MAYNILA, ika-03 ng Marso taong 2021 — Pag-uusapan online ang tradisyonal na mga gawang-sining ng pagpapalayok (brickmaking) at paglalaryo (pottery) kasama ang ilan sa mga mahuhusay na Pilipinong taga-gawa kung saan kanila ring ibabahagi ang kani-kanilang mga obra-maestra nang sa gayo'y makabuo at makakuha ng mas malawakang suporta mula sa publiko para sa industriya. Ito at iba pang mga culture-based livelihood ay ipapalabas sa ika-36 na episode ng “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” na may temang “Pottery at Brickmaking Enterprises.” Ito ang pangalawa mula sa maka-apat na episode na nagbibigay-tuon sa pagsuporta sa pagpapatatag ng nasabing pangkabuhayan.   Sa pangunguna ni dating three-term Senator at ngayo’y Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, mapapanood ang episode na ito ngayong Huwebes ika-04 ng Marso 2021, 10:00 AM via Facebook Live sa facebook.com/CCCPhl at facebook.com/iamlorenlegarda.   Kabilang sa online na talakayan ang mga taga-gawa ng palayok at laryo o clay mula sa iba't ibang lugar sa bansa, tulad nina Sheryl Ebon-Martinez, ceramicist mula sa Oryoqi Handmade Pottery; Siegrid Bang yay, ceramic artist mula sa Sagada, Mountain Province; Alvin Obrique, pottery maker mula sa Sibalom, Antique; at Anacleto Amar, brickmaker mula Tibiao, Antique. At sasamahan din sila nina Nelia Elisa Florendo, tagapamuno ng Industrial Technology Development Institute ng Department of Science and Technology; Rosaly Jean Resolute, Business Counsellor mula sa Negosyo Center ng Department of Trade and Industry; at Elsie Marie Carloto, ceramic teacher-researcher mula sa University of Antique.   Matatandaang sa nakaraang mga episode, tinalakay sa online serye ang papel ng industriya ng traditional weaving, handicrafts, at embroidery sa pagbibigay ng mga pagkakataong magkaroon ng sustenableng maka-kapaligiran na pagkakakitaang pangkabuhayan habang pinapangalagaan ang pamanang pang-kultura at lokal na maka-manlilikhang sining.   Samantala, para naman sa episode na ito, hihingin ni Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda at ng kaniyang mga panauhin ang suporta ng mga pamilya, lokal na pamahalaan, kasama na ng publiko, upang maprotektahan ang mga culture-based livelihood na hindi lamang nakapagbibigay kita sa lokal nating mga pamayanan ngunit nakatutulong din sa pagpapanatili ng pamanang kultura ng bansa.   “Sa pamamagitan ng culture-based livelihood tulad ng pottery at brickmaking, nakapagbibigay tayo sa ating mga kababayan ng maaaring pagkakitaan at kasabay na rin dito naka-aambag tayo sa pangangalaga ng ating pamanang kultura. Nagkakaroon naman ng mas matibay na kamalayang pagmamay-ari ang komunidad dahil sa minana nilang mga tradisyon mula sa kanilang mga ninuno. Sa pamamagitan ng episode na ito, inaasahan naming mas mapalago ang kahiligan ng mga manonood sa tradisyonal na mga kasanayan at maipakita ang pang-ekonomiyang mga pagkakataon na maaaring makuha mula sa pagkatuto o pagiging mahusay sa naturang kasanayan," pahayag ni House Deputy Speaker at Antique Representative Loren Legarda.   Bilang isang online na talakayan upang maisulong ang kalusugan at kamalayang pang-kapaligiran, naglalayon ang "Stories for a Better Normal" na baguhin ang kaisipan ng mga tao, mga pamilya, at mga pamayanan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakita ng mga pamamaraan kung saan maaaring magkaroon tayo at maisasabuhay natin ang isang ‘better normal’ sa loob ng ating mga pamayanan.   Na-organisa ang online na talakayang ito mula sa pagtutulungan ng tanggapan ni Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda at ng Climate Change Commission (CCC) na binigyang-suporta naman ng Institute for Climate at Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines, at ng Mother Earth Foundation. 

Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, an ASEAN Heritage Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mindanao, is the largest natural pygmy forest in the country and is home to the hundreds of threatened and endemic flora and fauna species. Photo from the Facebook Page of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Davao. MANILA, 3 March 2021 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) calls for the conservation of forests and forest-dwelling species of wild fauna and flora, in celebration of World Wildlife Day today.   The UN General Assembly proclaimed March 3 of every year as World Wildlife Day through Resolution 68/205, which aims to raise public awareness on the intrinsic value of wildlife and its various contributions, including its ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational, and aesthetic contributions to sustainable development and human well-being.   This year’s theme, "Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet", seeks to shed light on the links between the state of forests and woodlands and the preservation of the millions of livelihoods that depend directly on them, with particular attention to the traditional knowledge of the communities that have managed forest ecosystems and wildlife for centuries.   The Day also aims to drive discussions towards establishing a sustainable model of interaction between humanity and one of its most important natural providers, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Goal 1 (No Poverty), Goal 2 (Zero hunger), Goal 12 (Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns), Goal 13 (Climate Action)  and Goal 15 (Life on Land).   Forests are home to the world’s biodiversity and regulate key aspects of the global carbon cycle. Forests also provide essential livelihoods and environmental services. In the absence of other options for employment and income, communities, particularly in rural areas, depend on forests as their natural resource for daily needs like food, shelter, energy, and medicines.   The Commission also calls on every Filipino to undertake simple, doable steps such as saving and recycling paper, buying sustainable products, condemning wildlife trade, and promoting biodiversity, while being advocates themselves to be part of the solution to protect forests and nature. But despite the increase in the protected area coverage across the globe, natural tropical forests are still declining due to deforestation which threatens animal and plant biodiversity, water and air quality, the livelihoods, and food security of forest-dependent communities that are among the poorest and most vulnerable.   Through the years, changes in agricultural practices have encroached on wildlife habitats and increased wildlife-human interactions; climate change has affected the habitat of both people and animals, and disasters have increased. COVID-19 emerged from wild animals to affect humans, creating the deadly pandemic that has lasted for more than a year now.    Through this celebration, the CCC calls on all national and local government agencies, multi sectoral stakeholders, and communities to raise awareness on the importance of the forests.

An approximately four-hectare open dumpsite in Barangay San Nicolas, Sta. Ana, Pampanga was closed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on February 5, 2021 for violating the RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and the RA 8749 or the Clean Air Act of 1999. Photo from the Facebook page of DENR. MANILA, 2 March 2021 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) emphasized the need for a single-use plastics ban if the world is to remain within the 1.5° Celsius limit and prevent the worst of climate change impacts as a Technical Working Group of the House of Representatives Committee on Ecology chaired by Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Benitez moves to consolidate and finalize bills seeking to phase-out or regulate single-use plastics. The CCC, led by its Chairperson-designate Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez, has said that it is aligned with the aims of the bill “to advance realistic solutions to address the challenge of single-use plastics pollution and provide a clear pathway for the pursuit of sustainable consumption and production.” In its submission to the Committee, the CCC said that “a single-use plastics ban is a necessary key step towards achieving a '1.5°C world.' This is the global warming threshold at which vulnerable countries like the Philippines can survive climate impacts. The proposed measure will help create a fundamental shift in the way we deliver on socioeconomic needs, whereby we can promote a cleaner environment, reduce flooding as we are a typhoon-prone country, and mitigate carbon emissions from plastics production." A Roadmap for Sustainability on Single-Use Plastics by the United Nations Environment Programme warns that the world’s capacity to cope with plastic waste has already been overwhelmed. With only 9% of the world’s plastic waste being recycled and the rest ending up in landfills, dumps, or in the environment, the report estimates that there will be 12 billion tons of plastic litter in landfills and the environment by 2050. Aside from the environmental impact, the UN also warns of the numerous health problems and vast economic damage caused by plastic waste. On Monday, the House TWG on its fourth meeting completed a run-through of its draft bill with stakeholders from industry, environmental groups and experts, academia, government, and civil society. Among the provisions discussed during the meeting was the proposed provision on Extended Producers' Responsibility or EPR authored by Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez, which will hold producers responsible for collecting and recycling the amount of plastic that they produce and introduce into the market. “Mandatory EPR will be complementary to a ban on single use plastics as a long-term regulatory measure. It will reduce the amount of packaging lingering in the environment, foster business responsibility, and stimulate the recycling sector, as found in the UN report," the CCC said. The fourth TWG meeting also touched on other solutions needed to solve the problem of plastic waste, including the need to improve solid waste management, invest in the country’s recycling infrastructure, and intervene in e-commerce especially as the lockdowns due to the pandemic are seen to increase the use of unnecessary plastic. “It requires more than a single type of solution. This is such a comprehensive and lifestyle issue that is a consequence of our own industrial processes for the last 200 years,” said Rep. Benitez. UN Environment’s roadmap similarly notes a broad range of actions that must be taken by stakeholders beyond bans and levies on single-use plastics, including the need to improve waste management practices; provide financial incentives to change the habits of consumers, retailers, and manufacturers; accelerate a more circular model of plastics design and production; finance research and the development of alternative materials; and raise awareness. “A national law regulating single-use plastics will serve as an overarching framework and a unified policy to strengthen the impact of existing local ordinances that currently ban or regulate single-use plastics across an estimated 480 provinces, cities, and municipalities,” the CCC noted.

