In support of an eco-friendly and sustainable urban mobility in their city, Pasig City launched an interest-free bike loan program for their employees in the city government. Photos from the Pasig Transport Facebook Page. MANILA, 23 October 2020 — Mayors of bike-friendly cities and sustainable mobility advocates presented their best practices, programs, and strategies for green and inclusive urban mobility solutions during the 23rd episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways,” with the topic “Championing Sustainable Urban Mobility.”       The online conversation hosted by Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda featured local chief executives of Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora; with Mr. Chito Bauzon, Assistant Vice President of SM Supermalls. Mr. Red Constantino, Executive Director of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, co-anchored the show. In celebration of World Cities Day on the 31st of October, the episode featured Metro Manila cities’ strategies in providing the great majority of the population access to active mobility and non-motorized modes of transportation that are not only safe and functional, but are also efficient and environmentally-sustainable. “Mobility is something that our working people really need. Ultimately, what is good for our working households is good for the climate. The approach is if we pay attention to development, then the climate benefits as well,” said Red Constantino. Mayor Sotto shared that Pasig City is developing a system of sustainable mobility by establishing permanent protected and pop-up bike lanes and widening of sidewalks. He also mentioned that they have a bike loan program for frontliners and city employees as their way to address mobility challenges amidst the pandemic. As individuals, Mayor Sotto also stressed the importance of demanding more from the government to ensure a better normal. “We can engage our government, let’s demand for better public transportation. Let’s demand to lessen the allocation of the road networks for private vehicles, and make it a more equitable system for everyone. Let’s demand these things and engage the government, the groups, and show that together, we can make this new normal a better normal for everyone,” said Sotto. Mayor Zamora highlighted that championing the environment is one of the key points in the 10-point agenda of ‘Makabagong San Juan’. He also discussed San Juan city’s policies and programs, such as Bicycle Ordinance 2020, separate lanes for bicycles and motorcycles, police bike patrols, solar pit stops for bike repair, the bike-sharing program for employees, public transportation modernization, and the goal of building a solar-powered city. “There was a time before when people didn’t really care too much about the environment, pero ngayon, nagbago na rin naman ang perspective ng ating mga mamamayan, at lahat naman po ay nag-aalaga sa ating kalikasan. Marami kaming ordinansa which we have passed and we are implementing with regard to the maintenance of cleanliness in our city,” said Zamora. Mr. Bauzon shared SM Supermalls’ advocacy of creating bike-friendly communities to support the bike-riding public and to contribute to the creation of sustainable cities and in the reduction of pollution. “Paniniwala po namin, it has to be a holistic approach, hindi lang natatapos ‘yan that we provided bike lanes and facilities, kundi, ano [pa] ‘yung pwede naming maitulong to encourage the public or the people to have a behavioral change, a mindset that supports the need for creating bike-friendly communities,” said Bauzon. Legarda reiterated that the advocacy of making cities bike-friendly should be expanded, with the help of LGUs implementing programs from the ground, in addition to the strict implementation of ecological solid waste management. “We must expand the convergence of eco-friendly practices, not just planting native trees but also the implementation of ecological solid waste management because bike lanes and the environment around bikers is so important,” Legarda concluded. 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 the Mother Earth Foundation.

MAYNILA, Ika-23 ng Oktubre taong 2020 – Naglahad ang dalawa sa mga Alkalde ng Metro Manila ng kanilang programa tungkol sa magaan na paglalakbay ng tao sa kanilang nasasakupan. Ang magandang proyektong ito ay nakaangkla sa tinatawag na “urban mobility solutions” na ibinahagi sa Episode 23 ng “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways," na may temang "Championing Sustainable Urban Mobility."    Ang online talakayan na pinangunahan ni Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda bilang host at Red Constantino, Executive Director ng Institute for Climate at Sustainable Cities, bilang co-host, ay dinaluhan nina Mayor Vico Sotto ng Pasig City at Mayor Francis Zamora ng San Juan City. Mula sa pribadong sektor, nandoon din si Chito Bauzon, Assistant Vice President ng SM Supermalls.  Sa pagdiriwang ng World Cities Day sa ika-31 ng Oktubre, ibinahagi ng episode na ito ang magagandang pamamaraan at diskarteng ginagawa ng mga lungsod para makapagbigay sa tao ng daan sa aktibong paggalaw at paggamit ng sasakyang hindi de-motor pero ligtas, gumagana nang maayos at nakabubuti sa kapaligiran.      “Ang mobility o kalayaan sa paglakbay-kilos ay isang bagay na talagang kailangan ng mga tao, hindi lang para para sa mga siyudad. Kung ano ang maganda para sa mamamayan ay makabubuti rin para sa ating klima. Kung pagtutuunang-pansin natin ang pag-unlad, makikinabang din ang pagbuti ng klima," ayon kay Red Constantino.   Sa Pasig City, ibinahagi ni Mayor Sotto ang pagsasagawa ng isang sistemang makatutulong sa “sustainable mobility” sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatayo ng “pemanent protected and pop-up bike lanes” at pagpapaluwag ng mga bangketa. Binanggit niya na mayroon din silang bike loan program para sa frontliners at mga empleyado ng lungsod. Ang mga pagsisikap na ito ay paraan para matugunan ang mga problema sa pagkilos at paggalaw ng tao. Binigyang-diin ni Mayor Sotto na mahalaga ang paghingi ng tulong sa gobyerno para masiguro ang tinatawag na “better normal”.     "Maaari tayong makipag ugnay-tulungan kasama ang pamahalaan, humiling at pilitin nating magkaroon tayo ng mas mahusay na pampublikong transportasyon. Hingin nating mabawasan ang alokasyon ng road networks para sa mga pribadong sasakyan at gawin itong isang mas pantay na sistema para sa lahat. Hingin natin ang lahat ng mga bagay na ito para mahikayat ang gobyerno, mga grupo, at maipakita natin na kung tayo ay sama-sama, magagawa nating better normal ang new normal para sa lahat," diin ni Mayor Vico Sotto.    Sa Juan City naman, sinabi ni Mayor Francis Zamora na ang pagtatanggol niya sa kalikasan ay isa sa mga “key points” ng kanyang 10-point agenda para sa pagsusulong ng isang 'Makabagong San Juan'. Tinalakay ng Alkalde ang mga patakaran at mga programa ng lungsod tulad ng Bicycle Ordinance 2020, hiwalay na daan para sa bisikleta at motorsiklo, police bike patrols, solar pit stops para sa pagkumpuni ng mga bisikleta, bike-sharing para sa mga empleyado ng lungsod, modernisasyon ng pampublikong sasakyan, at ang layuning makapagpatayo ng isang solar-powered na siyudad.      "Mayroong mga pagkakataon noon na walang pakialam ang mga tao sa gobyerno, sa kapaligiran, pero ngayon, nagbago na ang perspective ng ating mga mamamayan, at lahat naman po ay nag-aalaga sa ating kalikasan. Marami kaming naipasang ordinansa na siya ring ipinatutupad sa pagpapanatili ng kalinisan sa ating lungsod," dagdag ni Mayor Francis Zamora   Maganda rin ang ang ibinahagi ni Chito Bauzon, Assistant Vice President ng SM Supermalls. Inisa-isa nito ang mga layunin at adhikain ng SM Supermalls na magkaroon ng bike-friendly communities para suportahan ang mga mahihilig magbisikleta, makapag-ambag sa pagkakaroon ng sustenableng mga lungsod at makatulong sa pagbabawas ng polusyon.    "Paniniwala po namin, kailangan ng malawak na pagtingin, hindi lang natatapos ‘yan sa paglalaan namin ng bike lanes at mga pasilidad, kundi, ano [pa] 'yung puwede naming maitulong para mahikayat ang publiko o mga tao na magkaroon ng pagbabago ng ugali, magkaroon ng kaisipan na sumusuporta sa pangangailangan na makagawa tayo ng bike-friendly communities,” sabi ni Chito Bauzon.    Ayon naman kay Deputy Speaker Legarda, ang adhikaing gawing bike-friendly ang mga lungsod ay kinakailangan pang palawakin sa tulong ng mga LGUs na nagpapatupad ng mga programa, kasama ang mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng ecological solid waste management.    "Kailangan nating palawakin ang pagsasama-sama ng mga ginagawa tungkol sa ikagaganda ng kalikasan, hindi lang pagtatanim ng puno kundi pati na rin ang pagpapatupad ng ecological solid waste management, dahil ang bike lanes at ang paligid na iniikutan ng bikers ay importante," pagtatapos ni Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda.   Bilang isang online discussion na nagtataguyod sa kalusugan, kamalayan sa kapaligiran, at gawaing angkop sa klima,  ang “Stories for a Better Normal” ay naglalayong baguhin ang kaisipan ng mamamayan, mga pamilya at mga komunidad sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakita ng mga pamamaraan kung paano magkakaroon at maipatutupad ang isang 'better normal' sa loob ng ating mga pamayanan.    Ang online discussion na ito ay inorganisa mula sa pakikipagtulungan ng Tanggapan ni Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda at ng Climate Change Commission (CCC) na sinusuportahan ng Institute for Climate at Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines, at ng Mother Earth Foundation.

