The Philippine weather bureau PAG-ASA warned early this month that the changes in the atmosphere, the oceans and glaciers and ice caps show unequivocally that the world is warming.

This was confirmed in the fourth assessment report released by the intergovernmental panel on climate change, it said.

Edsin Culi, chief meteorological officer in Oriental Negros of PAG-ASA, said the conclusion of the panel is based on observation of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global mean sea level. Historical records show that 11 of the last 12 years, from 1995 to 2006, rank among the 12 warmest years since 1850.

In the Philippines, climate change has already made itself known through the significant increases in the frequency of hot days and warm nights in the country from 1960 to 2003. Cool days and cold nights have been noted to be generally decreasing, a trend that has also been observed in other countries in the Southeast Asia Pacific Region.

In the midst of the growing public concern over the damaging effects of climate change, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office is drawing on current environmental laws to further its campaign for the environment.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Antonio Cabrido noted the various laws working for the welfare of the generation such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and the Bio Fuel Act.

Under Republic Act 9637, or the Bio Fuel Act, Cabrido disclosed that DENR is setting aside one million hectares for jathropa plantation as part of the campaign to fight fossil fuels, which has much carbon dioxide in it.

Aside from this, Cabrido said that DENR aims to produce 1.2 million seedlings throughout the region. "And we have produced 320,000 seedlings in Oriental Negros," he said.

Also, through the eco-governance program, the Bayawan City government has made advances with its GIS system, showing realistic data that deals with the environment, soil and situation of the municipalities in the province. "This data will be used as reference for decision-making process," Cabrido said.*RG

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