MANILA, 2 March 2021 — Filipino brick and pottery makers will gather virtually to share knowledge on the traditional crafts and masterpieces made of clay, and to generate broader public support to the pottery and brickmaking industry and other culture-based livelihoods on the 36th episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” with the topic “Pottery and Brickmaking Enterprises.” This is the second of the four-part episode which focuses on promoting resilient livelihoods.   The episode, hosted by three-term former Senator, now Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, will air on Thursday, 4 March 2021, 10:00 AM via Facebook Live at facebook.com/CCCPhl and facebook.com/iamlorenlegarda.   Joining the online conversation are potters and brickmakers from the various areas in the country, including Sheryl Ebon-Martinez, a ceramicist from Oryoqi Handmade Pottery; Siegrid Bangyay, a ceramic artist from Sagada, Mountain Province; Alvin Obrique, pottery maker from Sibalom, Antique; and Anacleto Amar, brickmaker from Tibiao, Antique. They will also be joined by Nelia Elisa Florendo, chief of Industrial Technology Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology; Rosaly Jean Resolute, Business Counsellor from Negosyo Center of the Department of Trade and Industry; and Elsie Marie Carloto, a ceramic teacher and researcher at the University of Antique.   In previous episodes, the online series tackled the role of traditional weaving, handicrafts, and embroidery industry in providing environmentally-sustainable and viable livelihood options to communities, while preserving cultural heritage and local craftspersonship.   In this episode, Legarda and guests will call on the families, local governments and the general public to support and protect the culture-based livelihoods which not only provide income to the local communities, but also preserve the cultural heritage of the country.   “Through culture-based livelihood like pottery and brickmaking, we provide our people sources of income and at the same time contribute to preserving our cultural heritage. There is also a stronger sense of ownership by the community because they inherited these traditions from their ancestors. Through this episode, we hope to develop among our viewers the interest in traditional skills and present the economic opportunities that can be derived from acquiring or improving on such skills,” said Legarda.   As an online discussion to promote health, environmental consciousness, and climate-adaptive practices, "Stories for a Better Normal" aims to change the mindset of individuals, families, and communities by demonstrating ways in which a ‘better normal’ can be realized within our communities.   This online discussion is organized in partnership between the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda and the Climate Change Commission, with support from the Department of Education, Philippine Information Agency, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines and Mother Earth Foundation.

(From left to right) CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera, DENR Undersecretaries Juan Miguel T. Cuna and Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, and DENR Climate Change Service Director Elenida Basug during the opening of the National Women’s Month celebration held today by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. MANILA, 1 March 2021 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) joins the country in celebration of National Women’s Month this March. Anchored on the theme, “Women can make change amidst the climate crisis and COVID-19,” the month-long celebration aims to highlight the empowerment of women as active contributors to and claimholders of climate-resilient  development. This year’s observance highlights women’s participation in battling the COVID-19 pandemic and climate crisis, as well as discusses gender issues exacerbated by these crises. “The Climate Change Commission wholeheartedly adopts this year's theme as a good reminder and a timely call to action: "Na laban sa krisis sa klima at pandemya, kaya ni Juana". A more gender-equitable world is a safer and greener world. As the United Nations reminds us with this global celebration, achieving gender equality is an enabler not just for climate action, but all the other SDGs,”  said Climate Change Commissioner Rachel Herrera in her message for the opening program of the National Women’s Month celebration of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Monday. Women commonly face higher risks and greater burdens from the impacts of climate change and the pandemic in situations of poverty. Moreover, women’s unequal participation in decision-making processes compound inequalities and often prevent women from fully contributing to planning, policy-making and implementation. In her message, Herrera also highlighted the role of gender equality in driving progress on climate and sustainability, and outlined three key areas of action to achieve this: ensuring the equal participation of women, ensuring enablers for laws and policies promoting gender equality in terms of financial resources and capacity, and strengthening convergence among bodies working on climate and gender. “I’d like to point out that there is mounting evidence of the link between gender equality and environmental outcomes. May mga studies na po na (there are already studies that show) that when gender inequality is high, we expect higher environmental degradation.” The program also saw the launch of Mga Kwentong KLIMA-likasan Tungo sa Katatagan: A Recognition Awards on Climate and Disaster Resiliency, led by the DENR Gender Development Office and Climate Change Service. The competition, which will run from March to May 2021, aims to showcase the important contributions and initiatives of men and women working on the environment, climate change, and disaster risk reduction sectors. “Pagka pinapakita ang climate change, ang tungkol sa kababaihan, parang laging gloomy. So gusto po nating baguhin ‘yung narrative (When we talk about climate change and women, it always seems to be gloomy. We want to change the narrative),” said Atty. Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, Undersecretary for Finance, Information System, and Climate Change, and Chairperson of the DENR National Gender and Development Focal Point System. “We want to participate in the global good stories movement. In this movement, we share the common belief that we can change the story of the world by changing the storyline,” Teh said. “We aim to spot and highlight the good stories and in doing so, encourage more to pursue good stories of behavior change in the environment, care for the Earth, and addressing impacts of climate change in their communities,” she added. “We know there are pockets of good stories and narratives at different levels. As we seek them out, let’s document them, let’s publicize them, and let’s create more ripples of hope,” she emphasized. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recognizes the critical role of women in response to climate change due to their local knowledge of and leadership in areas like sustainable resource management or leading sustainable practices at the household and community level. Women’s participation at the political level has resulted in greater responsiveness to citizen’s needs, often increasing cooperation across party and ethnic lines and delivering more sustainable peace. At the local level, women’s inclusion at the leadership level has led to improved outcomes of climate-related projects and policies. Likewise, if policies or projects are implemented without women’s meaningful participation, it can increase existing inequalities and decrease effectiveness. March of every year is declared as National Women’s Month through the following issuances: Proclamation No. 227 s.1998 provides for the observance of the month of March as Women’s Role in History Month; Republic Act 6949 s.1990 declares March 8 of every year as International Women’s Day; and Proclamation No. 224 s.1988 declaring the first week of March each year as Women’s Week and March 8 as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day. Through this celebration, the CCC calls on the Filipinos to find innovative ways of reimagining and rebuilding systems that work for everyone, regardless of gender and age, in pursuit of sustainable and inclusive development.

Cohort of climate defenders during a meeting convened by the British Embassy in Manila in preparation for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference. Photo released by British Embassy Manila. MANILA, 26 February 2021 — Some of the country’s top ‘Climate Defenders’ attended recently a meeting convened by the British Embassy in Manila in preparation for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP26 in November this year. Among those at the meeting hosted by British Ambassador Daniel Pruce were three-term Senator and now Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno represented by Managing Director Lyn Javier, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity Executive Director Theresa Mundita Lim, Oscar M. Lopez Center Executive Director and leading climate scientist Dr. Rodel Lasco, DREAM founder and renewable energy policy expert Atty. Jay Layug, and journalist and youth leader Atom Araullo. During the meeting, Legarda outlined the interventions needed in the Philippines’ climate movement. “As our greenhouse gas emissions are likely to rise without interventions, we will pursue our goal to steer our critical sectors towards green growth and resilience,” Legarda said. “We will continue to identify, fund, and implement our country’s adaptation priorities,” she said. But Legarda also stressed the need for continued initiatives to mainstream science in policy, and for more urgent collective action across all sectors. “We need to make climate science and research work for us, to make them more understandable, relatable, and actionable especially for our local governments and communities,” Legarda pointed out. Ambassador Pruce cited the breadth of issues to be discussed at the climate conference, most importantly on decarbonization and clean energy, green finance, nature-based solutions, and the need to ensure broader participation where every citizen can be engaged. He stressed the important role of the Climate Defenders or tagapagtanggol as local thought leaders, voices, and faces that attest to the urgency of climate change and call for mobilization of bold and meaningful actions. Dr. Lim called for more investments on natural solutions to climate impacts as a path to building resilient communities. “The inextricable connection among nature, human health, and economic development is no longer a question. It needs to be at the center of our development processes – from addressing health and climate crisis, to establishing recovery paths and building resilience for the future. Since climate change and pandemics affect everyone in the globe, our actions must also cut across disciplines and sectors,” Lim said. Dr. Lasco, a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, pointed out that “climate change action is for us, our children, and our future generation. The challenge is to act now.” For Araullo, who has presented award-winning documentaries from climate-related disasters, the youth must be given space to engage, so that their energy and passion can fuel climate actions as they have the most at stake in the climate crisis. Legarda also reiterated the importance of the upcoming conference, and expressed hope that the UK’s leadership can amplify developing countries’ initiatives in pursuit of climate justice, which she also mentioned in a recent meeting with MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth and UK’s Adaptation and Resilience Champion. “COP26 will be a defining moment for the global community as it marks the start of the full implementation of the Paris Agreement to keep us on track on the 1.5ºC climate pathway before we miss to achieve this goal at the end of this decade. A number of climate change impacts could still be avoided by limiting global warming to 1.5ºC compared to 2ºC above pre-industrial levels by 2100. But if we do business-as-usual, warming is projected to reach 3ºC to 4ºC, which will mean massive coral bleaching, rising sea levels, and more intense typhoons,” she stressed. “The UK COP Presidency must be able to amplify and support the agenda of vulnerable developing nations, such as addressing loss and damage and accelerating finance flows, technology transfer, and capacity development—all in the name of climate justice,” Legarda noted. “We need convergence from all of us, from all sectors and stakeholders. We need to be constantly finding new solutions and approaches. We need to empower our youth by providing them space to decide and take meaningful action,” she added. “And we need a greater sense of urgency because time is running out. The pandemic has already caused a significant delay to our climate movement, and we cannot afford to lose any more time,” she emphasized. Legarda similarly pressed for urgent climate action during the Climate Adaptation Summit last month, where she emphasized the importance of accelerating efforts and investments in adaptation in promoting sustainable recovery from the pandemic.  “We need to make up for delays and lost time on our global pace on climate action due to COVID-19 and actually recognize the opportunity of pursuing climate resilience, as we promote a sustainable pandemic recovery,” said Legarda, who was a resource speaker for the summit organized by the Global Commission on Adaptation. Legarda is also one of the over 30 Commissioners across 20 convening countries of the Commission, which aims to inspire heads of state, government officials, community leaders, business executives, investors, and other international actors to prepare for and respond to the disruptive effects of climate change. “Economic disruptions and public health emergencies will happen again if we don’t consider and address the climate crisis as a much bigger threat than COVID-19,” she warned. According to Legarda, this becomes even more urgent because of the looming 2030 deadline, which “scientists have declared as the closing of the window of opportunity to deflect the catastrophic effects of climate change.” “When we say adaptation, we know that it’s really a matter of life and death. It means being able to protect our people and their means to live and prosper, and to transform our societies so they are better equipped to deal with the increasing risks and challenges from climate change,” she explained. Citing a report from the Commission, Legarda warned that without adaptation, “500 million small farms around the world will be most affected by decreased yields, 3.6 to more than 5 billion people may lack sufficient water, hundreds of million people could be displaced, and more than 100 million people in developing countries could be pushed below the poverty line.” “We need to continue rallying behind the science and amplify the voices of our youth and the vulnerable. We need to continue engaging governments, the private sector, and the civil society and to actually work together on how we could further adapt our world within this crucial decade and beyond,” Legarda concluded.

