretary Roy Cimatu of the Department of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar hosts and moderates the event attended by representatives from the public and private sectors.

Themed as “Patuloy na Katatagan,” the third pre-SONA event features key updates by Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation and Disaster Risk Reduction Cluster (CCAM-DRRC), and the Security, Justice and Peace Cluster (SJPC).

Four-Year, P10-Billion Road Map to Resiliency

“Readiness and preparedness are key to resiliency,” says Secretary Cimatu. “A little over 10 billion were targeted as investments for (climate-change) vulnerable provinces.”

The DENR identifies 22 provinces in the Philippines that are vulnerable to climate change. In its 2018-2022 road map, CCAM-DRR’s priority provinces for 2019 are the Dinagat islands, Masbate, Negros Oriental, Sarangani Sorsogon, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Western Samar. Selection is based on high poverty rate, susceptibility to hazards, and degraded state of watersheds.

Sitting as head of the CCAM-DRR cluster, Secretary Cimatu adds that the investments will include the protection, preservation and management of the following: agriculture and fisheries, environment, social welfare and livelihood, water resources, and infrastructure.

The CCAM-DRR cluster works together with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in achieving its four-year road map toward resiliency. DA’s key contribution is to upgrade the knowledge, skills, and experience of Filipino farmers and fisherfolks, so that they carry out their livelihood without endangering the environment. Meanwhile, DAR will enhance the assistance extended to its beneficiaries to build resiliency.

The 2018-2022 road map of the CCAM-DRR has recommended climate-change adaptability upgrades in 22 provinces, 822, coastal municipalities, and some key cities in the country.

The Philippines ranks fifth in Germanwatch’s assessment report, Long-Term Global Climate Risk Index. The country has an average CRI score of 20.17, which covers the period of 1997 up to 2016. Taking stock of past lessons in managing and mitigating risks during disasters, the present administration has ratified in 2017 the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, joining 133 other countries.

Peace through capability upgrades

Enforcement of environmental laws is critical to the success of Secretary Cimatu’s road map to climate change resiliency. Alongside him at the pre-SONA forum in Davao City, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana reports on the progress of his programs in enhancing the capability of the police and the military.

“Our service to the nation will not be possible without adequate equipment and a credible workforce,” says Secretary Lorenzana. “That is why we at the Security, Justice, and Peace Cluster have relentless pursued our modernization and capability upgrade(s).”

According to Secretary Lorenzana, the Philippine Air Force has 15 completed projects, the Army four, and the Navy also four. Also included are arsenal upgrades and projects for the General Headquarters.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police has acquired 85,000 firearms between the period of 2017 and 2018. Of the PNP’s 181 stations all over the country, 96 are under construction to improve police visibility and law enforcement in the streets.

“The President also considers the welfare of our uniformed men as one of his top priorities,” he adds. “Our men-in-uniform received higher wages in 2018, ranging from 20 to 100 percent base pay.”

Capping the Three-Part Pre-SONA Briefings

The final forum in Davao City last July 17 is third of the pre-SONA briefings, which the PCCO organizes every year since the start of the Duterte administration. They serve as extensions of the President’s annual SONAs, fleshing out the finer details of the government’s priority programs, and allowing for a greater number of Filipinos to interact directly with the Cabinet on these programs.

The first pre-SONA forum is entitled “Patuloy na Pag-unlad.” The Economic Development and Infrastructure Cluster leads this kick off pre-SONA briefing last July 1, held in Manila. It is followed by the “Patuloy na Malasakit at Pagkakaisa,” the second pre-SONA forum led by the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster and the Participatory Governance Cluster last July 10 in Cebu City.

Mandated under Article VII, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution, the President of the Philippines delivers an annual State of the Nation Address. It is a two-fold report that describes the country’s current state and that unveils the government’s priority agenda for the following year.