The Provincial Development Council (PDC) unanimously adopted two important plans formulated by the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) and its working committees in a meeting conducted recently.
PDC Chair Governor Daisy Avance Fuentes, together with other PDC members, first heard the presentation of the joint report of the Economic and Environment Committees about environmental Issues resulting from major economic and land using activities in the province.
Siegfred Flaviano, Provincial Environment Management Office Officer-in-Charge, (PEMO-OIC) presented the joint report that focused on the creation of a Provincial Multi-partite Monitoring Team in Land Use and Environmental Policies Implementation and Compliance or PMMT-LEPIC.
Under the EO drafted by the PPDO, the PMMT-LEPIC shall assist the PDC in formulating policies and measures relative to the sustainable and ecological management and implementation of economic and land using activities in the province.
Part of its mandate also is to conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of major economic activities in the province, particularly related to agriculture, agro-industrial, industrial and tourism activities, to ensure that environmental, land use and zoning policies, laws and guidelines are strictly adhered to in the implementation, management and operation of such undertakings.
PEMO-OIC Flaviano is the Co-Chair for Environment of the PMMT-LEPIC.
Likewise, the council also listened to the presentation of Planning Officer Evelyn Fantilanan on the Local Climate Change Action Plan or LCCAP which was incorporated by PPDO from plans submitted by the different provincial offices.
The LCCAP incorporated Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster-Risk Reduction (CCA/DRR) in all major planning activities of the province.
Under Republic Act 9729 or Climate Change Act of 2008, a People’s Survival Fund or PSF was established in support o the different CCA/DRR Plan, Programs and Activities (PPAs) that will be undertaken by national government agencies. Local government units, other government entities as well as the non-government organizations, people’s organizations and the private sector.
The PSF, according to PPDO, has an initial budget of P 1 billion.
The PDC adopted the 2 major environment plans that will be officially endorsed to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for legislative action.