Photo from the presentation of Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda. MANILA, 23 February 2021 — House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, speaking at the first session of the Future Earth Philippines Regional Workshop for Visayas today, called for stronger science-based governance as the Philippines remains on track in Climate Action under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13, but could be failing in its pursuit of other SDGs. “We need to undertake science-based and risk-informed action and investment planning. This is crucial for all our local government units (LGUs) that are at the forefront of the preparation and implementation of local climate action plans. They must be able to know their specific climate risks and vulnerabilities, as a way to inform their actions, policies, and investments within their jurisdictions,” Legarda said. “We have always considered that adaptation is local, recognizing that our communities bear the brunt of climate impacts and therefore our local leaders must be able to address their risks and vulnerabilities specific to their area, as effectively as possible,” Legarda added. National Scientist Dr. Lourdes J. Cruz of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), during her presentation on the Future Earth Philippines Program (FEPP), cited a report by the Footprint Network which showed that the Philippines has been running on an “ecological deficit for the past half-century.” “From the 1960s to 2016, there is a continuous decrease in the biocapacity of the Philippines. From about one global hectare per person we are now down to 0.5. Nangalahati na ang ating biocapacity since 1960 [Our biocapacity has halved since 1960],” Dr. Cruz noted. Biocapacity is the ability ecosystems to provide natural resources and absorb the waste produced by humans. “Our footprint, which is how much we disturb the environment, has gone from 1 to 1.3 global hectares. So from the period where we had a more or less balanced biocapacity and ecological footprint, we are now in an ecological deficit with a -0.8 global hectares per person deficit,” she added. Dr. Cruz highlighted the FEPP’s goal to provide scientific and social bases for policies and strengthen citizen action and stakeholder participation. She presented data from the Sustainable Development Report, noting that the country is on track to achieve only two of the 17 SDGs: Climate Action and Poverty. At the same time, it is ranked “stagnating” in six goals, and “decreasing” in two others. The Philippines scored 65.5 in the Report, ranking 99 out of 166 countries. “We are on track to attaining the 2030 SDGs with respect to No Poverty and Climate Action, but we know very well that although overall our poverty level has gone down, there’s a big disparity in terms of poverty because some provinces and some regions are extremely poor, particularly BARMM and Eastern Visayas, whereas others are doing well,” she added. “But if you look at Quality Education and Life on Land, bagsak tayo dito [we are failing]. We are really decreasing in our ability to attain the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. And with the others, we are improving, but not at a rate that is enough to reach the goal by 2030. For us to be resilient, we have to attain or at least approach the Sustainable Development Goals because sustainability and resilience are closely interlinked,” Dr. Cruz emphasized. As a champion for resilience, Legarda also emphasized the importance of translating knowledge into action during her keynote speech—bringing science into local government interventions, and bringing research to the level of the barangay. “If only all the 1,600 or more local governments, whether cities or municipalities, would do their city and municipal planning based on science and resilience, and disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation and mitigation, and if all our scientists would share and operationalize and explain up to the barangay level the importance of your research, then we can have more enlightened local governments and more effective local governance,” she added. Aside from undertaking science-based and risk-informed action and investment planning for local governments, Legarda also stressed the importance of strengthening social protection; conducting an environmental program audit covering the performance of national agencies and LGUs in enforcing environmental laws, regulations, and compliance guidelines; advancing economic and business resilience; and strengthening partnerships and convergence. “Climate action cannot solely be the government’s responsibility. Each of us has a role to play. At the end of this decade, by 2030, is the deadline of the Sustainable Development Goals and the year our scientists have declared as the closing of the window of opportunity to deflect the catastrophic effects of climate change. This decade is our last chance,” Legarda said. “Whatever actions we take today will ultimately affect our children and grandchildren. Even if we hand them over all our material wealth, it would not matter if they live in a polluted, uninhabitable, degraded Earth. The path that we will take today will determine the fate of the next generations. Let us not fail them,” Legarda concluded. The FEP Regional Workshop for Visayas is a two-day workshop held via Zoom with the aim of helping local governments review their development plans, assess the status of development in their jurisdiction, and draft strategies to facilitate their transition towards sustainable development and improved resilience. In attendance are representatives from LGUs, the academe, industry, and other institutions.