MANILA, 21 October 2020 — Mayors of bike-friendly cities and sustainable mobility advocates will gather virtually to underscore the need for green and inclusive urban mobility solutions as part of the country’s post-pandemic recovery, on the 23rd episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” with the topic “Championing Sustainable Urban Mobility.”             Viewers can look forward to hearing straight from Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora about their cities’ urban mobility programs. Joining the conversation are Chito Bauzon, Assistant Vice President of SM Supermalls and Red Constantino of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities.   The episode, hosted by House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, will air on Thursday, 22 October 2020, 10:00 AM via Facebook Live at facebook.com/CCCPhl and facebook.com/conglorenlegarda. In previous episodes, the online series tackled food gardening and saving seeds, permaculture, good nutrition and diet, planting native trees, practical sustainability, narrating risk to resilience stories through books, tree pest and disease management, reviving indigenous textiles and crafts and transforming waste into wages.   This upcoming episode will feature Metro Manila cities’ strategies in providing the great majority of the population access to active mobility and non-motorized mainstream modes of transportation that are not only safe and functional, but also efficient and environmentally-sustainable.   According to a COVID-19 Community Mobility Report, the movement of people nationwide within public transit hubs, such as the Manila Metro Rail Transit and the Light Rail Transit stations, or bus and jeepney terminals, declined by as much as 85 percent in late April 2020. The latest report dated September 8 showed a 57 percent decline in transit station mobility nationwide, with a 67 percent decline in Metro Manila alone, compared to the end of July figures. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) counted over 100,000 cyclists traversing six (6) major intersections on EDSA last June, with an average of 4,000 cyclists every day. During a previous episode on sustainable urban mobility, the MMDA supported Legarda’s recommendation to have a bike masterplan in Metro Manila, including the establishment of dedicated, protected, and connected bike lanes, as part of the “Better Normal for the Workplace, Communities and Public Spaces Act of 2020” (House Bill 6864 or Better Normal Bill), which she authored and sponsored in Congress. The episode will air in celebration of World Cities Day on the 31st of October, which aims to promote cooperation toward meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world. 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.

