“ILIGAN CITY HELD SUCCESSFUL CLIMATE ACTION EVENT”
Image by 350.org
PRESS RELEASE
Iligan City
October 24, 2009
Reference: Mark Cervantes
09098798946
“ILIGAN CITY HELD SUCCESSFUL
CLIMATE ACTION EVENT”
Today, Iligan City indeed witnessed the biggest collaboration work on environmental advocacy after 20 years. A collaboration which will formally discuss one of the most significant and relevant issues of the time, CLIMATE CHANGE. The 1-day event that ended late in the evening of October 24 hoped to have deepened the understanding of the Iliganon on climate change at the same time concrete climate actions will be discussed between the sectors who participated in this global event.
The October 24 “International Day of Climate Action” that is organized by the Iligan climaX or Climate Action Alliance which is composed of different non-government organizations, schools, private sectors, religious groups and the City Government of Iligan. The alliance aims to sustain its work on climate change action after October 24th. The said event is in solidarity with the global call of 350.org.
The kick-off of the event which is the 350 human formation that was organized in Iligan City National High School (ICNHS) was so far the biggest 350 human formation in the country. Students from ICNHS wore blue bandana’s with climaX logo on it courtesy of Hon. Henry Dy, Vice-Mayor of the City of Iligan. About 50 bikers joined the parade headed by Fr Albert Mendez of the Social Action Center of Iligan Dioces. More than a thousand joined the parade coming from more than 20 different organizations. Most of the participants who joined the parade wore the Climate Action shirt which was donated by DED through Laura Engel.
Upon arrival at MSU-IIT, Hon. Chonilo Ruiz, Dr. Brigida Roscom of MSU-IIT and Nanette Antequisa, Executive Director of EcoWEB led the ribbon cutting ceremony. A short program was held at IDS-Multi Purpose Hall wherein Nanette Antequsia, ED of EcoWEB gave the rationale of the whole event. Dr. Brigida Roscom Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development welcomed the participants wherein she stressed the October 24 is a special day since is United Nations Day but this year’s October 24th is more special because Iligan City will be taking a challenge towards climate action.
Mayor Lawrence LL. Cruz gave his speech wherein he highlighted the significance and relevance of the said issue. He then offered the organizers to join him in his trip to Manila to attend a national forum on Climate Change and EcoWEB, Inc decided to join him for national platforming. A representative of Cong. Vicente “Varf” Belmote, Jr graced the event and read the solons message which centers on supporting the call of climax to put priority on Disaster Risk Reduction and to support the Hyogo Framework for Action at the same time be active on climate change discussions. Hon. Chonilo Ruiz focused his discusion on the work of the City Government on Solid Waste Management. Hon. Ruiz participated in the whole day as early as 7am until the end of the climate action jam at 930pm.
Fr. Albert Mendez of the Social Action Center read the Pastoral Letter of Bishop Elenito Galido which centers on the moral obligation of everybody to protect the earth. Diane Therese M. Rubio, a Grade 5 student from Iligan City East Central School read a powerful challenge from the children to the Government Officials of Iligan City and the NGOs present in the event hall. Octava Chorale silenced the hall with their solemn doxology and national anthem while Kalimulan renewed the nationalistic and ultural pride of the Filipinos with their ethnic dance performace.
Jean Baptiste Pertriaux, a French Agronomist who is currently based in Iligan and is helping some farmers presented and discussed Organic Agriculture and Climate Change at the event hall. After his talk, Signos, a video documnentary on climate change was aired at the MSU-IIT Board Room. EcoWEB received two copies of Signos videos from GMA 7 and Spectrum, an NGO alliance from General Santos City.
The main library hallway was swarmed by various exhibits which showcased various initiatives on climate action including community based projects and organically grown vegetables. Exibitors includes the Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits, Inc., City Environment Management Office (CEMO), Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB), Office of Hon. Chonilo Ruiz, Mindanao Tripartite Youth Core-MYCOP, Civil Society Organizations Forum for Peace, Inc., Social Action Center-Diocese of Iligan, Iligan School for the Deaf and KUMON-Iligan, Jean Baptiste Pertriaux, EcoWEB partners from Poona Piagapo Kolambogan, Lanao Food Processors, BIRTHDEV and Serviamus Foundation, Inc.