Halimbawa ng mga pekeng habi na natagpuan sa Baguio. Litrato mula sa presentasyon ni Gng. Rosalinda Salifad, manghahabi mula sa La Trinidad, Benguet. MAYNILA, Ika-22 ng Pebrero taong 2021 — Binigyang-diin ni House Deputy Speaker at Antique Representative Loren Legarda kasama ng mga panauhing tagapagsalita ang kahalagahan ng pangangalaga at pagprotekta natin sa mga gawang-habi kasama ng tradisyonal na pamanang kultura ng mga katutubong Pilipino laban sa pagpe-peke at pang-aabuso ng ibang mga taong walang konsensya na matatawag nating 'Kriminal ng Kultura' sa gitna ng ika-35 na kabanata ng “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways,” na may temang, "Protektahan at Pangalagaan ang Lokal nating Industriya ng Paghahabi!" na naipalabas sa Facebook Live. Nagtipon-tipon ang mga katutubong manghahabi, mga tagapag-tanggol at tagasulong, kasama ang mga kinatawan mula sa pamahalaan, na nakisali sa online paguusap-talakayan. Sila ay sina Virginia Doligas, General Manager ng Easter Weaving Room, Inc.; si Anya Lim, Co-Founder of Anthill Fabric Gallery; si Rosalina Salifad, manghahabi mula sa La Trinidad, Benguet; si Abigail Mae Bulayungan, President of PhilExpo CAR; Atty. Emerson Cuyo, Director of the Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines; Abubacar Datumanong, Commissioner of Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts and Head of National Committee on Southern Cultural Communities of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); Edwin Antonio, Secretary of Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts and Head of National Committee on Northern Cultural Communities of NCCA; Remedios Abgona, Chief of the Fiber Utilization And Technology Division of the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA); Commissioner Jennifer Pia Sibug-Las of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) - Central Mindanao; and Dir. Julius Leaño, Chief of the Research and Development Division of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI). “Ito’y napakahalaga dahil ito’y pamana ng ating mga kapatid na katutubong Pilipino. Ito’y sakop ng ating mga polisiya at mga batas, ang pagprotekta sa ating tangible at intangible heritage – yung mga resilient livelihoods ng ating mga manglilikhang-sining at manghahabi,” nabanggit ni House Deputy Speaker at Antique Representative Loren Legarda. Tinalakay ng katutubong mga manghahabi at ng mga negosyante ang epekto ng dagsang bagsak sa merkado ng gawang makinang mga kumot at mga baro na sinasabi at inaakong mga anyong-habing mula Cordillera na dumadagsa dito sa lokal nating mga merkado na mula pa sa ibayong dagat, at ito ngayon ay nakakapinasala sa ating lokal na industriyang paghahabi. “Nagsimula lahat ito noong isang taon, maraming nakapagsasabi sa amin na mayroong mga commercial cloth na ang hitsura ay kamukhang-kamukha ng design ng ating katutubong-habi. Hindi po kami nakatugon kaagad dahil wala naman po kami nakikita, ngunit pagkatapos itong mga nasabing pekeng mga materyales ay nagsimulang dumagsang-buhos sa Baguio, kung saan nabahala po kami at doon na po namin napatunayan na may mga fabric material na commercial na printed siya na katutubong disenyo at nalaman naming ito ay imported material mula sa China,” sabi ni Doligas. “Malalaman kaagad sa embroidery at texture kung ano ang printed at original. Pag printed po, manipis. Ang akala namin, 'Buti na lang nakapasok yung mga gawa natin sa department store [dito sa Baguio]', pero nung nahawakan po namin, replica pala, kasi manipis at printed lang siya," sabi ni Salifad. "Ang pagkakaroon ng mga huwad o pekeng barong-habi dito sa aming probinsya ay naka-aapekto sa marami naming mga manghahabi. Karamihan sa mga tao na hindi talaga sanay sa original or genuine woven fabrics ay pumapayag at pumipili na lang ng mga gawang kamukha at di naman orihinal. Yung ibang weavers dito, nagkakaroon na ng takot na habang kami ay mayroong limitadong kakayahan magtinda e ito namang mga replicas ay marami na ang bumibili sa kanila, kaya ang nangyayari, nandoon yung takot namin na mababawasan yung market namin, na sa kalaunan ay maka-aapekto rin sa pagbibigay namin ng trabahong gawain sa aming mga manghahabi," sabi ni Bulayungan. “Bigyan natin ng halaga ang mga habi. Ito ay hindi lang basta basta sangkap o palamuti lamang sa fashion, hindi lang ito basta tela. Ito ay kwento ng kasaysayan, kwento ng ating pagka-Pilipino. Ito ay ikino-consider ng ating mga ninuno na kanilang second skin. Bigyan natin ng halaga ang paghahabi ng higit pa sa paglagay lang natin ng presyo sa habi. Ang tela ay gawa sa kamay, hindi gawa sa makina at maraming metikulosong proseso na pinagdadaanan ang paghahabi bago siya maging tela," sabi ni Lim. Samantala, ang mga kinatawan mula sa mga ahensya ng pamahalaan ay naghayag ng kani-kanyang mga hakbanging makapagpo-protekta sa ating mga lokal na anyong paghahabi mula sa mga pagpe-peke at paghuhuwad.  "Sa ngayon po meron pong ginagawang profiling, na sa kasalukuyan ay binubuo pa rin namin, pino-profile po namin ang lahat ng tradisyonal na produkto ng ibat-ibang mga pang kulturang pamayanan sa buong bansa, na syang bahagi ng NCCA Subcommittee on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts sa kanilang taunang plano. Ito po ay isinasakatuparan ng ibang tagataguyod po kasama po ang ating mga cluster heads," sabi ni Commissioner Datumanong ng NCCA. “Nahinto ang produksyon dahil sa pandemic tapos biglang ito po ang kahaharapin ng mga manghahabing Cordilleran, na meron palang mga produktong peke. Patuloy pa rin ang pag-aaral namin sa sitwasyon ngayon at meron kaming pinag-uusapan sa Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts na magkaroon sana ng talaan ng ibat-ibang textiles at designs ng mga cultural communities para sa gayon malaman din natin at magamit para sa pagtukoy at pagkilala ng different textiles,” sabi ni Sec. Edwin Antonio ng NCCA. "Meron nang naririyang Memorandum of Understanding sa pagitan ng Kagawaran ng Agrikultura at ng IPO na nilagdaan noong taong 2018. Ang pakay po ng MOU ay ang kilalanin at maitaguyod ang protection ng mga produktong nagtataglay ng tanda ng kanyang pinagmulan, mapalago ang kalidad ng produksyon, palakasin ang posisyon sa merkado, maisulong ang pantay-pantay na distribusyon ng kita para sa pambukid na mga pamayanan at makaambag sa pangkalahatang paglago ng ekonomiya at pambansang pag-unlad," sabi ni Director Abgona ng PhilFIDA. "Geographical indication po ang tawag sa sign na ginagamit sa mga produktong mayroong natatanging geographical origin, o di naman kaya ay merong mga katangian o reputasyon na maaaring makilalang mula sa origin na yon. Sa ngayon po, wala tayong sistema ng GI ngunit maaari itong maprotektahan sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang IP code bilang isang collective mark. Kung gusto ng ating mga pangkat o grupong katutubo na magkaroon ng kani-kanyang collective mark para sa kani-kanyang mga industrial weaves, pwede po silang mag-apply sa Intellectual Property Office," sabi ni Atty. Cuyo ng IPO. “Alam natin na hindi lang paghahabi ang ating problema dito, kundi pati na rin yung sinasabi nating embroidery. Nagrereklamo rin po yung ating mga Manobo mula CARAGA dahil yung Suyam nila ay lumabas na rin sa merkado na peke rin yung materyal na ginagamit at pini-print na walang pahintulot sa ating mga komunidad. Dahil marami kaming natatanggap na mga reports na gumagawa yung mga "kriminal ng kultura", enterprising individuals o mga companies nating ng mga pekeng materials na hindi nagpapaalam sa ating mga komunidad, kaya nga't bumuo kami ng Task Force kung saan ito ang mag-iimbestiga ng mga ganitong paglabag sa karapatan ng ating mga katutubo,” sabi ni Commissioner Sibug-Las ng NCIP. “Ang design component, ang proteksyon ng design, ay hindi agarang nasa ilalim ng ating mandato, pero dahil nga sa ating kakayahan at pagkakaroon ng  textile development, mayroon na ngayon tayong visualization app software kung saan maaaring maging bahagi na tayo ng  documentation ng two-dimension patterns ng lahat ng mga textiles sa buong Pilipinas. Nilalagyan na nga natin ngayon ng laman ang ating database sa ating textile product development center para po digitalized na yung ating mga designs,” sabi ni Dir. Leaño ng PTRI. Para lamang mapalakas pa ang  traditional property rights ng ating mga IPs at maprotektahan ang kani-kanyang traditional cultural heritage, Isinulong ni Deputy Speaker at Antique Representative Loren Legarda ang House Bill No. 7811 or An Act Safeguarding the Traditional Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Ang batas ay naglalayong pagbawalan ang posibleng pang-aabuso o pananamantala ng ating mga pamanang kultura, pinupunan nito ang ating mga pagkukulang at gumagamit ng conventional forms ng intellectual property, tulad ng copyright, royalty, at ownership. Karagdagang isinulong ni Legarda ang House Resolution No. 1549 na siyang humihikayat sa House Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts na maglunsad ng isang  inquiry, in aid of legislation, ukol sa usapin ng counterfeit garments na nagmumula pa sa ibayong dagat na sinasabi at inaakalang gawa o barong habing mula Cordillera. Bilang pagtatapos ni Legarda, aniya, "Ang sining at ang mga likhang sining ng ating mga kapatid na katutubo (IPs) ay nangangailangan ng masusi at malalimang proseso ng mangangalaga at pagpro-protekta. 'Di natin dapat hayaan na ang kanilang mga malikhaing gawang sining na mula pa sa kani-kaniyang mga pamanang kultura ay mapasailalim sa banta ng mga huwad at pekeng imported materials".

