CSC, DILG issue separate directives on tourism conference on climate change adaptation

Tuesday 7th of August 2012

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 7 (PIA) -- The three-day Philippine Tourism Conference on Climate Change Adaptation (PTCCCA), the first of its kind in the country, has earned support from lead agencies of the government, private organizations and business entities.

The conference is slated on August 23-25, 2012 at The Oriental Legazpi.

“The first Memorandum Circular was dated June 18, 2012 issued by Secretary Jesse Robredo of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and twinned by a similar directive by Director Cecilia R. Nieto of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Bicol Regional Office,” Conference Director Manuel ‘Nong’ C. Rangasa, of the PTCCCA said.

DILG Memo Circular No. 2012-108 was addressed to all provincial governors, city mayors, their committees on environment, committees on tourism, environment officers, tourism officers, planning officers, and disaster risk reduction and management officers.

It enjoins the local chief executives, select ‘Sanggunian’ members and LGU functionaries to participate in the PTCCCA.

By issuing the circular, Robredo believes the participation of LGU officials and functionaries will be “one step closer to the government’s goal of building awareness, engaging action, advancing legislation and education as well as supporting scientific advancement in the study of climate change and environment and their impacts.”

The CSC memo dated July 10, on the other hand, was addressed to all local chief executives, senior technical staff and Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) also urging them to attend the PTCCCA.

CSC Regional Director Cecilia Nieto said the CSC memo circular supports the President’s priority policy agenda calling for the “urgent mainstreaming of CCA and DRR efforts and the achievement of the MDGs toward building climate-resilient communities."

The PTCCCA is a brainchild of the Rangasa-led Local Climate Change Adaptation for Development (LCCAD) Inc.

LLCAD Inc. is the country’s mobile non-government organization (NGO) that consists of experienced Community Adaptation Practitioners who work with the Philippine Government to strengthen Public-Private Partnership Initiatives and implement President Aquino's agenda towards mainstreaming climate change adaptation. (MAL/LCCAD/PIA5)