Among the livelihood programs of the Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City is the production of materials made from plastic wastes and other recyclables. Photo from the presentation of Brgy. Holy Spirit Councilor Joemar Lagarto.   MANILA, 19 October 2020 — Ecological solid waste management and recycling advocates echoed the importance of incorporating the concepts of circular economy and sustainable consumption and production in the country’s post-COVID-19 recovery plans during the 22nd episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” with the topic “Transforming Waste into Wages.” The online conversation hosted by Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda featured advocates and entrepreneurs, including Mr. Joemar Lagarto, Councilor from Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City; Ms. Shine De Castro, co-founder of Old Manila Eco Market; Ms. Wilhelmina “Willie” Garcia, founder of Junk not!; and Ms. Katherine Mana-Galido, co-founder of Back to Basics Ecostore, who all shared their experiences in starting eco-friendly programs that now generate livelihoods in their communities. Councilor Lagarto shared Barangay Holy Spirit’s journey and legacy of a solid waste management program since 1997, three years before the enactment of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, and how they established their gulayan sa barangay in 1998. With a model urban farm, training, and livelihood center that produces bags, home and office decorations, and storage baskets made from recyclable materials, Barangay Holy Spirit earned the Hall of Fame Awardee of the Seal of Housekeeping for Barangay Governance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). “Nung nagsara ang Payatas dahil nagkaroon tayo ng shortage kung saan itatapon ang basura nung bago pa gumuho ito, naisip na namin noon na bakit hindi natin pag-aralan at turuan ang mga tao na dalawa lang ang dapat sine-segregate – ‘yung nabubulok at ‘di nabubulok na basura. [Naisip namin na] siguro mababawasan din ‘yung maitatapon sa Payatas kung ire-recycle natin at pagkakakitaan ng mga tao ang ating mga patapon na mga bagay. Maganda pala na magkaroon tayo ng training sa mga tao, turuan sila para i-recycle ang isang bagay na walang bayad o libre. Ang lahat ng nagawa nila, pwede nilang ibenta at pagkakitaan," said Lagarto. Ms. De Castro showed how they conceptualized, organized, and established an eco-friendly market, which offers naturally-made, handmade, and upcycled products, including those from regions and indigenous communities. She also discussed the challenges and opportunities they are facing during the pandemic. “Ang aming pangarap ay magkaroon ang lahat ng siyudad ng ganitong klaseng weekend market dahil kaya naman pong gawin, and at the same time, i-extend sa komunidad ang pagtulong, hindi lang sa local MSMEs. I-involve rin po ang buong community pati ang mga residente,” said de Castro. Ms. Garcia, an environmentalist and interior designer by profession, shared her experiences in producing furniture and accessories made of trash, which she successfully exhibited in Europe. She also shared how she was inspired by the Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Act and committed to influence young people to earn from waste. “Tinuturo ko sa community [kung papaano ang] proper waste management. All the plastic wastes that they collected, may tinuro akong technique sa kanila how to manually make it into rope. Nung nalaman nila ‘yun, nag-set-up kami ng Materials Recovery Facility to properly segregate all their household wastes. Eventually, hindi na rin nila nagamit, kasi household pa lang, nagse-segregate na sila, binebenta na nila ‘yung mga recyclable, tapos ‘yung residual wastes, ‘yung plastic, ‘yun naman ‘yung binibili ko sa kanila sa community, and we turn it into home furnishing. Then may program kami na you have to buy back the finished product out of your wastes,” said Garcia. Ms. Galido, a Climate Reality Leader and a human and environmental rights advocate, shared how she transformed climate campaigning into action with her back-to-basic (BTB) eco-store, stressing that a refilling system for stores should be part of the better normal. “Kami ay pare-parehong mga nababahala sa sobrang packaging kaya maliban sa pagdadala ng reusable bottles at pag-iwas sa straw, gusto namin na sa tahanan namin ay zero-waste at walang packaging. Doon po nagsimula na gusto namin ng pagbabago, back-to-basics ang aming tindahan, kami ay nagpapahalaga sa essentials, at kung anong mahalaga sa pamilya. Zero-waste journey ang gusto naming maibahagi, para mabago ang throwaway culture,” said Galido. Legarda encouraged households and LGUs to reduce waste by properly implementing segregation of waste at source, and encouraging individuals in their respective communities to recycle, upcycle, and plant their own food in support of the government’s thrust of building a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive society during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. "Isinulong natin ang Ecological Solid Waste Management Act dahil naniniwala ako na kaya ng ating mga barangay ang mag-segregate, recycle, at upcycle ng mga basura. Maraming sa ating mga LGUs ang hindi pa rin sinusunod ang batas, ngunit nakita naman natin ngayon na mas dumarami pa ang nagsasabuhay nito sa ating komunidad at maging sa sariling bahay. Naniniwala ako na kayang-kaya natin ang zero-waste lifestyle at circular economy bilang bahagi ng ating better normal,” Legarda concluded. 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 the Mother Earth Foundation.

MANILA, 16 October 2020 — In celebration of World Food Day, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) reiterates the call to improve food systems by adopting innovative solutions make it more resistant to economic shocks brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.                                                                         World Food Day (WFD), celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1945, tackles global hunger and strives to eradicate hunger across the world. It also aims to bring awareness on the important global issues such as poverty, conflict and climate change that impact the world’s food supply and distribution.   According to FAO, “in recent decades, the world has made significant progress in improving agricultural productivity. Yet, the food systems are still out of balance. Hunger, obesity, environmental degradation, loss of agro-biological diversity, food loss and waste, and a lack of security for food chain workers are only some of the issues that underline this imbalance… This year’s celebration marks the 75th anniversary of FAO in an exceptional moment as countries around the world deal with the widespread effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic… National and local governments, private sector, and civil society need to make sure that food systems grow a variety of food to nourish a growing population and sustain the planet, together.”   The FAO found that nearly 690 million people are hungry, up 10 million since 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic could add between 83 to 132 million people to this number, depending on the economic growth scenario.   The CCC said that preserving access to safe and nutritious food is and will continue to be an essential part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for poor and vulnerable communities, who are hit hardest by the pandemic and resulting economic shocks. It cited the “Plant, Plant, Plant” and the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiatives in Agriculture (AMIA) programs of the Department of Agriculture, which promote integrated farming systems in addition to the adoption of other climate change adaptation measures, and have shown positive impacts to communities during the pandemic.   Examples of AMIA village interventions include a greenhouse for vegetable seedling production, mechanical harvester for rice, automatic artificial incubator for chicken eggs, and rotavator, being utilized to generate income and to adapt to climate change. AMIA villages also source additional income from vegetable gardens as well as from livestock while waiting for their main crop to mature or during lull in fishing. Instead of burning agricultural wastes such as rice straw and banana leaves they utilized them as substrates for mushroom production and/ or feed to the vermi worms in organic fertilizer production. The AMIA program is coordinated by the DA-Climate Resilient Agriculture Office (CRAO).   The climate body stressed that the government should scale up these good practices to ensure food supply and that farmers and workers in the agriculture sector remain thriving amid the pandemic.    The agency also stressed that the public must consider growing food at home and in community-run gardens o “gulayan sa barangay” to ensure a steady supply of safe and nutritious food even in this challenging time.