One of the highlights of the exhibits was the actions area which is centered to the photo stories and artworks of the deaf mute students of the Iligan School for the Deaf which is being assisted by Grace Quijano of KUMON-Iligan. Mayor Cruz visited the exhibit area wherein he was able to view some of the pictures during the January 2009 flashflood in Iligan which destroyed the school of the deafmute. Mayor Cruz advised Ms. Quijano and EcoWEB, Inc to meet with him again and discuss the said concern.
In the afternoon, the forum entitled “Building Resilient Communities: Navigating through the Fast Changing Climate” was held successfully by the Department of Reseach. The forum was held at the MSU-IIT Board Room.
Topics presented includes “Current Climate Patterns in Mindanao” by Mr. Ric Mercado of PAGASA Region X; “The Role of the Government on Climate Change” by Dir. Carmelito Lupo of the Office of the Civil Defense Region X; “Application of GIS for Identification of Flood-Prone Areas” by Mr. Dexter Lo of Xavier University; “Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change” by Mark Cervantes of EcoWEB, Inc and “Pugaan River Protection and Enhancement Project: Disaster Risk Reduction through micro-watershed management modeling in river basins” by Dr. Torres of Save Iligan River Movement; “Linking Climate Change and Solid Waste Management” by Hon. Chonilo Ruiz and finally, “Climate Change and Conflict” by Rock-rock Antequisa of the Catholic Aid for Overseas Development. The said forum ended at almost 7 in the evening because of some significant questions from the participants. Laura Engel of DED gave the closing remarks which centered on
her experience in Germany on environmental consciousness and activism.
The whole day event ended with a Climate Action Jam at the Public Plaza wherein 4 bands performed including a musician from a lumad community in Baragay Rogongon, Iligan City. Bands that shared their talents during the event includes Kapagintaw, Agus and Violy and Company. The Lunad musician played 5 seperate native instruments and challenged the participants to be active and vigilant in the preservation and protection of the indigenous culture like what they have in Brgy. Rogongon.
OCTOBER 24 organizers, participating and support groups includes;
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits, Inc./Mindanao Commission on Women
Serviamus Foundation Inc/Civil Society Organization-Forum for Peace
Social Action Center-Diocese of Iligan City/Kapamagogopa Inc
Spiritan Community/Save Iligan Rivers Movement
Philippine Federation of Environmental Concerns/BIRTHDEV
ICCRN, Inc/Radya Al-Salam Foundation, Inc./Kaabag Ranaw Inc.
Philippine Muslim Welfare Society/Kalimudan Foundation, Inc.
Pakigdait, Inc./RCJP/SALIDA/The Fraternal Order of Eagles/Life for Water
Mindanao Tripartite Youth Core-MYCOP/Bantay ng Bayan
Paglingkawas Multi-Purpose Cooperative
Higaonon Community of Iligan City
Community Based Organizations from Kolambugan, Maigo,
Poona Piagapo of Lanao del Norte and Opol of Misamis Orientatal
Philippine National Red Cross
ACADEME AND CULTURAL GROUPS
Mindanao State University-Iiligan Institute of Technology
(OVCRE and IPDM)/ Iligan City National High School/KUMON-Iligan
Xavier University-Cagayan de Oro
Iligan School for the Deaf/Kapagintaw Band/Agus Band
OCTAVA CHORALE/KALIMULAN/MUSIRAMA
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OFFICIALS
Congressman Vicente “Varf” Belmonte
Office of Mayor Lawrence LL Cruz/Vice Mayor Henry Dy
/Office of Councilor Chonilo Ruiz
Office of Councilor Orlando Maglinao/Office of Hon. Ariel Anghay
Iligan City Environment and Management Office
Solid Waste Management Board/Emergency 811
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
CENRO, Iligan /Iligan City Disaster Coordinating Counci/BACUD-Iligan
Office the Civil Defense-NDCC/PAGASA/104th Brigade
Municipality of Kolambugan-LN/Municipality Opol-Misamis Or.
Municipality of Poona Piagapo-LN
MEDIA
Violy Gloria of Mindanews
Mr. Richel Umel
INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES
Catholic Agency for Overseas Development
Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst-DED
Non-Violent Peace Force
OTHERS
Rivertracks/VitaPlus
Mark A. Cervantes
Project Officer
Disaster Risk Reduction
"Risk Reduction is the concrete translation of Precautionary Principle"
Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits, Inc. (ECOWEB)
#1 Pitimini St., Corpus Christi Village
Brgy Tubod, Iligan City 9200, Philippines
Telefax: +63.63.2210322
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
www.ecowebph.org
