QUEZON CITY,  27 FEBRUARY 2020 - Deputy Speaker and Lone District of Antique Representative Loren Legarda pushes for the promotion of “low carbon economy” through House Bill (HB) No. 2184, which she filed on July 16, 2019 at the House of Representatives.

The bill aims to establish a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions emission cap-and-trade system in the industrial and commercial sector.

Legarda explains that a clear policy path towards low carbon development is in line with the Philippines’ resolve to transition into a cleaner and climate-friendly future.

The consideration of the bill comes at an auspicious time as the Philippine government finalizes its first Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), a commitment under the Paris Agreement, which defines the country’s emissions mitigation based on national needs and priorities. GHG mitigation options in the energy, agriculture, transport, industry, and waste sectors are explored under the NDC.

“As a highly vulnerable country, the Philippines should pursue mitigation as a function of adaptation across these sectors. Efforts to avoid further emissions make good economic sense, promote a cleaner and healthier environment, and build the adaptive capacities of communities to climate impacts,” Legarda stressed.

According to Legarda, incentivizing investments in low-carbon and innovative technologies, undertaking an environmental audit of government and private sector operations, and building stakeholders’ capacities for GHG mitigation are other interventions that could be looked into.

Legarda said that, amid the climate crisis, the Philippine economy is growing at a considerable pace but that the challenge is to accelerate economic growth without compromising the state of our environment.

“The Philippines may be a vulnerable country, but we are not incapable of taking action. Transitioning to a low carbon economy is crucial to our people as our nation treads on the path of sustainable, resilient, and inclusive growth,” Legarda said.

“Crucial to this transition are bold initiatives that are taking root at the local level. We laud the initiatives of the provinces of Antique, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Ilocos Norte, Guimaras, Sorsogon, Bohol, and Occidental Mindoro on local pieces of legislation that ban the establishment of coal-fired power plants. The cities of Sorsogon, Masbate, Ozamiz also have similar coal-free ordinances,” Legarda said.

The consideration of the HB 2184 and updates on the development of the NDC were discussed during today’s hearing of the House Committee on Climate Change.