DAVAO CITY—The Bangsamoro government is setting up inventory of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the region, the first of attempts to calculate how GHG could trigger natural calamities in the region.
The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE) said it was stepping up its efforts in mitigating the risks of climate change in the region. Its attached unit, the Environment Management Services started its discussions on the planned GHG emission inventory, “which shall be implemented in the regional offices of the Bangsamoro government.”
Chief Environment Management Services Engr. Amier Ashan Aplal said, “kailangan po muna nating malaman kung gaano karami ang na re-release na greenhouse gas ng bawat ministry para magkaroon tayo ng program to address the issue [we need to determine first how much GHG is being released by each ministry so that we can have a program to address the issue].”
“Gradually, sisimulan muna natin sa loob ng mga opisina ng BARMM [we’ll start with the BARMM offices] to calculate the greenhouse gas before tayo pumunta sa next level,” he added.
Aplal said the environment ministry “is already implementing various programs to reduce the impacts of climate change, including large-scale tree planting efforts, capturing carbon emissions, and tougher fuel efficiency standards for vehicles.”
“For instance, we are introducing a flood control program, and also monitoring the infrastructure for us to cope up with the impact of climate change,” Aplal added.
MENRE-EMS Director Jalani Pamlian said “there are limited data on climate change in BARMM that’s why we will have a series of meetings and capacity building for the betterment of the region in terms of climate change.”
Pamlian said BARMM environmentalists have established air monitoring sites in this city to monitor the particulate matter (particle pollution), carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compound and lead.
This also includes the regular industrial monitoring of large and medium-sized companies to check if they comply with National Emission Standards for Source-Specific Air Pollutants and National Ambient Air Quality Guidelines Standards. They must also secure permits to operate prior to operation.
In October, the ministry and regional employees of BARMM and other volunteers, spearheaded the massive clean-up drive in the coastal area of Timako Hill, Kalangalan II in this city to celebrate the National Environment Awareness Month.
MENRE Director General Atty. Badr Salendab said “collective efforts and collaboration of all sectors are needed in the society in taking care of the environment for the welfare of future generations by initiating measures that could prevent the harmful effects of man-made environmental disasters.”
In BARMM, around 11.5 million tree seedlings have been planted on 10,401 hectares of land across the Bangsamoro region to fight flood and climate change.
“Our intention here is to instill consciousness in the hearts and minds of our Bangsamoro people, especially our children, our environmental responsibility being the vicegerent [Khalifa] of Almighty God [Allah SWT] on our obligation to care and protect our environment at all times,” Salendab said.
