6 days ago
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Pangasinan Gov. Ramon Guico III vowed to pursue more climate change adaptation, sustainability, and disaster preparedness initiatives to strengthen the protection and livability in the province.
He made the pledge after the Climate Change Commission (CCC) cited Pangasinan for its various climate change programs, including the Green Canopy Project, which has planted 400,000 native and fruit-bearing trees and mangroves in the province."We thank the Climate Change Commission for recognizing the consistent and collaborative work of all the LGUs of Pangasinan towards climate change adaptation, environmental protection, and socioeconomic sustainability," Guico said in a statement.He said the Green Canopy Project, which was launched in 2023, aims to plant one million trees and mangroves by the end of the year or early 2026.Another climate change program in the province is the Project Paraan, (pioneering safety, assessing vulnerabilities, risk management, addressing hazards, achieving resilience, and navigating challenges) which aims to increase preparedness specifically for a tsunami. "We owe it to every Pangasinense whose commitment to lasting resiliency as well as disaster risk reduction and preparedness is anchored on a deep sense of duty, dedication and discipline to ensure the safety and sustainability of our beloved province," Guico said.The CCC, which is under the Office of the President, is the lead policy-making body of the government tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate government climate change programs.
CCC vice chairman and executive director Robert E.A. Borje said Pangasinan's 100 percent compliance with the Local Climate Change Action Plan enables all 48 of its local government units to implement initiatives tailored to address their specific needs.
"Pangasinan's commitment to disaster risk preparedness is commendable, as reflected in its 100 percent LCCAP submission. When we talk about hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and capacity, we must see them not just as challenges but as part of a strategic game plan — an investment in community resilience. This is exactly what we witness here in Pangasinan," Borje said.
Pangasinan is also advancing ecological conservation through the planned Eztanza Native Tree Nursery and Project Kasilyas, further strengthening its climate resilience framework, Borje said.
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The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office also showcased its 24/7 operations center with its robust early warning systems that aim to address vulnerabilities to fluvial and pluvial flooding with data-driven decision-making.
The center integrates risk information from the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the Office of Civil Defense, and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau to enhance disaster response.
The CCC cited the Bued Mangrove Propagation and Information Center in Alaminos, which is home to diverse mangrove species such as Rhizophora, Avicennia, and Sonneratia.
Meanwhile, Alaminos City's ridge-to-reef conservation strategy, which links forestry management, watershed protection, and coastal rehabilitation, was recognized as a model for environmental sustainability.