 

MANILA, 16 October 2020 — In the second leg of the “Accelerated Climate Action and Transformation (ACT) Local Online Conference,” the Climate Change Commission (CCC), together with the Department of Interior and Local Government, underscored the critical role of higher education institutions (HEIs)  in the development and enhancement of local climate change plans of local government units (LGUs).   The ACT Local Conference, a four-part online webinar organized by CCC, capacitates HEIs from the various regions in the Philippines to provide technical assistance on the climate science, issues, vulnerabilities, and risks to their respective LGUs and communities on the development of science-based and risk-informed local climate plans.   CCC Commissioner Rachel Herrera highlighted the established partnerships of CCC with several academic intitutions through regional consortiums, which serve as platforms for exchanging knowledge and best practices on climate action.   “Through this ACT Local Conference, this convergence initiative, we hope to consolidate and accelerate all our efforts to better support our communities and local government units to deal with the intensifying impacts of climate change. Our aim for this conference is to build their adaptive capacity by providing the right tools and information, enabling partnerships, and expanding networks for LGUs to lead climate action on the ground,” said Herrera.   “This will entail making use of the best available climate science and research to be utilized in your local development strategies and action plans on climate change. As frontliners, you must know the specific risks and threats faced by your communities, so you could plan better and more effectively. This is making the science work for us,” Herrera added.   Mr. Elmo L. Dimaano, Head of the Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Change Adaptation (DRR-CCA) Section of the Local Governance Training and Development Division of the DILG-Local Government Academy, gave an overview of the development of the enhanced Local Climate Change Action Plans (eLCCAPs) and how these should be anchored on the country’s National Framework Strategy on Climate Change (NFSCC) 2010-2022 and the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP).   “LCCAP is a document prepared by LGUs with substantial content on policies, programs, and measures to increase the community’s resilience to the impacts of climate change, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The NFSCC and NCCAP underscore the integration of [climate] adaptation and mitigation measures into all existing national and local plans and strategies,” said Dimaano.   Ms. Carizon G. Espenesin, Development Management Officer of the Strategic Partnership Division of CCC, discussed how the CCC’s flagship capacity building program, the Communities for Resilience (CORE): Convergence Initiative, supports the strengthening of cooperation between and among sectors towards mainstreaming climate change adaptation and mitigation in local development planning.   “This is not just a sole achievement of the Climate Change Commission. The CORE Initiative really espouses multi-stakeholder convergence within civil society organizations, national government agencies, local government units, private sector. Through this webinar, we are hoping to strengthen our partnership with the academic sectors—our higher educations institutions, local government and state universities and colleges,” said Espenesin.   The ACT Local Online Conference aims to formalize a sustainable partnership between the national government, academe, and the private sector in providing technical and/or financial resources to LGUs on climate action.   Through ACT Local, relevant stakeholders will be capacitated to assist and contribute to efforts that will generate information, boost capacity development, promote cooperation and convergence, facilitate vertical and horizontal alignment for development planning, and access to climate financing windows toward climate resiliency.   The third part of the online webinar, airing on October 20th, will focus on the overview of conducting entity- and community-level greenhouse gas inventory and national and local climate change expenditure tagging.   Interested participants may register through this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/accelerated-climate-action-transformation-for-local-communities-act-local-tickets-121024931829?aff=PARTICIPANTS   For more information about the ACT Local Online Conference and ACT Local Program, visit the Facebook page of the Climate Change Commission at www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

 

MANILA, 14 October 2020 — For the 22nd episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” with the topic “Transforming Waste into Wages,” ecological solid waste management and recycling advocates will gather to share knowledge on the importance of the circular economy in minimizing waste, and promote sustainable consumption and production as part of the country’s  post-pandemic recovery.   The episode, hosted by House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, will air on Thursday, 15 October 2020, 10:00 AM via Facebook Live at facebook.com/CCCPhl and facebook.com/conglorenlegarda.   Both advocates and entrepreneurs will join the online conversation, including Mr. Felicito “Chito” Valmocina, Chairman of Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City; Ms. Shine De Castro, co-founder of Old Manila Eco Market; Ms. Wilhelmina “Willie” Garcia, founder of Junk not!; and Katherine Mana-Galido, co-founder of Back to Basics Ecostore.   In previous episodes, the online series tackled food gardening, saving seeds, permaculture, good nutrition and diet, youth climate activism, sustainable urban mobility, planting native trees, practical sustainability, narrating risk to resilience stories through books, tree pest and disease management, Panay Island ecology, and the importance of reviving the weaving industry to teach citizens to be self-sustainable and self-sufficient.   This upcoming episode will feature local communities and social enterprises that implement ecological solid waste management and eco-friendly programs. These enterprises also generate livelihoods by reusing and upcycling manufactured products which promote sustainable and waste-free practices at home and in the community.   Episode 22 of “Stories for a Better Normal” series is also an opportunity to encourage Filipino households and local government units to reduce waste and properly implement R.A. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act in their respective communities in support of the government’s thrust of building a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive society during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.   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.

 

MANILA, 13 October 2020 — In observance of World Rainforest Week, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) called for the sustainable management of rainforests and stricter enforcement of environment-related laws to protect ecosystems and biodiversity and help address the impacts of climate change.   Celebrated from October 12th to 18th of every year, World Rainforest Week seeks to raise awareness and encourage action to protect the world’s rainforests. Given the rapid acceleration of climate change and human impacts, rainforests around the world are facing unprecedented threats towards biodiversity, carbon capture, and climate stabilization.   Home to over half of the world’s plant and animal species, our world’s rainforests absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and provide the air we breathe, while also help curb global warming. Although rainforests take up only 6% of the Earth’s surface, within these are some of the most vital ecosystems on the planet.   Despite its critical importance for the survival of life on Earth, rainforests are among the most vulnerable ecosystems in the world. They continue to be endangered by unsustainable logging practices and rampant development and expansion of agribusiness and other industries. Cutting down forests releases carbon into the atmosphere and causes 15 percent of all human-induced carbon emissions.   The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reported that deforestation and forest degradation continue to take place at alarming rates, which contributes significantly to the ongoing loss of biodiversity, with the area of primary forests worldwide decreased by over 80 million hectares since 1990.   In this regard, the CCC underscored the need for stronger leadership, sense of urgency, and commitment to a decisive multilateral response to swiftly save our deteriorating rainforests. The CCC also stressed the need to strictly enforce the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas Systems Act, to provide support to forest rangers to facilitate the sustainable management of our remaining rainforests and fragile ecosystems, which will be key to combating climate change and contributing to the prosperity and well-being of present and future generations.   Through this observance, the Commission is also encouraging the public to be vigilant and take a more active role in protecting and preserving our forests to prevent the effects of climate change from worsening, avoid the emergence or reemergence of pandemics, and support the health of our ecosystems and the organisms therein.

