By GregORIO G. Deligero
The increasing vulnerability of the Davao Region to climate change poses a big challenge to the local economy, according to National Economic Development Authority (Neda) regional director Maria Lourdes D. Lim.
“In 2013 and onwards, the region shall be faced with major challenges. One, the agricultural sector will suffer a slight setback due to the devastation in banana, coconut, cacao and coffee plantations brought about by Typhoon Pablo. Other climate change factors such as rise in rise in sea level and temperature also threaten the region’s fishery subsector,” she said.
Lim said the devastation brought about Typhoon Pablo “is a realization that the region, as most part of Mindanao, is no longer a typhoon-free zone.”
With this, she said the affected Local Government Units have to fast-track their Disaster Risk Reduction / Climate Change Adaptation or DRR/CCA plans (DRRMPs).
Lim said NEDA 11I has continuously rendered assistance to the provinces in mainstreaming the DRR/CCA principles in the PDPFPs, especially in the formulation of the Disaster Risk Assessment along with geo hazard and risk maps.
“These enhanced plans are expected to be completed by end of this year and will significantly reinforce and strengthen the existing capabilities for reducing risks and adapting to climate change. All LGUs in the Region are expected to complete their DRRM Plan by October 1, 2013, the timeline set by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC),” she said.
In terms of economic performance, Lim said the agriculture and fishery sector its growth from 0.6% growth in 2011, to only 0.4% growth in 2012 due t the reduced output attributed to the drop in the volume of banana production and fishing output in the Typhoon Pablo affected provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental. The losses from the banana plantations alone was pegged at P15 billion while P53 million for the fishery output.
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