ANGELES CITY, July 3 (PIA) — The city government has laid down initiatives in its war against climate change.

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said that recently, the United Nations Habitat has chosen Angeles City as one of its partner-cities in the Building Climate Resiliency thru Urban Plans and Designs Project (BCRUPD).

“Based on the assessments done by the city’s BCRUPD Technical Working Group, the city will experience water shortage in the coming years. This in turn will primarily affect our agricultural produce. Thus, we have to ensure food security and climate change adaptation,” Lazatin said.

With this, the city includes among its adaptive strategies a pilot demonstration project in Barangay Margot where more trees can be planted to help lessen the negative effects of water scarcity to the farmers and to the whole population.

The planting of more trees, Lazatin said, will protect water acquifiers.

“We will also increase our ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development, so as not to affect our food production,” the mayor said.

Earlier this year, the city government ordered the installation of ten garbage bins and the daily clearing of the garbage transfer station in Barangay Sta. Teresita.

The city is also planning to start the city-wide implementation of waste segregation at source this year.

In addition, the city also supervised the clearing of roadways and sidewalks in all 33 barangays, giving back the pedestrian to the public.

Records from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) showed that from July to December 2019, the city collected PhP377,400 in apprehension fines for different environmental violations including anti-littering, open burning, anti-smoking, plastic ordinance, solid waste management, open dumping, mending ordinance, environmental constraint, water quality and septage, and illegal cutting of trees, among others.

“The Anti-Smoking policy had the highest number of violations, with 176 fined establishments and individuals recorded,” the local chief executive said.

In closing, he said that to sustain its war against climate change, CENRO will continuously monitor and implement strict environmental rules., as well as conduct clean-up drive along waterways in Sapang Balen, and Abacan River and maintenance of eco-gardens and playgrounds in various barangays. (CLJD/MJSC-PIA 3)