MANILA 10 June 2020 – In the fourth episode of the online discussion series “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways,” as part two on the topic of sustainable urban mobility, Deputy Speaker and Antique Congresswoman Loren Legarda will once again promote biking and other greener modes of transportation as essential means to move commuters and citizens in this period of pandemic and climate crisis. The fourth episode will air this Thursday, June 11, 10AM, via Facebook Live at facebook.com/conglorenlegarda or facebook.com/CCCPhl. Mr. Red Constantino, Executive Director of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities and bike advocate, will join as Legarda’s co-anchor. Resource speakers will include: Mr. Benjamin de la Peña, Advisory Council Member of the Roddenberry Foundation and urban planning expert; The Climate Reality Project (TCRP) Philippines Branch Manager Nazrin Castro; Climate Reality Leader Len Jamandores, and ICSC Urban Transitions Analyst Celine Tabinga. Ambassador Saskia de Lang of the Netherlands will also share knowledge and experience from her home country known for its cycling culture supported by efficient transport systems. During the first episode discussing sustainable urban mobility, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (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 “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. 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 to lead sustainable lives towards a healthier, safer, and much better normal than we used to have. This online discussion is organized in partnership between the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda and the Climate Change Commission (CCC), with support from the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), The Climate Reality Project-Philippines, and Mother Earth Foundation.

MANILA, 08 June 2020 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) underscored the need for a holistic and comprehensive approach in addressing the complex challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, its ensuing economic fallout, and the unfolding climate and environmental crisis. This pronouncement was made in support of the two House Resolutions calling for emergency action to save communities and the economy from the clear and present danger of climate change, which were adopted by the House Committee on Climate Change during the virtual meeting on 04 June 2020. HR No. 724, which was authored by Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda, calls for the mobilization of government agencies and instrumentalities and local government units toward the effective implementation of environmental, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and disaster risk reduction and management laws in light of the global climate and environmental emergency. HR No. 761, which was authored by Bohol 1st District Representative Edgar M. Chatto, encourages that climate emergency be placed at the center of all policy decision-making at the local and national levels and calls on local government units to adopt a No To New Coal Policy. “Dealing with climate change is a matter of life and death with enormous and lingering socio-economic consequences, many times more than the pandemic,” CCC Secretary Emmanuel M. De Guzman said during the meeting. “Neither the virus nor greenhouse gases respect national boundaries. But both of them demand rapid and far-reaching action on an unprecedented scale. We see it now happening on Covid-19, but not yet on carbon emissions,” he added. An international team of climate experts has recently estimated that the failure of the global community to achieve the 1.5 C goal of the Paris Agreement could lead to up to USD 600 trillion in losses by the end of the century.[1] Rep. Chatto, Chair of the House Committee on Climate Change, emphasized the role of developed countries in addressing the climate emergency. "If the world and the government, especially in the industrialized nations took climate change mitigation and adaptation seriously with great dispatch and urgency as we have seen in our fight with COVID-19, then perhaps humanity will be in a better state of well-being and virus free,” he said. The Paris Agreement and the decisions adopted by the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) stated that developed countries are to continue to take the lead in mobilizing climate finance to support the poorest and most vulnerable countries. The goal is to allocate US$100 billion a year in climate finance for developing countries by 2020 with a commitment for further finances by 2025, taking into consideration the needs and priorities of developing countries.  In line with this, the CCC said that it endeavors to facilitate the country’s access to international climate finance to fill in the gaps in funding for programs and projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build the adaptive capacities of communities to climate change. “We hope that the economic adjustments shall give way to a streamlined and rationalized process for accessing international green and climate finance. We must accelerate the implementation of technical cooperation projects and grants supportive of adaptation and mitigation programs such as those under the Green Climate Fund”, CCC Commissioner Rachel Herrera, National Focal Point to the Green Climate Fund, said. The CCC also assured the House Committee on Climate Change that it shall continue to heed science to pave a better normal toward a sustainable recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the climate body, it shall deliver on its mandates under the law and respond to the challenges of a better normal by pursuing four (4) action tracks: (1) development of science-based policies and plans through the National Climate Change Action Plan, National Adaptation Plan, and Nationally Determined Contributions; (2) conduct of climate science and policy research studies and the production of climate risk management decision support and knowledge management tools; (3) provision of technical assistance and capacity development services on climate change adaptation and mitigation to local government units and key stakeholders, especially for accessing climate finance; and  (4) monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of the implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation policies, plans, programs, and projects of the government.    [1] Wei, Y., Han, R., Wang, C. et al. Self-preservation strategy for approaching global warming targets in the post-Paris Agreement era. Nat Commun 11, 1624 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15453-z

MANILA, 5 June 2020 — In observance of World Environment Day, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) called on national and global leaders to take bolder actions to address the two most daunting challenges the world is currently facing—the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate emergency. With the theme, Time for Nature, the CCC said that this observance shall serve as a reminder that while nations are slowly transitioning to a new normal, the momentum to raise awareness on the importance of nature and climate action should be sustained and scaled up even more for a safer planet. The country’s environmental laws such as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 (Republic Act No. 9147), Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018 (Republic Act No. 11038), and the Climate Change Act of 2009 (Republic Act No. 9729) are regarded as landmark legislations by the international community. The implementation of these laws, according to the CCC, will contribute significantly to the envisioned green and resilient post-COVID recovery. According to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Philippines is listed as one of the world’s “megadiverse” countries and sustaining to around 70-80% of the planet’s biodiversity. The Philippines ranks fifth in the number of plant species and maintains 5% of the world’s flora. The CBD also reported that the Philippines has very high species endemism, covering at least 25 genera of plants and 49% of terrestrial wildlife, while the country ranks fourth in bird endemism. The Philippines is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots with at least 700 threatened species thus making it one of the top global conservation areas. The climate body stressed that climate action and biodiversity conservation are two important issues that should be prioritized to ensure a safer and more sustainable future for the Filipino people.

