Rep. Javi Benitez Leads First-Ever Climate Resiliency Summit in the Third District of Negros Occidental

September 14, 2025

Representative Javier Miguel Benitez convened the first Climate Resiliency Summit of the Third District of Negros Occidental, bringing together leaders, planners, and engineers from across the district to chart a science-based path toward climate resilience at the Nature’s Village Resort, Talisay City, on September 14. The summit featured Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco Lagmay, Executive Director of the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI), together with Science Research Specialists Richard Ybañez and Audrei Anne Ybañez. Dr. Lagmay urged the adoption of science-based strategies for climate adaptation and resilience. Citing hazard mapping, flood modeling, and historical data on disasters, Dr. Lagmay emphasized the urgent need for LGUs to ground their development plans in scientific evidence. He highlighted that Negros Occidental, like much of the Philippines, faces overlapping risks from typhoons, earthquakes, floods, and landslides. Hence, strengthening preparedness through probabilistic hazard maps, geospatial data, and community-level risk assessments is crucial to saving lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure. Moreover, last July 29, Rep. Javi, together with Rep. Brian Poe and Rep. Ryan Recto filed House Bill No. 2577, which seeks to establish the University of the Philippines National Climate Resilience Institute (UP NCRI). This legislative measure aims to institutionalize a permanent, government-funded national hub for climate and disaster resilience research. UP NCRI shall lead research, education, and collaboration on climate resilience, provide data and toolkits for local use, and build the capacity of agencies and communities as resilience leaders. Furthermore, the summit gathered city and municipal officials, planning officers, engineers, Provincial and District Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officers (DRRMOs), and representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). *

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