TACLOBAN CITY-An environmental group is undertaking several activities designed to make Tacloban a model of climate resiliency.
For one, the Ph Haiyan Advocacy Cooperative, a cooperative formed by concerned individuals from this city in the aftermath of the massive destruction brought by super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ on November 8,2013, has initiated in the planting of mangroves in different coastal areas in the city covering 49 hectares in all.
Mangroves are said to be effective protection against storm surge which was witnessed by the people of Tacloban after it was pummeled by Yolanda that resulted in massive destructions and loss of over 2,200 lives in the city.
Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) is said to be a proof of a natural disaster brought by climate change. It’s considered to be the world’s strongest typhoon to hit inland.
In 2015, the group, which is chaired by a noted neurosurgeon Dr. Gil Asoy, established a beach forest along the shores of Cancabato Bay in San Jose district, this city, by planting more than 3,500 trees of various varieties like talisay, bitaon, and narra.
The Ph Haiyan Advocacy Cooperative also continues to conduct information education campaign on environmental preservation and protection to various communities as well as coastal cleanup, tree planting particularly in Barangay 83(Paraiso),San Jose district.
The group also advocated for the passage of an ordinance (Ordinance 2017-13-29) at the Tacloban city council declaring every Nov.8 as a “Day of Remembrance and Gratitude” which was principally authored by Councilor Aurora Aimee Delgado-Grafil.
They also worked for the crafting of Ordinance Number 2018-13-22 declaring every November 1 to 7 of every year as “climate change adaptation and mitigation week.”
The group has also entered into an agreement with three state universities, Leyte Normal University (LNU), Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) and the University of the Philippines-Tacloban College (UPVTC), all based in this city, for the development of the watershed area in Brgy. Salvacion.
It also sponsored the first Regional Conference on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation on October in 2016 attended by Senators Loren Legarda and Cynthia Villar and on February,2018, led in the 2nd Climate Change Conference and Workshop attended by 500 students coming from various schools across the region.
The group, which is duly-registered with the Cooperative Development Authority, has the following as its board of director members: Pete Ilagan, former undersecretary of the Department of Energy; Mimmiette Bagulaya, former governor of Leyte and former vice mayor of Tacloban City; Dr.Eulito Casas, Jr., of the UPVTC; and Dr. Jude Duarte, the current president of the LNU.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