Access the full results of the Global Climate Risk Index 2021 by visiting the website of Germanwatch at https://germanwatch.org/sites/germanwatch.org/files/Global%20Climate%20Risk%20Index%202021_1.pdf. MANILA, 20 February 2021 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) renews the call to strengthen the country’s disaster risk reduction planning through science to reduce the irreversible impacts of climate change and to mitigate damage from floods, typhoons, and other disasters. In a bulletin issued today by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Tropical Storm Auring was estimated at 595 km East Southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur with maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h near the center and moving eastward at 15 km/h. Despite slight weakening, PAGASA warned that Auring could still bring heavy to intense rain, floods, and landslides to several areas in the Visayas and Mindanao. Residents in flood-prone and landslide prone areas are advised to monitor the weather bulletins and take appropriate action should flooding occur as Auring is expected to stay within the Philippine Area of Responsibility until Tuesday. Just this week, parts of Davao were severely affected by widespread flood due to local thunderstorms, displacing more than thousands of families and brought massive damage to agriculture and infrastructure. With this, the CCC stresses the importance of disaster preparedness and risk management as the country remains one of the most affected by extreme weather events due to climate change over the past two decades. The Philippines was ranked fourth among countries most affected by extreme weather events from 2000-2019, according to Global Climate Risk Index 2021 by Germanwatch. The ranking is said to be attributed to the aftermath of devastating typhoons over the last decades, including Typhoon Ondoy (2009), Typhoon Pablo (2012), Super Typhoon Yolanda (2013), and Typhoon Ompong (2018), which were responsible for the loss of thousands of lives, as well as the massive damage to agriculture and infrastructure. Another factor is the long process of recovering from the previous year’s impacts. Overall, 317 extreme weather events were recorded in the country from the 20-year period, the highest among the top 10 countries on the report. Philippines, along with Haiti and Pakistan, is continuously ranked among the most affected countries both in the long-term index and in the index for the respective year. The Global Climate Risk Index yearly analyzes and ranks to what extent countries and regions have been affected by impacts of climate-related extreme weather events, which include storms, floods, and heatwaves, among others. It also indicates a level of exposure and vulnerability to these extreme weather events which countries should understand as warnings in order to be prepared for more frequent and/or more severe events in the future. With this report, the CCC underscored the need to identify gaps within the systems in mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in the development, investment, and land use planning processes. The major factors that led to severe damage to the communities due to these extreme typhoons include excessive rainfall due to climate change; improper land uses, which include the construction of settlements and cultivation in flood-prone areas; siltation of waterways due to excessive soil erosion because of illegal logging and deforestation; and poor or non-implementation of the solid waste management policies on the local level. As one of the countries most vulnerable to climate hazards, the Commission also called on the developed countries to accelerate and scale up the support to the country in areas of finance, green technology, and capacity development in order  to build resilience against typhoons and other climate impacts. Lastly, the CCC said that stronger policy measures must be formulated to help avert future loss and damage and ensure sustainable and resilient recovery in light of the escalating climate-related disaster risks compounded by factors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Decision Tree represents the climate change expenditure tagging exercise for government institutions. Photo from the presentation of the CCC. MANILA, 19 February 2021 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) continues its virtual capacity building initiatives, this time on national climate change expenditure tagging (CCET) for Government Owned- and -Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).  These are follow-up sessions to the virtual CCET orientation held by the CCC and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in April last year where some of the invited national government agencies, especially the SUCs and GOCCs, were not able to attend the orientation due to limited access to coordination and modes of communication during the first months of the quarantine. “Since its inception in 2015, the CCET has proven to be instrumental in providing an avenue for national institutions to assess the alignment and scale of mobilization of public funds with our National Climate Change Action Plan and other national policies set to achieve our goals and aspirations for low-carbon, sustainable development felt by our communities down to the very last mile. Our urgent call is for the total share of climate change appropriations in our national budget to increase so it reflects that we have effectively baked in climate action, as a measure that cuts across all sectors,” said CCC Commissioner Rachel Herrera in her opening remarks during the two-day deep dive CCET session with GOCCs on February 10 and 11. Over the course of five days, a total of 90 representatives from several GOCCs, and 300 representatives from 97 SUCs attended the session. “The current pandemic has underscored the value of wise spending of resources to effectively address the needs of every Filipino. It also taught us how important it is for any government to look far beyond our horizon and prepare for any and all types of crises that may arise,” Herrera added. DBM Assistant Secretary Rolando Toledo also welcomed the participants and emphasized the core strategy of adaptation in public finance. “Under the 2021 General Appropriations Act, we have already tagged climate change expenditures amounting to Php282.4 billion, the bulk of which is focused on adaptation responses that would build the resilience of communities against the impacts of climate change,” Toledo said. “As the Earth’s steward, we must  take on quick steps to save our planet. The national government agencies, LGUs, GOCCs, are institutions that can effect change and must begin to collaborate to address the key issues. This virtual meeting is the first step in the battle against climate change…The Governance Commission enjoins the GOCC sector, and all institutions to support initiatives that help combat climate change. Let’s all double our efforts so that we may pass on a greener and healthier Earth for the next generations to come,” said Governance Commission for GOCCs Commissioner Marites Cruz-Doral. The CCC and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) led the institutionalization of CCET in 2013 through its Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2013-01, which has been amended through DBM-CCC JMC 2015-01 to be consistent with the development of an outcome-based budgeting system. Agencies and institutions are asked to track, tag, and analyze climate change-related expenditures to effectively mainstream climate action in the country’s domestic plans and programs and allow the allocation of public funds to implement projects and programs that would help communities adapt and cope with climate impacts, while also bringing benefits from reduced greenhouse gas emissions. This initiative endeavored to strengthen the capacity of SUCs in mainstreaming climate change in their programs, activities, and projects using the CCET designated typologies on what are considered as climate adaptation or mitigation. On the second session day for SUCs within the Visayas region, CCC Commissioner Noel Antonio Gaerlan delivered the opening remarks. “CCET should go beyond to also address location-specific climate risks, based on the multi-hazard, multi-scenario and probabilistic approach. This is embodied in the policy issuance of the Commission,” he said. “It must present continuity in order for you to measure the effectivity and effectiveness of your strategies that is tagged in the respective climate budgets,” Gaerlan said. These capacity building initiatives of the CCC and the DBM were conducted via virtual meeting platform, in accordance with the health and social-distancing guidelines released by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.

Sample of counterfeited weaves found in Baguio. Photo from the presentation of Ms. Rosalinda Salifad, a weaver in La Trinidad, Benguet. MAYNILA, 18 February 2021 — House Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda, together with resource speakers, highlighted the protection of indigenous peoples’ weaves and traditional cultural heritage against counterfeit and exploitation during the 35th  episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways,” with the topic, “Protect Indigenous Weaving!” shown via Facebook Live. Indigenous weavers, advocates, and representatives from the government joined the online conversation, including Virginia Doligas, General Manager of Easter Weaving Room, Inc.; Anya Lim, Co-Founder of Anthill Fabric Gallery; Rosalina Salifad, a weaver based in La Trinidad, Benguet; Abigail Mae Bulayungan, President of PhilExpo CAR; Atty. Emerson Cuyo, Director of the Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines; Abubacar Datumanong, Commissioner of Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts and Head of National Committee on Southern Cultural Communities of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); Edwin Antonio, Secretary of Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts and Head of National Committee on Northern Cultural Communities of NCCA; Remedios Abgona, Chief of the Fiber Utilization And Technology Division of the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA); Commissioner Jennifer Pia Sibug-Las of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) - Central Mindanao; and Dir. Julius Leaño, Chief of the Research and Development Division of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI). “Ito’y napakahalaga dahil ito’y heritage ng ating mga katutubo at indigenous people. Ito’y sakop ng ating mga polisiya at mga batas, ang pagprotekta sa ating tangible at intangible heritage – yung mga resilient livelihoods ng ating artisans at weavers,” said Legarda. Indigenous weavers and enterprises tackled about the impacts of the influx of machine-woven blankets and garments appropriating Cordillera weave patterns coming into the local market from abroad to the local weaving industry. “It started last year, maraming nakapagsasabi sa amin na mayroong mga commercial cloth na ang hitsura ay kamukhang-kamukha ng design ng ating katutubong habi. Hindi po kami nagreact kaagad dahil wala naman po kami nakikita, but then this so-called fake materials started to flood Baguio, we were alarmed at doon na po namin napatunayan na may mga fabric material na commercial na printed siya na katutubong disenyo and we learned that these are importations from China,” said Virginia Doligas. “Malalaman kaagad sa embroidery at texture kung ano ang printed at original. Pag printed po, manipis. Ang akala namin, 'Buti na lang nakapasok yung mga gawa natin sa department store [dito sa Baguio]', pero nung nahawakan po namin, replica pala, kasi manipis at printed lang siya," said Rosalina Salifad. “The counterfeit garment presence here in our province is affecting lots of our weavers. Karamihan sa mga tao na not really oriented sa original or genuine woven fabrics are resorting to having these replicas. Yung ibang weavers dito, nagkakaroon ng fear na while we still have limited trading e ito namang mga replicas ay marami na ang bumibili sa kanila, so ang nangyayari, nandoon yung fear namin na magle-lessen yung magiging market namin, which eventually also affects yung pag-source out namin sa mga weavers," said Abigail Mae Bulayungan. “Bigyan natin ng halaga ang mga weave. Ito ay hindi lang basta basta ingredients to fashion, hindi lang ito basta tela. Ito ay kwento ng kasaysayan, kwento ng ating pagka-Filipino. Ito ay ikino-consider ng ating mga ninuno na second skin. Bigyan natin ng halaga ang paghahabi more than just putting a prize on the weave. Ang tela ay gawa sa kamay, hindi gawa sa makina at maraming metikulosong proseso na pinagdadaanan ang paghahabi bago siya maging tela," said Anya Lim. Meanwhile, the representatives from the government presented their agencies’ measures to protect our local weaving designs from counterfeit. "As of now po meron pong ginagawang profiling, still in progress, pino-profile po namin ang lahat ng traditional product ng different cultural communities nationwide, which is part of the NCCA Subcommittee on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts sa kanilang yearly plan. Ito po ay isinasakatuparan ng different proponent po kasama po ang ating mga cluster heads," said Commissioner Abubacar Datumanong of NCCA. “Nahinto ang production dahil sa pandemic tapos biglang ito po ang kahaharapin ng mga Cordilleran weavers, na meron palang counterfeit products. Patuloy pa rin ang pag-aaral namin sa sitwasyon ngayon at meron kaming pinag-uusapan sa Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts na magkaroon sana ng inventory of the different textiles and designs of the different cultural communities para at least malaman din natin at magamit para sa pag-identify ng different textiles,” said Sec. Edwin Antonio of NCCA. "There is an existing Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Agriculture and the IPO signed in 2018. Ang focus po ng MOU is to recognize and promote the protection of products bearing geographical indications, foster quality production, strengthen market position, enable equitable distribution of profit for rural communities and contribute to the overall economic growth and national development," said Remedios Abgona of PhilFIDA. "Geographical indication po ang tawag sa sign na ginagamit sa mga products that have a specific geographical origin, o di naman kaya ay merong qualities or reputation na maaaring ma-identify sa origin na yon. Sa ngayon po, wala tayong system of GI but it is protectable under our present IP code as a collective mark. Kung gusto ng ating mga indigenous groups to have a collective mark for their industrial weaves, pwede po silang mag-apply sa Intellectual Property Office," said Atty. Emerson Cuyo of IPO. “Alam natin na hindi lang weaving ang ating problema dito, kundi pati na rin yung sinasabi nating embroidery. Nagrereklamo rin po yung ating mga Manobos from CARAGA dahil yung Suyam nila ay lumabas na rin sa merkado na peke rin yung materyal na ginagamit at pinni-print na walang pahintulot sa ating mga komunidad. Dahil marami kaming natatanggap na mga reports na gumagawa yung mga enterprising individuals o companies natin ng mga pekeng materials na hindi nagpapaalam sa ating mga komunidad, bumuo kami ng Task Force kung saan ito ang mag-iimbestiga ng mga ganitong paglabag sa karapatan ng ating mga katutubo,” said Commissioner Jennifer Pia Sibug-Las of NCIP. “The design component, the protection of design, is not necessarily under our mandate, but with our textile development capability, we already have our visualization app software where we could already be part of the documentation of the two-dimension patterns of all the textiles across the Philippines. We are actually populating our database in our textile product development center para po digitalized na yung ating mga designs,” said Dir. Julius Leaño of PTRI. In order to strengthen the traditional property rights of IPs and protect their traditional cultural heritage, Legarda filed House Bill No. 7811 or An Act Safeguarding the Traditional Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The bill aims to prevent possible abuses or the exploitation of our cultural heritage, filling the gaps and apply the conventional forms of intellectual property, like copyright, royalty, and ownership. Additionally, Legarda also filed House Resolution No. 1549, urging the House Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the issue on counterfeit garments coming from abroad that have appropriated weaves from the Cordillera. “The arts and crafts of our IPs require a very intensive process. We should not let their creative and artistic works bound by their cultural heritage be threatened by counterfeit imports,” Legarda concluded.

