The Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) took part in the Laguna Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Office (LCCAMO) in their Enhanced Local Climate Change Action Plan (ELCCAP) Technical Working Group (TWG) Pre-Orientation at the CHMT Function Hall of LSPU-Sta. Cruz Campus (LSPU-SCC), Jan. 30.

Engr. Manuel Luis R. Alvarez, Campus Director of LSP-SCC, welcomed all the participants, sharing that the LSPU has always been a part of the Local Government Unit (LGU) in developing plans and finding long-term solutions to address climate change.

Mr. Zaldy B. Ybardolaza II, Liaison for Academic and Institutional Linkages of LCCAMO, started the discussion by stating the reasons for crafting the Executive Order No. 12 (EO 12), s. of 2023, otherwise known as the Establishment of the Provincial Core Team and (TWG) for the Formulation of Enhanced ELCCAP.

One of these is the recognition of the LGU Laguna of climate change, its impact on the province, and the methods to be implemented to prepare and find solutions to address this problem.

Mr. Ybardolaza also enumerated the strategies in the formulation and implementation of ELCCAP including updating the ELLCCAP of LGUs, Provincial LCCAP, and Academic Research.

As part of the Academic Community, the role of the LSPU is to assist in formulating and designing a program to capacitate LGUs and stakeholders in the technical components of the ELCCAP such as training, data gathering, assessment, and write-ups. The university is also expected to assist in creating a digital web-based system to gather, store, and access data for LGUs.

Mr. Erwin Napiza, Director for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) of LSPU, discussed various steps of LCCAP as well as the current and other actions that need to be considered in addressing climate change.  Meanwhile, Mr. Raymond Joseph B. Paraiso, Local Government Operations Officer II of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Calabarzon, discussed the composition of the Regional Technical Working Group that will also assist LCCAP at the regional level.

The ELCCAP Core Team is composed of LCCAMO, PDRRMO, DILG, and LSPU. Part of their duties and functions are to initiate the formulation process, gather and consolidate members, coordinate with technical experts, consult with the local chief executives (LCEs), and provide technical assistance. 

In his closing message, Mr. Henry B. Halawig, Head of LCCAMO, thanked everyone who participated in the ELCCAP Technical Working Group Pre-Orientation to formulate an effective plan for strengthening the campaign regarding climate change.

Among those who participated in the event were employees of DILG-Calabarzon, Laguna University (LU), LSPU, and LGU-Laguna.

Photo credit: Edward Flores and Erwin Napiza