WWF: Iloilo City highly adaptive to climate change

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From a vulnerable level before 2011, Iloilo City has now achieved a high adaptive capacity on climate change for the last two years.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) admitted that industrial advancements and urbanization strongly affect emerging cities and Iloilo City was the second most vulnerable to climate change in the 2011 assessment study.

On the other hand, Iloilo City under the administration of new city mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog from middle of 2010 until the present, was able to maneuver the city towards environmental programs and best practices that won recognition in the national and international forum.

Atty. Angela Consuelo Ibay of WWF said the data from 2011 environment study, entitled "Business Risk Assessment and Climate Change Adaptation" covering the period 2010 and 20 years down was conducted in four highly urbanized cities in the Philippines namely Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Baguio.

The study showed the vulnerability of Iloilo City as a drought-prone area and floods during heavy rains. The factors affecting these conditions are food security, population, infrastructures, peace and order and socio-economic.

On the other hand, Iloilo City is the drainage area of rain and river waters from central Panay plains. A drainage master plan will soon be finalized and the comprehensive drainage system will soon be implemented in 2013 funded by the city’s internal revenue allotment (IRA) share.

Ibay said the WWF, an international environmental nongovernment organization network is ready and willing to help the city develop its own environmental development plans.

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