QUEZON CITY -- The Cabinet Cluster on Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation, and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCAM-DRR), chaired by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), will be reporting on the government’s accomplishments in building resilient and sustainable communities at the time of the coronavirus crisis during the pre-SONA forum slated for July 22.
With the theme, "Pamanang Katatagan," the forum is one of the five Pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) forums leading up to the anticipated sixth and final SONA of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on July 26.
CCAM-DRR Cluster chairperson and DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu will present the updates on the government’s programs on climate risk management, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development programs for the past five years, while co-chair Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana will present the cluster’s priority thrusts for 2021 and 2022.
The report will likewise cite the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s pursuit of the Risk Resiliency Program, which prioritizes climate-vulnerable provinces such as Sarangani, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Bukidnon, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat.
For its part, the Department of Agriculture (DA) will report on the progress of its "OneDA" reform agenda, which aims to modernize the Philippine agricultural and fishery sectors.
Hosted by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), the "Pamanang Katatagan" forum will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
It will also be streamed live in compliance with the health and safety protocols by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"Concrete, measurable and sustainable accomplishments that have been nurtured, build on for the last five years and will steer us even into the post-COVID-19 era will be certainly the hallmarks of this forum," Cimatu said.
The DENR chief added that under the Duterte administration, "the character of governance in addressing environment and sustainable development has changed dramatically."
"Pamanang Katatagan" is the final installment of the five Pre-SONA forums staged under the umbrella theme "Pamanang Pagbabago: The 2021 Pre-SONA Forums."
The Economic Development and Infrastructure Clusters, chaired by the Department of Finance, held its Pre-SONA forum last April 26 titled "Sulong Pilipinas 2021: Partners for Progress."
The Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster held its "Pamanang Malasakit" forum at the PICC on July 14; Participatory Governance Cluster (Pamanang Pagkakaisa) on July 16 at the Bai Hotel in Mandaue City, Cebu; and the Security, Justice and Peace Cluster (Pamanang Kaligtasan at Kapayapaan) on July 21 at the Armed Force of the Philippines Commissioned Officers’ Club in Quezon City. (DENR)