MAYNILA, Ika-17 ng Pebrero taong 2021 — Bilang pagkilala at pagmamahal sa tradisyonal at ecosystem-based livelihood, magtitipon-tipon virtually ang ilan sa mga kilalang tao sa larangan ng pagsusulong ng katutubong paghahabi upang ibahagi ang kanilang mga kaalaman ukol sa pagpapatatag ng rural na pangkabuhayan lalo na sa panahon ng pandemiya at krisis pang-klima ngayong ika-35 na episode ng "Stories for the Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways" na may temang “Protektahan ang Katutubong Paghahabi!”.   Ito ang kauna-unahan mula sa maka-apat na episodes na nagbibigay-tuon sa pagsuporta sa pagpapatatag sa nasabing pangkabuhayan.   Sa pangunguna ni dating three-term Senator at ngayo’y House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, mapapanood ang episode na ito ngayong Huwebes ika-18 ng Pebrero 2021, 10:00 AM via Facebook Live sa facebook.com/CCCPhl at facebook.com/iamlorenlegarda.   Kasama sa nasabing online na talakayan sina Virginia Doligas, General Manager ng Easter Weaving Room Inc.; Anya Lim, co-founder ng ANTHILL Fabric Gallery; Atty. Emerson Cuyo, Director of Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPO); at pati na si Komisyoner Abubacar Datumanong ng Pambansang Komisyon para sa Kultura at mga Sining para talakayin kung paano pangalagaan at protektahan ang ating mga lokal na anyong paghahabi laban sa mga huwad o hindi makatotohanang beryson nito. Naglalayon din ang episode na ito na makapagbigay tinig sa mga katutubong Pilipino (IPs) sa pamamagitan ng intellectual property rights.   Maaalalang sa nakaraang mga episode, pinag-usapan sa online serye ang papel ng tradisyonal na industriya ng paghahabi at sining sa pagbibigay ng mga pagkakataong magkaroon ng sustenableng maka-kapaligiran na pagkakakitaang pangkabuhayan habang pinapangalagaan ang pamanang pang-kultura at lokal na maka-manlilikhang sining.   Samantala, para naman sa episode na ito, hihingin ni Deputy Speaker Legarda at ng kaniyang mga panauhin ang suporta ng mga pamilya, kasama na ang publiko upang maprotektahan ang industriya ng tradisyonal at katutubong paghahabi.   Inihain ni Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda ang House Resolution No. 1549 na naghihikayat sa Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts na magsagawa ng pagsisiyasat sa tulong ng batas ukol sa isyu ng huwad na habing-tela na inakma sa anyo ng paghahabi ng mga taga-Cordillera na pumapasok sa ating lokal na merkado mula sa ibang bansa. Kung kaya kinakailangan na mas palakasin ang proteksyon sa intellectual property rights at pamanang pang-kultura ng katutubo nating mga Pilipino kasama na ang kanilang mga pamayanan.   Isinulong din ni Deputy Speaker Legarda ang House Bill 7811 o “An Act Safeguarding the Traditional Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, na naglalayong makalikha ng malawakang tala-imbakang pang-kultura na siyang mag-oorganisa ng isang talaan ng lahat ng mga pag-aaring pang-kultura ng iba’t ibang ethnolinguistic groups sa Pilipinas. Nagbibigay mandato rin ang nasabing batas ukol sa pagbabayad ng royalties para sa paggamit ng  pang-kulturang mga pag-aari ng katutubong Pilipino.   Bilang isang online na talakayan upang maisulong ang kalusugan, kamalayang pang-kapaligiran, at mga kasanayang pang climate-adaptive, naglalayon ang "Stories for a Better Normal" na baguhin ang kaisipan ng mga tao, mga pamilya, at mga pamayanan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakita ng mga pamamaraan kung saan maaaring magkaroon tayo at maisasabuhay natin ang isang ‘better normal’ sa loob ng ating mga pamayanan.   Na-organisa ang online na talakayang ito mula sa pagtutulungan ng tanggapan ni Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda at ng Climate Change Commission (CCC) na binigyang-suporta naman ng Institute for Climate at Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines, at ng Mother Earth Foundation.

MANILA, 15 February 2021 — Indigenous weaving advocates will gather virtually to promote appreciation of traditional and ecosystem-based livelihoods and share information on ways to enhance the resilience of rural livelihoods to the pandemic and climate crisis on the 35th episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” with the topic “Protect Indigenous Weaving!” This is the first of the four-part episode which focuses on supporting resilient livelihoods.   The episode, hosted by three-term former Senator, now Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, will air on Thursday, 18 February 2021, 10:00 AM via Facebook Live at facebook.com/CCCPhl and facebook.com/iamlorenlegarda.   Joining the online conversation are Virginia Doligas, general manager of Easter Weaving Room Inc.; Anya Lim, co-founder of ANTHILL Fabric Gallery; and Atty. Emerson Cuyo, director of Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPO) to discuss how to preserve and protect our local weaving patterns against counterfeit and giving indigenous peoples (IPs) a voice through intellectual property rights.   In previous episodes, the online series tackled the role of the traditional weaving and crafts industry in providing environmentally-sustainable and viable livelihood options to communities, while preserving cultural heritage and local craftspersonship.   For this episode, Legarda and esteemed guests will call on the families, local governments and the general public to support and protect the country’s traditional and indigenous weaving industry.   Legarda filed House Resolution No. 1549 urging the Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the issue of counterfeit garments appropriating weave patterns from the Cordillera coming into the local markets from abroad to further strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights and cultural heritage of our IPs and communities.   Legarda also filed House Bill 7811 or “An Act Safeguarding the Traditional Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, which aims to create a comprehensive cultural archive that will organize an inventory of all cultural properties of the different ethnolinguistic groups of the Philippines. The said Bill also mandates the payment of royalties for the use of the cultural property of the IPs.   As an online discussion to promote health, environmental consciousness, and climate-adaptive practices, "Stories for a Better Normal" aims to change the mindset of individuals, families, and communities by demonstrating ways in which a ‘better normal’ can be realized within our communities.   This online discussion is organized in partnership between the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda and the Climate Change Commission, with support from the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines and Mother Earth Foundation.

