SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 8, 2011-Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change lauded the provincial government of Bukidnon’s maintain a tree park project and Quezon City’s tax credit scheme for green buildings in their initiatives on environmental protection and climate change adaptation that are timely needed.
Legarda cited Quezon City’s new and retrofitted buildings that can avail of up to 25% property tax refund depending on the eco-friendly practices being implemented like the use of renewable energy, cutting down power consumption and managing solid waste, among others while the Bukidnon, LGUs, non-government organizations and cooperatives wish to avail of financial assistance from the provincial government and entrepreneurs who will be registering or renewing their business permits must plant trees and maintain tree parks as a requirement.
“These stories of local communities-inspiring, trailblazing, pioneering-are slivers of light in a country of garbage dumps, mine tailings and bald mountains,” Legarda said, adding that more LGUs are heeding the call to act to revive our ecosystems, protect our environment and make our communities disaster and climate resilient.
“I am hoping that this would create a bandwagon effect with other LGUs making their own eco-friendly programs and green policies,” Legarda said.
To help resuscitate our degrading environment, Legarda said that all local governments should show dynamism and creativity in pursuing the projects for the welfare of the country’s environment, explaining that the LGUs set up offices at ground level, provide the staff, pass local ordinances and resolutions, and organize stakeholders to support and to complement environmental protection and climate change adaptation; thus, we have to ensure the continuity of their efforts. (Jason de Asis)