MANILA, 13 October 2020 — In observance today of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) cited the report entitled “Human Cost of Disasters: An overview of the last 20 years 2000-2019” published by the UN Office of Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) which found that both the number of disaster events linked to natural hazards, and related economic losses had almost doubled from the previous period. From 2000 to 2019, 7,348 disaster events were recorded worldwide by EM-DAT leading to approximately US$2.97 trillion in economic losses, up from 4,212 disasters worldwide with economic losses totaling US$ 1.63 trillion for the period 1980 to 1999.   The Philippines was ranked fourth in terms of countries with the most number of disaster events (304 events), next only to China (577 events), the United States (467), and India (321) among the countries most affected globally.   The CCC urged government agencies, civil society, environment activists, and experts to anchor national and local climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies and policies on science to effectively reduce levels of and avoid the creation of new risk of disasters.   Hazards are occurring physical phenomena caused by either the rapid or slow onset of events having atmospheric, geologic, and hydrologic origins on solar, global, regional, national or local scales. Disasters often follow natural hazards which can be associated with having insufficient capacity or measures to reduce the potentially negative consequences of the hazard.   The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was first declared in 1989, after a call by the United Nations General Assembly for a day to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction. Held every 13th of October, the day recognizes how people and communities around the world are reducing exposure to disasters, raising awareness about the importance of reining in these risks, and promoting the culture of becoming climate-friendly to reduce the chances of environmental disasters.   The event is also an opportunity to acknowledge the progress being made toward reducing disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, and health in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan in March 2015.   The Sendai Framework has seven strategic targets and 38 indicators for measuring progress on reducing disaster risk and losses. These indicators align the implementation of the Sendai Framework with the implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement on climate change.   In 2016, the UN Secretary-General launched “The Sendai Seven Campaign” to promote each of the seven targets over seven years. The target for the year 2020 is Target E which is “Substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020” which lays the foundation for the implementation of the Sendai Framework and is closely linked with Priority for Action 2: “Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk.”   The CCC said that this year’s target is about conveying the message that many disasters can be avoided or prevented if all of the local government units fully understand and appreciate the risk and vulnerability that prevails in their communities, and let science inform their local plans of action and ensure that investments build local resilience.   The Commission reiterated its call for the integration of the Sendai Framework in the local plans and programs for DRR to contribute to the achievement of not only target E, but of all the following seven global targets: (A) reduce disaster mortality; (B) reduce the number of affected people; (C) reduce direct economic loss in relation to global GDP; (D) reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services; (E) increase the number of countries with national and local DRR strategies; (F) enhance international cooperation to developing countries; and (G) increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and DRR information assessments.   The climate body also said that engaging civil society, environment activists, and experts in policymaking processes, especially to understand autonomous adaptation and the interplay of informal and formal institutions play an important role in strengthening public decision-making.   As countries around the globe face economic setback from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has a direct relation to the disturbance and loss of ecosystems further exacerbated by the worsening climate, the CCC believes that climate-resilient and disaster-ready communities should be the top priority of governments worldwide to ensure that humankind will continue to survive and thrive.

MANILA, 13 October 2020 — House Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda urged national and local government leaders to strengthen the country’s disaster risk reduction planning through science to reduce the irreversible impacts of climate change, in observance of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.  “Our national and local leaders must implement an effective disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) scheme that requires action on several fronts such as good governance and institution building, social protection and anti-poverty effort, investment on augmented capacity and resilient infrastructure, and sustainable resource management,” said Legarda. According to the latest report from the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) entitled, “Human Cost of Disasters: An overview of the last 20 years, 2000-2019,” climate change is largely to blame for a near doubling of disasters caused by natural hazards in the past 20 years.  The UNDRR report also identified 7,348 major disaster events that occurred between 2000 and 2019, claiming 1.23 million lives, affecting 4.2 billion people, and costing the global economy some US$2.97 trillion. The figure exceeds the 4,212 major disasters recorded between 1980 and 1999.  In the Report, UNDRR chief Mami Mizutori remarked: “It is baffling that we willingly and knowingly continue to sow the seeds of our own destruction, despite the science and evidence that we are turning our planet into an uninhabitable place for millions of people.” While the report focuses primarily on the staggering rise in climate-related disasters over the last 20 years, it is also backing the need to strengthen disaster risk governance for the entire range of both natural and human-induced hazards, including those related to environmental, technological, and biological hazards and risks. “In the short-term, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) through the implementation of Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act has succeeded in saving many lives through improved preparedness and the dedication of its staff. But the odds continue to be stacked against them in particular by the business-as-usual case scenarios that are failing miserably on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to levels commensurate with the desired goal of keeping global warming to 1.5˚C as set out in the Paris Agreement,” said Legarda. She further emphasized that lack of awareness and understanding of DRRM and climate change continue to put those vulnerable sectors into the brink of devastation. “It really is all about governance if we want to deliver this planet from the scourge of poverty, further loss of species and biodiversity, the explosion of urban risk and the worst consequences of global warming.  We must act collectively and educate people,” said Legarda. Highlighting the importance of science, Legarda shared action points from UNDRR that could be adopted by local and national leaders, including focused studies on disaster risk communication to help residents interpret warnings, and would aid in steering communication strategies in the most effective forms. Flood control was regarded as a development issue in addition to a humanitarian concern, with a recommendation that priority should be given to cost-effective measures in poor regions at high risk of recurrent flooding, together with malnutrition prevention programs. In addition, there are numerous proven life-saving measures for storm impacts, such as cyclone shelters, wind-resistant buildings, and preservation of protective ecosystems such as mangrove forests which also serve as carbon sinks, and coral reefs. Effective deployment of early warning systems supported by increasingly accurate weather forecasts have the potential to protect vulnerable populations worldwide and save thousands of lives. Standardized methodologies are needed to collect comprehensive national data on deaths from all-natural hazards; and better data collection would improve appreciation and understanding of disaster impacts and improve analyses. More in-depth data, such as disaster damage to buildings, disaggregated demographic and gender data, and impacts on local economies would help decision-makers prioritize and target new measures more effectively. This underlines the importance of a national disaster loss database which is vital to the development of national and local DRR strategies aligned with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. “This year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is all about risk governance, so that everything we do during and after this Covid-19 pandemic will ultimately define our country’s readiness and responsiveness to the challenges of the new normal. The only way forward is to heed the science and make decisive actions toward staging a recovery that will pave the way for a better normal for the Filipino people,” Legarda concluded.