Photo from pexels.com. MANILA, 13 February 2021 — Sixty one bills in the House of Representatives seeking to phase-out or regulate single-use plastics were tackled in a technical working group chaired by Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Benitez under the House of Representatives Committee on Ecology last Thursday, February 11. According to Rep. Benitez, "This legislation is a critical, concrete step towards a circular economy. There are products that we can immediately ban. But for products that are not easily replaceable, we must give manufacturers time to produce alternatives and diversify." He emphasized the need to consult all stakeholders from the sectors that will be affected, in view of the wide range of products to be covered by the bills such as plastic straws for drinks, plastic coffee stirrers, plastic bags of thickness below 50 microns, plastic cups and cutlery, containers of polystyrene, balloons and candy sticks, buntings, and confetti. Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, as co-author, also expressed strong support for the immediate passage of the legislative measure regulating and prohibiting single-use plastics. “We have seen with our own eyes and we have known for some time that single-use plastics have a negative impact on the environment. This is even more problematic in our flood-prone areas, where plastic wastes clog our sewerage systems. The issue isn’t just that plastic bags take forever to disintegrate, it is the massive number of plastics Filipinos use and quickly throw away. These plastics are choking the life out of our oceans and forests and polluting our communities,” Legarda said. Legarda, a three-term Senator and representative of the Lone District of Antique, said that the complete eradication of single-use plastics, a term commonly referring to disposable plastic items that are thrown after one-time use, must be supported as an environmentally-conscious solution to the plastic crisis. Among the principal authors of various House bills that seek to regulate the use of plastics are House Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco, Deputy Speakers  Legarda and Rufus Rodriguez, Representatives Bernadette Herrera-Dy, Bienvenido Abante Jr., Lorenz Defensor, Ria Christian Fariñas, Rudys Caesar Fariñas Farinas I, Kristine Alexie Tutor, Manuel Cabochan III,  Lawrence Fortun, Geraldine Roman, Robert Ace Barbers, Rozzano Rufino Biazon, Greg Gasataya, Luis Raymond Villafuerte Jr., Estrellita Suansing, Horacio Suansing Jr., Jumel Anthony Espino,  Precious Castelo, Joy Myra Tambunting, Angelo Marcos Barba, Jose Teves Jr., Florencio Noel, Rodrigo Abellanosa, Eric Yap, Paolo Z. Duterte, Josefina Tallado, Ramon Guico III, Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, Alberto Pacquiao, Francisco Jose Matugas II, John Marvin Nieto, Aleta Suarez, Anna Marie Villaraza-Suarez, Frederick Siao, and Mark Go. As the principal author of Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law of 2000, Legarda suggested that instead of "disposable" plastics, ready alternatives can be in the form of reusable ecobags, bamboo or wood utensils, or glass-based containers in homes. She added that companies must change their economic mindset, wasteful production processes and packaging methods, from the use of seemingly cost-effective plastics into investing in reusable and recyclable products which are more sustainable in the long run. The Climate Change Commission (CCC), led by its Chairperson-designate Department of Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez, supports the nationwide ban on single-use plastics as a vital component of a low-carbon economy and to advance sustainability, promote biodiversity, ensure food security, and curb pollution. The climate body stressed that the passage of a legislative measure on this subject matter will further push policymakers to proactively review the implementation of existing environmental laws, such as the Clean Air Act (Republic Act or RA No. 8749), Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003), Clean Water Act (RA 9275), and the Climate Change Act (9729) to ensure a more holistic, sustainable, and inclusive recovery of our communities and the environment.

The People’s Survival Fund Monitoring and Evaluation System (PSF MES) is one of the initiatives of the Climate Change Commission to ensure transparency and accountability on available climate financing. Photo from the presentation of CCC Asec. Romell Antonio Cuenca. MANILA, 11 February 2021 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) joined the other stakeholders in highlighting the key findings on local climate adaptation finance tracking and sharing of perspectives and recommendations on how to improve the tracking initiative in the Philippines in a recent roundtable discussion organized by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC). The virtual roundtable discussion was held in line with the launch of the “Climate Finance Adaptation Study Report: Philippines” of the ICSC which  was the result of the climate adaptation finance tracking research conducted to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of multilateral and bilateral donors’ reporting of climate finance. Participants include representatives from the government, civil society organizations, and development partners. Resource persons include Hon. Edgar M. Chatto, Chairperson of the Committee on Climate Change of the House of Representatives; Asec. Paola Sherina Alvarez of the Department of Finance; Mr. Angelo Kairos Dela Cruz, Deputy Executive Director of ICSC; and Asec. Romell Antonio O. Cuenca, Deputy Executive Director of CCC. Asec. Cuenca said that the results of the study are very important and highly relevant in implementing existing or new policies and strategies on climate finance. While the study indicated that climate finance donors tend to report higher amounts spent on adaptation activities than what is in fact the case on the ground, the concerns should be more of whether the support was sufficient to sustain initiatives to reduce vulnerabilities to climate change, and whether the desired outcomes were achieved given the over-reported figures versus the actual objectives attained, according to Asec. Cuenca “Climate finance governance requires accountability and transparency, among others. While the country is rich in natural resources, we are in the midst of a climate crisis made more complicated by a pandemic. Therefore, every peso lost or wasted may translate into lives lost in case of a disaster we are not prepared for, or great damage, for instance, in agriculture from an unforeseen hazard,” said Asec. Cuenca. In terms of accountability and transparency in climate finance, the CCC pursues the following strategies: PSF Monitoring and Evaluation System (MES) – The ongoing development of the PSF MES provides public access to information on the utilization of the Fund, and up-to-date progress of PSF projects implemented on the ground; National Integrated Climate Change Database and Information Exchange System (NICCDIES) – This is an integrated climate information portal for consolidation and monitoring of data and information on climate change and climate actions from various public and private sources to enable decision-makers to utilize these data for policymaking, development planning, and investment decision-making; National Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) – In coordination with the Commission on Audit and Department of Budget and Management, the CCC formulates audit guidelines to ensure transparency and accountability on the use of tagged budget; and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) – As the country finalizes its first NDC, the CCC recognizes the need to further strengthen the climate finance governance as the development assistance would accelerate based on the conditional submission. Asec. Cuenca said that the country should ensure to accommodate not only foreign-assisted projects, but also to implement these in accordance with the set outcomes. “Climate finance is crucial but very limited. Given our limitations on financial resources, especially now that we are likewise dealing with the impacts brought about by the pandemic, we need to make sure that we are using the limited resources we have on hand to bring about positive impacts with its consequential ripple effects, and that we are targeting the most vulnerable parts of the population in a sustainable way,” Asec. Cuenca concluded.

MANILA, 9 February 2021 — Practitioners and advocates of sustainability will gather virtually to promote sustainability in agriculture, food, and lifestyle, and to show love for the common home this Valentines’ on the 34th episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways” with the topic, “In Love with Sustainability.”   The episode, hosted by three-term former Senator and House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, will air on Thursday, 11 February 2021, 10:00 AM via Facebook Live at facebook.com/CCCPhl and facebook.com/iamlorenlegarda.   Joining the online conversation are advocates including Chit Juan, Founder of ECHOfarms and ECHOstore; Chef Jam Melchor, Head of Slow Food Youth Network Philippines; and Anna Manalastas, certified and registered yoga teacher, to share their practices and promote sustainable living.   In previous episodes, the online series tackled various sustainability practices that promote environmental stewardship, putting a spotlight on the link between climate change and environmental issues and the consumerist culture.   For this episode, Legarda and guests will call on the millennials, families, and the general public to nurture a loving relationship not only with loved ones, but also with nature.   The celebration of Valentines’ is also an occasion to show love for the Earth and put hearts to fight climate change by making sustainable choices on food, clothing, and mobility, among many others.   As an online discussion to promote health, environmental consciousness, and climate-adaptive practices, "Stories for a Better Normal" aims to change the mindset of individuals, families, and communities by demonstrating ways in which a ‘better normal’ can be realized within our communities.   This online discussion is organized in partnership between the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda and the Climate Change Commission, with support from the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines and Mother Earth Foundation.

MAYNILA, Ika-9 ng Pebrero 2021—Virtual na magtitipon-tipon ang ilang mga eksperto sa pagsusulong at pagsasabuhay ng sustainable living upang maipakita ang kanilang sari-sariling paraan ng pagmamahal sa mga usaping pang-agrikultura, pagkain at pamumuhay ngayong Valentines’ day, ika-34 na episode ng "Stories for the Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways" na may temang "Sustenableng Pagmamahal ang Makabagong Pag-Ibig, ngayong Panahon ng Pandemya". Sa pangunguna ni dating Senadora at ngayo’y  Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, mapapanood ang kabanatang ito ngayong Huwebes ika-11 ng Pebrero 2021, 10:00 AM sa Facebook Live  Kasama sa nasabing online na talakayan ang mga eksperto na sina Chit Juan, Founder ng ECHOfarms at ECHOstore; Chef Jam Melchor, Head ng Slow Food Youth Network Philippines; at si Anna Manalastas na isang certified yoga teacher. Matatandaang sa nakaraang mga episode, pinag-usapan ang iba’t ibang sustenableng mga kasanayang nakapagtataguyod ng pangangalagang pang-kapaligiran, na nagbibigay-diin sa ugnayan ng climate change at environmental issues kasama na rito ang consumerist culture. Samantala, para naman sa episode na ito, hihikayatin ni Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda at ng kaniyang mga panauhin ang lahat lalung-lalo na ang mga millennial Pinoys upang pangalagaan at itaguyod ang isang mapagmahal na ugnayan ‘di lamang sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay, kundi pati na rin sa kalikasan. Sapagkat ang pagdiriwang natin ng Valentines’ day ay isa ring okasyon para magpakita tayo ng pagmamahal sa kalikasan at pag-ibig sa kinagisnan at nag-iisa nating mundo at ituon ang ating mga pusong puno ng paninindigang labanan ang climate change sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaroon natin ng sustenableng pagpili at pagpapasya tulad na lamang sa pagkain at pananamit, at maging sa pagkilos sa gitna ng maraming iba pang mga bagay. Bilang isang online na talakayan upang maisulong ang kalusugan, kamalayang pang-kapaligiran, climate-adaptive, ang "Stories for a Better Normal" ay naglalayong baguhin ang kaisipan ng mga tao, mga pamilya, at mga pamayanan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakita ng mga pamamaraan  kung saan maaaring magkaroon tayo at maisasabuhay natin ang isang ‘better normal’ sa loob ng ating mga pamayanan. Na-organisa ang online na talakayang ito mula sa pagtutulungan ng tanggapan ni Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda at ng Climate Change Commission (CCC) na binigyang-suporta naman ng Institute for Climate at Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines at ng Mother Earth Foundation.

