Biz leaders: Climate change is upon us

CEBU, Philippines - Aside from the relief operations and rehabilitation efforts extended to the typhoon victims, the Cebu business community believes that adapting to climate change and protecting the environment are sustainable and long-term strategies towards disaster preparedness and risk reduction during natural calamities.

Cebu Business Club President Dondi Joseph said that change of ways in terms of demand management and care for the environment should be implemented by all sectors of the society.

"Roads, houses and other infrastructure should be more sustainable. Whatever we can do for climate change should be done," he said.

Joseph is the co-chairman of the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) who is working closely with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the Mega Cebu Vision 2050.

JICA recently deployed a team of 29 experts headed by Dr.Katsuhide Nagayama to lead the creation of a roadmap study for the sustainable urban development in Metro Cebu.

It is aimed at drawing up detailed action plans based on the vision and formulate priority projects in association with institutions and organizations to achieve it.

The inception report that was presented during the 888 News Forum last Tuesday laid out the framework and outline for the roadmap study that will span for 16 months.

The first phase that will identify the short-term priority projects to jumpstart the initiatives of MCDCB for the Mega Cebu Vision 2050 will run from November 2013 to March 2014.

The second phase that will run from April 2014 to February 2015 will aim to formulate an integrated roadmap from the mid-2020 and long-term 2030 to 2050 segment of the project.

The study will be comprised of seven sub-roadmaps such as metropolitan competitiveness enhancement, urban structure and land use, urban transport and highway network, water supply and disposal management, solid waste management, smart South Road Properties development and the metropolitan administration.

Nagayama expressed confidence that the Mega Cebu project remains achievable given the consolidation of efforts of both the government and the private sector.

"We have a future in this," he said.

He said that their country took 40 years for the project to be completed with the continued support and determination of the government and private sector to fully achieve their long-term vision.

He said that the political structure in the Philippines may be different from Japan but Filipinos need significant political support from government leaders.

He even suggested that lawmakers could come up with bills and ordinances on budgetary concerns to fund sustainable projects like Mega Cebu.

Joseph, on the other hand, lauded the strong structural support of the private sector and the reception of local government units to make the collaboration work towards the achievement of their common vision for the Mega Cebu project.

He added that to further strengthen it, both parties need consistent communication and dialogue while the public must be educated to increase their awareness on what they could contribute to the project.

Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Philip Tan said that while citizens should be challenged to support the project, government officials and businessmen must be active enough and avoid the "no action, talk only" mentality.

"We can only be thankful to JICA but we will still lead the transformation. If not, everything would go to waste and nothing will happen," he said.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Lito Maderazo, on the other hand, said that adapting to climate change is not a matter of emergency preparedness but rather about mitigation and risk reduction.

"Resiliency is the best policy. Climate change is upon us," he said. /JMD (FREEMAN)