   

MANILA, 6 October 2020 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) has slated several sessions this October for the Accelerated Climate Action and Transformation (ACT) Local Online Conference, a four-part virtual discussion of the ACT Local Program to provide technical assistance to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) on climate science, issues, vulnerabilities, and risks, as part of the agency’s Communities for Resilience (CORE): Convergence Initiative.   The ACT Local Online Conference will feature experts who will orient sixteen (16) participating HEIs on climate science; CORE Initiative; Rationalized Planning System and Enhanced Local Climate Change Action Plan (ELCCAP) development; Greenhouse Gas Inventory; Climate Change Expenditure Tagging; and accessing the People’s Survival Fund.   Participating HEIs have previously partnered with the CCC and expressed interest and support by providing technical assistance to their respective local government units (LGUs) on the development of risk-informed local plans, including the LCCAP. They are the following: Bulacan State University, Visayas State University, University of the Philippines Los Banos, Sulu State College, Palawan State University, Aklan State University, University of Antique, Northwestern Visayan Colleges, University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College, Eastern Visayas State University, Leyte Normal University, Philippine Science High School Eastern Visayas Campus, Palompon Institute of Technology, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Mapua University, and Baliuag University.   The schedule of the ACT Local Online Conference will be held every Tuesday of October (October 6, 13, 20, and 27) at 10:00AM. In view of ensuring the Commission’s continuous program implementation and delivery of services in this pandemic, the sessions will be held via Zoom and will be streamed live on the Facebook page of the CCC.   The first session will feature discussions from the members of the CCC’s National Panel of Technical Experts, Dr. Carlos Primo C. David and Dr. Glenn Roy Paraso; as well as messages from Secretary Emmanuel M. De Guzman and House Deputy Speaker and Lone District of Antique Representative Loren Legarda.   The ACT Local Program aims to formalize a sustainable partnership between the national government, academe, and the private sector in providing technical and/or financial resources to LGUs on climate action.   Through ACT Local, relevant stakeholders will be capacitated to assist and contribute to efforts that will generate information, boost capacity development, promote cooperation and convergence, facilitate vertical and horizontal alignment for development planning, and access to climate financing windows toward climate resiliency.   The ACT Local Program will serve as the overarching partnership program of the Commission for the delivery of its CORE Orientation and Training Program through the established climate change consortiums.   For more information about the ACT Local Online Conference and ACT Local Program, visit the Facebook page of the Climate Change Commission at www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

MANILA, 6 October 2020 — Filipino fashion designers and entrepreneurs urged the public to patronize and support our innovating weaving and textile industry in this time of pandemic during the 20th episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways.”   This episode is the second part of the topic “Weaving Resilience: Reviving Indigenous Textiles and Crafts” which highlighted collaborative efforts in utilizing local textiles from the rural weavers and promoted appreciation of indigenous weaving textiles from various regions in the Philippines.   The online conversation hosted by Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda featured designers and brand owners including Lenora Luisa Cabili of Filip+Inna; Marga Nograles of Kaayo Modern Mindanao; Nina Corpuz-Rodriguez of Nina Inabel; Looie Lobregat of Linea Etnika; Susan Marie Liao of Designs by Marie; Jor-el Espina; and Elsie Standen of Allena.   Legarda discussed the significance of reviving the production of Piña Seda, a handwoven fabric made of silk and pineapple fibers, and other traditional textiles.   “The strengthening of the local tropical fabrics industry is attuned to our advocacy of promoting sustainable development and preserving our rich heritage. With our efforts, we are able to help the local tropical fabric industry, we are able to help our rural artisans, and we are able to provide rural livelihoods," said Legarda.   Ms. Cabili shared the beginnings and products of Filip+Inna, and how they collaborate with different artisans around the country to banner their excellent craftsmanship. She also stressed the exquisite characteristics of piña.   “One of the beauties of the piña is that it is taken from its purest form. The way it is extracted, stripped, dried, knotted, and weaved is an amazing process that I don't see in other textiles around the world," said Cabili.   Ms. Nograles shared the story behind Kaayo Modern Mindanao and its partnership with the Indigenous Weaving Communities of Mindanao.   “People asked me what 'Kaayo' is. I would summarize it into three points: First, 'Kaayo' means kindness or goodness in Bisaya. We wanted everyone to be inspired by kindness. Next, 'Kaayo' is a curated collection of different Mindanaoan stories. So basically, we are a platform to present the treasures of my hometown [Davao]. And lastly, Kaayo Modern Mindanao is about coming together of everyone, of all Mindanaoans. Our brand celebrates collaboration and empowering other people to come together to bring the brand to life,” said Nograles.   Ms. Corpuz-Rodriguez shared how Nina Inabel helped the local weavers, dressmakers, and farmers in Ilocos, and how the brand promoted the many use of the Inabel fabric.   “As an Ilocana, I'm familiar with the fabric "Inabel." It is used all over the household - from curtains to blankets, and even uniforms and medals. But we showed everyone that the traditional fabric, "Inabel," ay hindi lang ginagamit sa bahay, kundi pang fashion din,” said Corpuz-Rodriguez.   Ms. Lobregat shared how she was inspired by their local cultural heritage to create products that make weaves mainstream and celebrate the stories of the hands and parts that make them – through Linea Etnika.   “Linea Etnika really embraces slow fashion. Things are purposely made to last. I know that Linea Etnika is a small company but I'd like to believe that we have a very big heart and strong conviction to make this happen. We go for zero waste, and we upcycled and repurposed some of our products,” said Lobregat.   Mr. Espina shared the background of his brand and how fascinated he was with the colorful handwoven fabrics of Iloilo, Aklan, and Antique.   “The designers and entrepreneurs are here to revive and give respect to these fabrics. We are free to create new things, we are free to do and work on different colors and patterns, but we have to respect the crafts of our ancestors so that our tradition will be preserved and continue,” said Espina. Ms. Liao shared the inspiration behind Designs by Marie, which came from their family’s love for arts, culture, and heritage that made them create a sustainable brand, especially in helping the artisans of Antique.   “It is a sustainable brand that has a tribute to our beloved province of Antique. We merge tradition with fashion. We aim to empower more Antiqueño artisans and continuously support their livelihood,” said Liao.   Ms. Standen shared Allena’s advocacy of protecting and preserving the past tradition which should be enjoyed and passed on as a legacy to the future generations.   “As a brand with responsibility, we know that consumers nowadays are getting smarter, so being "traceable" means we can answer their questions such "who made our clothes?," "what is it made of?," and "is it relevant that it can be passed on to their daughters?". Traceability, for us, has different ingredients: the people, the raw materials, and the research and development that comes with it,” said Standen.   As a textile art, culture, and heritage advocate, Legarda showed her extensive collection of local garments and Filipino knitwear made by the invited guest designers, in support of the rural artisans, weavers, and livelihoods.   “While this is about fashion, we talked about rural livelihoods, Philippine innovation and design. What we discussed is connecting businesses and enterprises in the cities to the mountains and the farmlands, and the need to connect artisans, livelihoods and weavers to the market,” Legarda concluded.   This three-part episode emphasizes the role of the traditional weaving industry in preserving our cultural heritage and local craftspersonship. The last part, which will focus on promoting traditional arts and crafts will air on October 8th.   The upcoming episode will feature founders of social and community-based enterprises including Karl Lozano of Sesotunawa; John Francia and Trish Lim of Woven crafts; and Nida Danao of Silnag.   Episode 21 will also show video clips of local artisans including weavers Angelina and Sammy Buhle from Hingyon, Ifugao; Teofilo Garcia, a Casque maker and Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan from San Quintin, Abra; Eduardo Mutuc, a Metalsmith and Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan from Apalit, Pampanga; and Magdalena Gamayo, a Textile weaver and Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan from Pinili, Ilocos Norte.   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 the Mother Earth Foundation.

