Mayor Cari enacts environment code

BAYBAY CITY, Philippines — Mayor Carmen Cari recently signed the city’s Environment Code mandating related national and local laws on conservation, protection, utilization and rehabilitation of the environment.

The Code, authored by Councilors Cristelo Loreto, Alan Fernandez and Teresita Veloso, focuses on “land, air, water and minerals sector and along the functional areas that are devolved to the local government units.”

The city officials, in their prefatory statement, said they “realized that Baybay is facing a climate-defined future.” Thus the Code states in part: “Concerns on climate protection are already mainstreamed ... in order to minimize the magnitude of impacts due to climate change to the city.”

The Code provides policies to protect the city’s natural resources, maintain green buffer zones, focus on its remaining forest areas, watershed areas, resource reserves and potential wildlife sanctuaries.

Also integrated are mechanisms to increase awareness, improve knowledge management and capacity development on climate protection to promote and develop community efforts on adaptation and resilience to climate change.

The Code includes activities such as the observance of global and local events, specifically World Water Day, Environment Month, Arbor and Tree-planting Day and Environmental Education Month.  — Lalaine M. Jimenea (FREEMAN)