MANILA, 05 June 2020 — In celebration of World Environment Day today and the Philippine Environment Month this June, House Deputy Speaker and Antique Congresswoman Loren Legarda featured ten landmark laws on environmental protection and climate risk governance, as well as ten exemplary adaptation practices, during the virtual forum “Conversations with the Champion” aired via Facebook Live today. Legarda shared insights on what the country has done and what needs to be achieved to protect the environment and build resilience to climate risks, while recovering from the pandemic through sustainable ways. “We have the laws in place. What we need now is the political will to enforce them. Nature has a way of reminding us that we have to do more and act faster to survive the shocks from pandemics, climate change, and emerging crises,” said Legarda.  As the country’s foremost advocate for the environment and climate change, Legarda authored and supported the passage of laws, such as the Clean Air Act of 1999 (RA 8749), Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 9003), Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 (RA 9147), Clean Water Act of 2004 (RA 9275), National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008 (RA 9512), Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA 9513), Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729), as amended by the People's Survival Fund Act of 2012 (RA 10174), and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (RA 10121), among others.   “We realize that these are extraordinary times, necessitating extraordinary action from us. Nature is sending us a message that we need to take better care of our environment. It is time to stop the abuse of nature. It is time to build a better normal. It’s time to conserve and protect our nature,” Legarda said. “The raging COVID 19 pandemic has brought out the sobering reality that the world is not as advanced and prosperous as we think. We have realized that our societies and economic systems are fragile, and that we are only as strong as our most vulnerable. We need to value the intricate interrelationships of all life on earth, and we need a fundamental shift in the way we live. Returning to normal is not an option,” Legarda stressed. Legarda is author and sponsor of House Bill (HB) No. 6864 or the “Better Normal for Workplaces, Communities and Public Spaces Bill,” which provides for stringent health and safety measures and improves policies and actions ranging from health, environment, climate change, education, agriculture, labor, tourism, and arts and culture toward a better normal.   As a United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Global Champion for Resilience, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Global Champion for National Adaptation Plans, UNDRR Asia Pacific Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, and Commissioner of the Global Commission on Adaptation, Legarda highlighted the importance of synergy between the Philippines and international climate organizations to address global challenges at hand. Legarda responded to questions from experts, including Global Optimism founder and former UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres; International Strategy for Disaster Reduction forerunner Salvano Briceño; United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Climate and Clean Air Coalition Secretariat Head Helena Valdes; World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Climate Prediction and Adaptation’s Former Director and Weather and Climate Extremes Journal Editor-in-Chief Dr. Mannava Sivakumar; Matthew McKinnon of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF); Dr. Rodel Lasco and Dr. Rosa Perez of the National Panel of Technical Experts (NPTE) of the Climate Change Commission.  On the importance of a holistic approach to address climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, Legarda said, “We cannot solve our current problems by using the same kind of thinking that we used when we created this problem. That is why the approach must be from a systems perspective, to ensure that our actions from now do not restore the same vulnerabilities that we had before the pandemic. In everything we do, we must look back at what were the wrong things we did that spawned this and we should not repeat it.  On the importance of international cooperation, Legarda highlighted that “the international community should support through technology, exchange of best practices, finance, and capacity building to help our local economy transition toward a green economy” and that “a rebuilding of the economy must be towards a sustainable, resilient, and green development path.”  On a green and inclusive recovery pathway for the Philippines, Legarda said, “It is more expensive not to adapt, not to abide by the laws of nature. It is time to step back and pause. It is time to follow environmental laws. It is for our very own survival", Legarda said. “On World Environment Day, let us be kinder to each other as human beings, kinder to our community, kinder to the environment, kinder to nature. In return, nature will be kinder to us.” Legarda concluded.