MANILA, 5 October 2020 — In observance of the annual World Habitat Day, with this year’s theme “Housing For All: A Better Urban Future,” the Climate Change Commission (CCC) urged leaders from the public and private sectors to enable sustainable and climate-adaptive systems within the housing sector in order to improve shelter and other human settlement concerns within cities and communities.   Observed every first Monday of October, World Habitat Day focuses on the state of human settlements and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It focuses on improving all levels of partnership between government and relevant stakeholders in successfully implementing policies and methods to ensure adequate and affordable homes for all.   This observance recognizes the role of cities and local governments around the world in eliminating inequalities and poverty levels by providing access to basic amenities like shelter, food, and water for all, especially in this time of pandemic and climate crisis. Even before the pandemic began, however, there was already an estimated 1.8 billion people living in slums and informal settlements, inadequate housing or in homelessness in our cities worldwide, with around three billion people lacking basic handwashing facilities, according to the United Nations.   As cities prioritize COVID-19 response, the threat of typhoons, flooding, extreme heat, and spread of vector-borne diseases due to climate change remains. This risk is particularly worrying for the Philippines where populations and incidence of poverty are high. Adapting to climate change is thus an imperative for cities, home to half of the world’s population and where 80% of GDP is produced, according to the Global Commission on Adaptation.   The CCC highlighted ongoing work for the development of science-based climate risk management interventions for five cities under the Building Climate Resilient Urban Plans and Designs (BCRUPD) project with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, League of Cities of the Philippines, UN Habitat, and other key partner agencies and organizations.   The CCC also committed to foster capacity building and knowledge exchange for green urban development, such as in its existing partnership with the National Housing Authority and the Philippine Green Building Council best practices on  sustainable building designs and standards, including renewable energy and energy efficiency, and build a sustainable technical support network for government agencies and relevant stakeholders for low-emission local development strategies.   In this World Habitat Day, let us all support efforts that would enable more sustainable and climate-adaptive cities and communities, to ensure a better life for all in an urbanizing world.

MANILA, 6 October 2020 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) has slated several sessions this October for the Accelerated Climate Action and Transformation (ACT) Local Online Conference, a four-part virtual discussion of the ACT Local Program to provide technical assistance to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) on climate science, issues, vulnerabilities, and risks, as part of the agency’s Communities for Resilience (CORE): Convergence Initiative. The ACT Local Online Conference will feature experts who will orient sixteen (16) participating HEIs on climate science; CORE Initiative; Rationalized Planning System and Enhanced Local Climate Change Action Plan (ELCCAP) development; Greenhouse Gas Inventory; Climate Change Expenditure Tagging; and accessing the People’s Survival Fund. Participating HEIs have previously partnered with the CCC and expressed interest and support by providing technical assistance to their respective local government units (LGUs) on the development of risk-informed local plans, including the LCCAP. They are the following: Bulacan State University, Visayas State University, University of the Philippines Los Banos, Sulu State College, Palawan State University, Aklan State University, University of Antique, Northwestern Visayan Colleges, University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College, Eastern Visayas State University, Leyte Normal University, Philippine Science High School Eastern Visayas Campus, Palompon Institute of Technology, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Mapua University, and Baliuag University. The schedule of the ACT Local Online Conference will be held every Tuesday of October (October 6, 13, 20, and 27) at 10:00AM. In view of ensuring the Commission’s continuous program implementation and delivery of services in this pandemic, the sessions will be held via Zoom and will be streamed live on the Facebook page of the CCC. The first session will feature discussions from the members of the CCC’s National Panel of Technical Experts, Dr. Carlos Primo C. David and Dr. Glenn Roy Paraso; as well as messages from Secretary Emmanuel M. De Guzman and House Deputy Speaker and Lone District of Antique Representative Loren Legarda. The ACT Local Program aims to formalize a sustainable partnership between the national government, academe, and the private sector in providing technical and/or financial resources to LGUs on climate action. Through ACT Local, relevant stakeholders will be capacitated to assist and contribute to efforts that will generate information, boost capacity development, promote cooperation and convergence, facilitate vertical and horizontal alignment for development planning, and access to climate financing windows toward climate resiliency. The ACT Local Program will serve as the overarching partnership program of the Commission for the delivery of its CORE Orientation and Training Program through the established climate change consortiums. For more information about the ACT Local Online Conference and ACT Local Program, visit the Facebook page of the Climate Change Commission at www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