Illustrative aspirational direction of the Philippine Nationally Determined Contribution shows that the country’s business-as-usual emissions trajectory shall shift downward and peak by 2030 toward net-zero by 2050. Photo from the presentation of CCC Secretary Emmanuel M. de Guzman during the House Committee on Climate Change meeting. MANILA, 5 February 2021 — The Philippines is pushing for high ambition in reducing carbon emissions as part of its goal to adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis and keep global warming to the 1.5 degrees Celsius survival threshold. Secretary of Finance Carlos G. Dominguez III, Chairperson-designate of the Climate Change Commission (CCC), had earlier called for "bolder collective action" against the climate crisis from the Philippines’ as a country highly vulnerable to climate and disaster risks, during a recent multistakeholder consultation on the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), a greenhouse gas emission reduction commitment from all countries party to the Paris Agreement. “The NDC is the central element of the Paris Agreement. Forged among 196 countries in 2015, this accord is the last great hope to turn back the scourge of global warming," said Dominguez. "We have higher stakes in this global effort than many other nations. I want us to be a world leader in making a difference in this battle against the climate crisis. Committing to reduce our carbon footprint is a matter of survival for our future generations,” he added. In a presentation during the House Committee on Climate Change meeting yesterday chaired by Bohol 1st District Representative Edgar Chatto for House Resolution No. 1494, CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Emmanuel De Guzman presented the enhanced NDC draft. “A consensus among lead government agencies and key stakeholders on the NDC ambition has emerged from the continuing consultations: 75 percent greenhouse gas reduction and avoidance by 2030. This NDC ambition is higher than our Intended Nationally Determined Contribution or INDC of 2015. It has been advanced by the lead sectoral agencies of government, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Department of Energy (DOE), as well as the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for the process of economic modeling,” said De Guzman.  The House Resolution, authored by Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, urged the CCC to submit the Philippines' NDC with the highest possible climate ambition to reflect the government’s strong commitment to contribute to global efforts to advance climate justice. According to the CCC, majority of the commitments are conditional or contingent on the support provided by the developed countries pursuant to the Paris Agreement such as finance, technology transfer, and capacity building, in the context of climate justice. Unlike the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution submitted in 2015, the Philippine NDC includes 2.71% unconditional emissions reductions through climate actions to be implemented mainly through domestic resources and subject to verification by the international community. “This high ambition of minus 75% means that our business-as-usual emissions trajectory shall shift downward and aspire to peak by 2030 toward net-zero by 2050, consistent with the 1.5 degrees goal and the advice of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or IPCC for global emissions to decline deeply and drastically by 45% this decade,” De Guzman added. Along with the lead sectoral agencies, the Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Foreign Affairs, Office of Civil Defense, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development welcomed the enhanced and more ambitious commitment under the NDC. Aside from the national government, the CCC also gathered support from civil society organizations that have provided support throughout the NDC process. Red Constantino, Executive Director of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, emphasized that the Philippines must demand accountability from historically responsible countries to the climate crisis through our NDC. “Climate justice is our foreign policy, as our Department of Foreign Affairs has said. We must demand climate finance compliance from rich countries. Tayo po dapat ang naniningil, hindi sila,” he said. Khevin Yu of Greenpeace Philippines expressed support to the updated draft and that more unconditional targets from other sectors be reflected in the NDC. “We need more unconditional targets and this needs to be reflected in the policy and measures of the government agencies. We thank the leadership of the Climate Change Commission and the Department of Finance in this process and urge them to include the inputs of civil society, youth, women, farmers, fisherfolks, workers, LGBTQ, PWD and other sectors for a strong NDC submission aligned with the Paris’ 1.5 degrees global target,” he emphasized. Dr. Mydah Kabingue, Chairperson of the College of Arts and Sciences of the Cebu Technological University, conveyed the need to incorporate scientific research, findings, and developments from the academic community. “Our initiatives and ambition as members of the academe must also be communicated in our NDC. By doing this, we are also giving support to the faculty members and students who are already doing their share on climate action. In light of the growing challenges and threats because of this global climate crisis, we need to constantly innovate, research, develop the right tools and technologies, and rally behind science to achieve our goals for our society, people, and the world,” she stressed. Keith Sigfred Ancheta of The Climate Reality Project Philippines expressed support to the updated NDC and sought the continuous inclusion of the youth in the NDC process. “We, the youth, are also ready to work alongside the government to help achieve the targets and implement the policies and measures in our NDC. And we also hope to be continuously included in policy and decision-making alongside other marginalized sectors such as the farmers, fisherfolk, IPs, and others to ensure an inclusive consultative process. We are hoping for the continued involvement of youth in the NDC process. The UNFCCC recognizes the vital role of the youth from policymaking to implementation of adaptation and mitigation plans and projects. After all, it is our future at stake,” he said. Over the next two weeks, the CCC shall continue to engage the sectoral stakeholders for the final draft of the NDC and its submission to Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, and to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, before transmittal to the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat. “Your Honors, 75 percent remains a horizon, and it is up to all of us to build a path to that horizon. The task at hand is to stretch the bounds of what is workable, mindful of the avenues for compromise toward a purposeful consensus for the sake of our nation’s and our planet’s future,” De Guzman concluded.

February 3, 2021 PRESS RELEASE REF: PAOLA ALVAREZ Assistant Secretary Email: [email protected]     Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has called for "bolder collective action" in realizing the Philippines’ global commitment to reduce its carbon footprint, starting with the ambitious goal of banning single-use plastics, as it is among the countries most vulnerable to the adverse impact of the climate crisis.   Dominguez, who is the chairperson-designate of the Climate Change Commission (CCC), said the Philippines should “aim high” and strive to be a world leader in making a difference in the battle against the climate crisis by crafting a set of science-based, well-studied Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), as part of its long-term commitment under the 2015 Paris Agreement.   “In a word, we have higher stakes in this global effort than many other nations. I want us to be a world leader in making a difference in this battle against the climate crisis3 I want us to pave the way in this area through our ambition,” said Dominguez at Wednesday's opening of the second multi-stakeholder consultative meeting on the Philippines’ NDC.   “This is precisely the reason why we need to take a bolder collective action in crafting our first NDC. It is better to be late and to have ambitious and well-thought out contributions, rather than poorly constructed ones submitted on time, without a general consensus behind it,” he added.   NDCs embody the efforts by signatories to the Paris Agreement to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.    In 2017, the Philippines ratified the Paris Agreement, which outlines a global framework on climate change mitigation, adaptation and finance.   The second multi-stakeholder meeting on the NDC was led and organized by the CCC.   Dominguez noted that this second meeting, held Feb. 3, aims to correct the lack of effort in the past to craft the country’s NDC and build the broadest consensus among stakeholders behind it.   Over 300 participants attended the virtual meeting held via Zoom.   The participants included representatives from the government, business sector, academe, civil society, non-profit organizations, workers’ associations and unions, youth groups, local government units (LGUs), industry associations and the Philippines’ development partners.   During the meeting, Dominguez reiterated the support of the CCC and the Department of Finance (DOF) to the enactment of a law banning the use of single-use plastics, which he described as “a crucial component of effective solid waste management and climate crisis action.”   “Once passed, every Filipino, by not consuming plastics, is contributing to help save our environment,” he said.   Disposable, single-use plastics, apart from polluting oceans and waterways, also leave a large carbon footprint, from the time their raw materials are refined to make the finished products and until after they are disposed of.   Citing a study showing the Philippines as the world’s third biggest plastics polluter in the oceans, Dominguez said “a strong mandate to reduce single-use plastics appears to be an obvious element in our NDC."   He said the results of this study done by the Ocean Conservancy Charity and the McKinsey Center for Business and Environment on the Philippines’ plastics use “is an embarrassment.”   “This is irresponsible. We need to move to curb single-use plastic products for our own sake and to conserve the sustainability of our oceans,” Dominguez said.   Dominguez pointed out that there is no merit in the argument that the country should contribute less to the global effort of reducing greenhouse gas emissions because of  its small carbon footprint.   “We are a nation of over a hundred million people with a median age of 25. As our economy resumes its rapid expansion, our carbon footprint will grow with it. Committing to reduce our carbon footprint is a matter of survival for our future generations,” Dominguez said.   He said the NDC, which will represent the national program for reducing the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, requires both political will and public support, as well as lifestyle changes, tighter regulations and economic costs for everyone.    “On the matter of defining our first NDC, ambitiousness is a virtue. Let us aim high, make our nation proud, and accept our responsibilities for saving the planet,” Dominguez said.   “Without political will and public support, the program will likely be met with resistance. I, therefore, call on everyone to set our differences aside and cooperate on this effort,” Dominguez said.   He called on the participants to the second multi-stakeholder meeting to have the foresight and courage to redefine the country’s development along the lines of sustainability.   “There will be pain in making the adjustments. But it is the life of the planet that is at stake here,” Dominguez said.   Dominguez also underscored the need for the NDC to be crafted with science as its guide, as “the climate crisis is much too important to be distracted by geopolitics.”   “All the elements of our contribution must be feasible and should lead to a better economy for our people,” he said.   “I trust that the participants in this meeting will work the hardest and imagine creatively," he added. "The outcome of this consultation will be our nation’s manifesto to the world, a statement that a determined, clear-sighted, and committed people can do much to roll back the deterioration of the only planet we have."     -oOo-