Cabinet cluster working to address Climate Change

MANILA, July 13 (PIA) -- In line with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s directive to clean up the environment, the Cabinet cluster on Climate Change has been working continuously to come up with ways and means to address the effects of the worsening global climate situation.

In a forum under the Pilipinas Natin program leading to President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address this month, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said the government has made giant strides in protecting the environment.

He said that since the President assumed office in June last year, the government has succeeded in bringing down pollution in the air and water and has put a stop to illegal logging, the main cause of flooding.

On air pollution, Paje said the government has brought down the number of suspended particulates in Metro Manila’s air from 166 micrograms in June 2010 to 120 mcg in June this year.

He said a stricter implementation of administrative reforms concerning the environment is needed to bring the pollution count down to the normal level of 90 mcg.

These reforms, Paje said, include the proposal of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago to phase-out vehicles manufactured in 2008 or earlier to reduce vehicle volume in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

On water pollution, Paje pointed out that they have been coordinating efforts with local government units to clean up the country’s esteros and waterways.

He noted that they have launched a waterway clean-up program dubbed “Adopt-an-Estero” that appeals to companies’ corporate social responsibility to help citizens and the government to clean and keep clean waterways.

“To date, 182 corporations have already adopted major rivers and big city esteros nationwide—‘yan po ang isa sa pinakamagandang response ng ating society sa clamor natin sa paglilinis ng ating katubigan,” Paje said.

On illegal logging, Paje stressed that the President had signed Executive Order No. 23 declaring a total logging ban in the country and Executive Order No. 26 or the National Greening Program.

“’Yan po ang mga programang nilunsad natin sa programa ni President Noynoy on the environment,” Paje said. (PIA GHQ)

Aquino government offers scholarship grants to encourage Filipinos to take courses in agriculture. (PIA GHQ)

Aquino government offers scholarship grants to encourage Filipinos to take courses in agriculture

MANILA, July 13 (PIA) -- Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said that the Aquino government provides scholarship grants to Filipinos especially the children of farmers to encourage them to take-up courses in agriculture saying that there is future in agriculture.

During the third Cabinet Cluster on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation and Food Security aired over NBN4 and dzRB on Wednesday, Alcala encouraged farmers to send their children to agricultural colleges and schools by availing of the government’s scholarship program.

Alcala told the farmers that their children can earn much in agriculture. “Ang malaking kikitain ang nag-aakit sa mga magsasaka para payagan ang anak niya na kumuha ng agricultural classes. Meron po tayong scholarship funds,” he said.

Alcala said government programs in agriculture are now in place to help farmers and empower them with proper farming practices and the provision of funding support to increase their productivity in their respective communities.

“Kung iyon pong magulang (farmers) nabigyan natin ng pagkakataon na kumita na hindi naman po sila nag-aral ng kumpleto nung una pero dahil sa tamang tulong ngayon na technical, may access sa funds, with that marketing help (from the government), kumikita na po sila ng mas mahigit sa isang ordinaryong empleyadong sumusweldo sa banko,” he said.

Alcala noted that sending children to agricultural schools is much affordable compared to allowing them to take-up other courses.

“Sa halip na pag-aaralin pa ng ibang kurso na pagkamamahal, pagkatapos wala namang trabaho,” said Alcala.

The DA secretary said the department is working hard to implement government programs in response to President Aquino’s order to advocate and support the productivity of farmers in the countryside.

Alcala underscored the need for farmers to undergo training in pest management, promoting the use of organic farming and other services towards sustainable management of their crops, livestocks and grains. (PIA GHQ)