Govt seeks proposals on climate change

VARIOUS groups have been asked to offer their recommendations for “radical lifestyle changes,’’ including coastal landscaping and moving the opening of classes, to better prepare for calamities related to climate change, an official said yesterday.

The proposals will be submitted to President Arroyo Gloria before the end of the month, said Undersecretary Graciano Yumul of the Science Department.

‘‘Climate uncertainty is now the norm rather than the exception,’’ Yumul told reporters at the Palace yesterday.

“We were preparing for El Niño this year but had all these typhoons. And when we were warned of La Niña a few years back, we experienced drought in some areas.

‘‘There is no such thing as summer anymore. This year, typhoons Crising, Dante and Emong hit us during the summer months of April and May.’’

Yumul said the Environment Department, in partnership with Deutsche group GTZ, was meeting with public and private groups to come up with recommendations for a localized climate-change policy and disaster risk management.

‘‘This October, they will come out with recommendations that will include coastal landscaping, moving the opening of classes, as well as climate-change policies dealing with health and agriculture such as seasonal climate forecast or what to plant at what period of the year,” he said.

“These are radical recommendations from various stakeholders that will require lifestyle changes from all of us,” Yumul said.

Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez Jr. said the Education Department also wanted to strengthen its disaster risk management program, which had been incorporated into the curriculum for elementary and high school students.

“Ordinary citizens should learn to look after themselves during typhoons, earthquakes and other natural calamities,” the Palace official said.

Also yesterday, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando said he wanted urban planner and green architect Felino Palafox Jr. to help design medium-rise buildings to house 70,000 squatters living along various waterways.

Palafox said he would meet with Fernando after he returned from a trip to the United States. –Joyce Pangco Pañares with Rio N. Araja, Manila Standard Today