LEGAZPI CITY (PIA)-- Baao, Camarines Sur Mayor Jeffrey S. Besinio emphasized the municipality's commitment to mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change through the enhancement of their environmental programs.

Addressing his constituents during the ‘2023 Ulat ng Bayan’ a few weeks before the year end, Besinio recounted their collective journey to overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic while navigating through various twists and turns.

The chief executive also mentioned how they shifted their focus from the pandemic response to “responding to environmental issues and the changing climate change conditions to addressing the health and safety” of his constituents.

“Anchored on the challenges of integrating climate change adaptation, the Executive- Legislative Agenda crafted in the latter part of 2022 serves as the blueprint for the development of the municipality. Connectivity, inclusivity, adaptability, and the pursuit of excellence underscored this blueprint. Engraved within it is our collective aspiration as we strive to raise the degree of our public service corresponding to the evolving development in our municipality,” Besinio noted. 

 LGU Baao received the Gawad Kalasag Award recently, which Besinio said, is a testament to their outstanding performance in the realm of disaster response.

“It should serve as a motivation, reminding us to strive more in our quest for further excellence,’ the chief executive added.

As one of the municipalities in Camarines Sur prone to frequent flooding, Baao LGU invested in buying life-saving equipment.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) bolstered and expanded the capabilities of their responders, ensuring thorough preparedness for potential emergencies.

“Modernizing emergency response facilities is reciprocated with the necessary training and various skills enhancement activities for our DRRM response team. The quest for excellence within the realm of DRRM had been raised several notches higher as we sent Mr. Vincent Paz, our MDRRM Head, to an international training,” Besinio added.

Reforestation project

Under GREEN BAAO ‘s rallying call, Besinio is targeting to plant 10,000 trees in three (3) years with the help of various stakeholders.

“The GREEN BAAO is the centerpiece of our forest management and land regeneration

program. years. So far, we have planted around 4,000 trees in the upland communities of Lourdes, Tinawagan Hills, Cristo Rey, Antipolo, Sta. Isabel and Tapol,’ he added.

In addition to collaborating with private entities such as the Rotary Club, the Baao Water District, cooperatives, and various agencies, the municipal mayor has enlisted the support of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the locality.

The mayor disclosed ongoing efforts within his office to establish a plant nursery for endemic and native trees at Cristo Rey. This initiative is being developed with the IP Municipal Representative (IPMR) League of Baao to undertake reforestation in the region. The project, aimed at being both managed and operated by the IPs, is designed as an income-generating venture for the Indigenous Peoples.

Besinio also enjoined the students and the youth to participate in the said program and instill a sense of stewardship towards Mother Nature.

“In the years to come, we will reinforce the implementation of this program through legislative actions requiring students to engage in reforestation as a requirement for their academic completion. Since the approval of the 10-Year Solid Waste Management Plan, we have relentlessly pursued systematic waste collection down to the barangay level. Our Municipal Materials Recovery Facility is now running as well as the composting facility whose produce is now being utilized by those in the agriculture sector,” the mayor said.  (PIA 5) 

Cover photo credits: Baao LGU