Cebu City – Regional Project Management Office staff of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) from DSWD Field Office 10 were recipients to a comprehensive Thematic Environmental Management System (TEMS) Learning Forum that showcased the importance of Environmental Protection and Management in the implementation of the different Community-Driven Development (CDD) Programs of the department.
Regional Director, Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo led the RPMO staff, together with Assistant Regional Director for Operations, Aldersey M. Dela Cruz in attending the 4-day seminar held at Hotel Elizabeth, Cebu City on April 27 to May 1, 2014.
With the thrusts of the department tilting towards making communities and individuals resilient of the effects of climate change, the “New Normal” being introduced by Department Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, the TEMS is an important tool to achieve this.
In his message during the forum, Assistant Secretary Camilo G. Gudmalin gave emphasis on the role of the department in promoting social and environmental safeguards. “It is our responsibility to campaign and educate for people to adjust what we call ‘the new normal’. We are endeavoring to build up resilience, and the Thematic Environmental Management System (TEMS) is one of our initiatives to do that”, ASec. Gudmalin said.
Part of the forum were presentation on the environmental condition and biodiversity state of the country, which for the keynote speakers, were very alarming. Dr. Filiberto Pollisco, the Policy and Research Specialist of the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity Management explained how the Philippines is a Biodiversity Hotspot, and that if environmental problems are not addressed the soonest, 600 million lives within the ASEAN region will suffer gravely.
Another speaker, Dir. Vincent Hilomen of the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the DENR emphasized that biodiversity has an impact on almost everything; this is why it is a matter that has to be dealt with seriously.
It was also noteworthy that a municipality in Northern Mindanao showcased its environmental management and biodiversity protection and mitigation, institutionalizing TEMS in their programs and services. Hon. Joselito E. Miquiabas, Municipal Mayor of Bacolod, Lanao del Norte comprehensively presented the LGU’s advocacy in molding the municipality of Bacolod into an environmental-friendly community, improving social and environmental services through a more inclusive application of local laws and regulations.
Mayor Miquiabas discussed how the LGU was able to successfully implement such feat, given the multitude of challenges they faced in implementing the programs to ensure environmental promotion and protection. Also present to showcase their TEMS-related LGU initiatives was Hon. Milliard Villanueva of Concepcion, Ilo-ilo.
Kalahi-CIDSS 10 and the municipality of Bacolod are partners in promoting TEMS through the KC-Makamasang Tugon 3 implementation, which is pilot for the Disaster Risk Reduction Management – Climate Change Adaptation modality of Kalahi-CIDSS.
The National Project Management Office is hopeful that the TEMS will be applied and systematized in all regional project implementation, as a step towards preparing communities to be resilient and informed on pressing climate change/environmental issues and challenges. Prior to ending the forum, appropriate preparations were done to ensure the promotion and application of TEMS in all Kalahi-CIDSS Program implementation.
Written by Marko Davey D. Reyes, DSWD