MANILA 2 October 2020 – Citing recent studies on poverty, hunger alleviation, and human capital, House Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda called for more equalization of the budgets across departments in order to improve the welfare and capability of the Filipino people to cope with the challenges due to the pandemic and climate crisis.   Legarda said that a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) released in August 2020 reported that with just a 10% decline in incomes, up to 5.5 million Filipinos would be pushed into poverty, adding that the pandemic is causing income dislocations larger than that.   The PIDS report emphasized however that the social amelioration program and the small business wage subsidy would reduce this number to 1.5 million, thereby saving four million Filipinos from poverty. “The proposed 2021 budget must therefore substantially increase the provisions for programs like these in the budgets of the DSWD, DA, DOLE, DTI, and other concerned agencies, to support our Filipino families and prevent them from falling below the poverty line,” Legarda said.   Legarda also cited the World Bank’s Human Capital Index 2020 Update, which gave the Philippines a 0.52 rating and made the dramatic conclusion that “children born in the country today will fail to achieve almost half their potential.” She also mentioned the Social Weather Stations also reported that 30.7% of respondents in a nationwide survey reported experiencing hunger once in the last three months.    “These reports show us that we need to stack the odds in favor of survival and human development.  If we aim to use the Build, Build, Build program to lift people out of poverty and reduce the incidence of hunger, the connections need to be made clear and certain.  Otherwise, we are not putting our money where our mouths are,” Legarda insisted.    Rather than make line item realignments, Legarda suggested taking a broader and more conservative look that assumes the worst and hopes for the best.      “The discrepancies are in the billions, with the DOH budget being reduced by P50 billion, while the DPWH gets a fresh P85 billion on top of their previous budget, which was already 25% higher than 2019.  I believe though that infrastructure development creates job opportunities and must trickle down to the poorest.  No less than an overhaul and a better spread among the agencies to ensure sufficient funding for human capital will work,” she said.   Lastly, Legarda cited the Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA) Flagship report, which stated that climate change could push more than 100 million people within developing countries below poverty line by 2030. She therefore called for increasing the budget provisions for climate adaptation projects and programs by government agencies, emphasizing the need to empower local governments and communities in managing climate risks and hazards.   “It is not enough that we plan just to recover from this pandemic. We must acknowledge that even when this pandemic is all over, we still have a climate crisis to deal with. The President himself said that our response to the climate crisis should be just as urgent. Let’s invest in where it truly matters so our development gains won’t be wasted come another typhoon or drought. Let’s strive for a better normal by enabling genuine and lasting resilience for all,” Legarda concluded.  

MANILA, 29 September 2020 — Indigenous textile experts shared knowledge on culture-based livelihoods such as traditional weaving and crafts during the 19th episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” with the topic “Weaving Resilience: Reviving Indigenous Textiles and Crafts.”   The first of this three-part episode which focused on promoting indigenous textiles and crafts also highlighted the impacts of COVID-19 on the indigenous weaving and crafts industry and ways to enhance its resilience.    The online conversation, hosted by House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, featured  Dr. Norma Respicio, Philippine textile expert, University of the Philippines (UP) Professor Emeritus; and Ms. Rhoda Pon-an, Executive Director of the Antique Development Foundation.   Dr. Respicio discussed the indigenous weaving traditions and local community craftsmanship from different areas in the Philippines, and shared the issues and problems for the Philippine textile industry and the tasks that need to be done in promoting and preserving traditional weaving and crafts.   “Let us include art technology in school curricula probably at Junior High School para mas maintindihan at ma-appreciate nila what they are learning. Also, set up community museums, and research and documentation centers, which can be run by the locals themselves so that they would appreciate more what they have," said Dr. Respicio.   Ms. Pon-an introduced the work of Antique Development Foundation, showed various indigenous textiles and craft industries in Antique. She also shared ways on how everyone could support the Antique indigenous weaving industry.   “Gamit ang mga indigenous materials ng Antique tulad ng abaca, nito at pinya, ang mga weavers ay binigyan ng sapat na kaalaman para ang kanilang mga produkto ay maging maganda at mabili sa merkado. Ang iba't ibang bayan ay may sariling produkto tulad ng buri weaving, patadyong, abaca, nito, hand embroidery, banig, bariw, piña at bamboo panel production,” said Pon-an.   Legarda highlighted the need to implement Republic Act No. 9242 or the Philippine Tropical Fabric Law which she authored, prescribing the use of Philippine tropical fabrics for official uniforms of government officials and employees and for the purposes which require the use of fabrics in government offices and functions.   Legarda also showed various weaving centers in Antique and fairs and exhibitions which showcase the indigenous weaving and crafts industry, such as the National Arts and Crafts Fair, Hibla ng Lahing Filipino Travelling Exhibition, and Harvest Fair in Antique.   Legarda also introduced traditional weavers from different regions in the country and the struggles they face due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.   “Tulungan natin ang ating mga micro-entreprises, tulungan natin ang ating mga weavers sa iba't ibang mga probinsya, at tulungan natin ang lahat ng mga maliliit na negosyo para magkaroon sila ng kabuhayan during this pandemic and the days and months ahead,” Legarda concluded.   This three-part episode emphasizes the role of the traditional weaving industry in preserving our cultural heritage and local craftspersonship. The second part, which will air on October 1st, will feature Filipino designers supporting local weavers, and the third part, set on October 8, will focus on promoting traditional crafts.    Len Cabili, Designer of Filip+Inna; Marga Nograles, Designer of Kaayo Modern Mindanao; Niña Corpuz-Rodriguez, Owner of Nina Inabel; Looie Lobregat, Founder of Linea Etnika; Susan Marie Liao, Designer of Designs by Marie; Jor-El Espina, Owner of Jor-El Espina Atelier; and Elsie Standen, Creative Director of Allena will join the upcoming episode.    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 the Mother Earth Foundation.