MAYNILA, Ika-5 ng Hunyo taong 2020 — Sa pagdiriwang ng World Environment Day ngayong araw na ito at ng Philippine Environment Month ngayong Hunyo, itinampok ni House Deputy Speaker at Antique Congresswoman Loren Legarda ang sampung katangi-tanging mga batas natin ukol sa environmental protection at climate risk governance,  kasama na rito dito ang sampung napakagandang mga halimbawa ng climate change adaptation practices, sa virtual forum na pinamagatang “Conversations with the Champion” na inilunsad at napanood sa Facebook Live. Ibinahagi ni Deputy Speaker Legarda ang kanyang kaalaman at mga pananaw ukol sa mga napagtagumpayan na ng bansa at ang mga kinakailangang makamit natin upang maprotektahan ang kapaligiran at maging matatag sa gitna ng peligrong dala ng climate change, habang bumabangon pa tayo mula sa epekto ng pandemiya. “Mayroon na tayong mga batas. Kung kaya't ang kinakailangan na lang natin ngayon ay ang political will upang maipatupad natin ang mga ito. Mayroong mga pamamaraan ang ating kalikasan upang mapaalalahanan tayo sa kung anong mga bagay ang dapat pa nating gawin nang mas malawakan at kumilos nang mas mabilis para harapin ang pandemiya, climate change, at iba pang krisis,” sabi ni Legarda. Bilang pangunahing tagapagtaguyod ng environment at climate change, naiakda at naisulong ni  Legarda ang pagpasa ng mga batas tulad ng Clean Air Act of 1999, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, Wildlife Resources Conservation at Protection Act of 2001, Clean Water Act of 2004, National Environmental Awareness at Education Act of 2008, Renewable Energy Act of 2008, Climate Change Act of 2009, People's Survival Fund Act of 2012, Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, at iba pa.   “Tayo ngayon ay nabubuhay sa hindi ordinaryong panahon kung kaya’t nangangailangan din ito ng karampatang hindi ordinaryong mga pagkilos mula sa atin. Nagpapahatid sa atin ng mensahe  na kinakailangan pa natin alagaan ng mas mabuti ang ating kapaligiran. At panahon na upang tigilan na ang pang-aabuso natin sa kalikasan. Panahon na ngayon upang bumuo tayo ng better normal. Panahon na rin ito kung saan kinakailangan na natin protektahan ang ating kalikasan,” sabi ni Legarda.   “Ang nananalantang COVID 19 pandemic na siyang nagmulat sa atin ng masakit na katotohanan na ang mundo ay di kasing unlad ng inaakala natin. Napagtanto natin na ang ating mga lipunan at ang ating economic systems ay sadyang napaka-rupok, na tayo ay kasing lakas lamang ng kung sino mang pinaka-vulnerable sa atin. Kinakailangan natin ngayong pahalagahan ang pagkaka-ugnay ng lahat ng buhay dito sa mundo, at kinakailangan din natin magkaroon ng pangunahin at malawakang pagbabago sa uri ng ating pamumuhay. Ang pagbabalik natin sa nakagawiang normal ay di na dapat pinag-iisipan pa,” giit ni Legarda. Si Legarda ang isa sa mga may-akda ng House Bill na “Better Normal for Workplaces, Communities and Public Spaces Bill,” na nagsusulong ng mahigpit panuntunang pangkalusugan at pang kaligtasan at napapabuti nito ang mga patakaran hinggil sa kalusugan, kapaligiran, climate change, edukasyon, agrikultura, labor, turismo, at sining at kultura tungo sa isang better normal.   Bilang Global Champion for Resilience ng United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Global Champion for National Adaptation Plans, Global Champion din ng UNDRR Asia Pacific Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, at Commissioner ng Global Commission on Adaptation, binigyang diin ni Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda ang kahalagahan ng synergy o pagkakaisa sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at ng mga international climate organization upang matugunan ang mga global challenges na kasalukuyan nating hinaharap. Sinagot ni Legarda ang mga katanungang nagmula sa mga bihasa, kasama na rito ang  tagapagtatag ng Global Optimism at dating Executive Secretary ng UNFCCC na si Christiana Figueres; Salvano Briceño na dating kabilang sa International Strategy for Disaster Reduction; ang Climate and Clean Air Coalition Secretariat Head na si Helena Molin-Valdes; Dr. Mannava Sivakumar ng World Meteorological Organization (WMO); Matthew McKinnon ng Climate Vulnerable Forum; Dr. Rodel Lasco at Dr. Rosa Perez ng National Panel of Technical Experts (NPTE) ng Climate Change Commission. Ukol sa kahalagahan ng isang holistic approach upang matugunan ang climate change at ang pandemiyang COVID-19, sinabi ni Legarda na, “Di natin kakayanin lutasin ang kasalukuyan nating mga problema kung gagamitin natin ang nakagawiang pag-iisip at nakasanayang mga pananaw na dati nang nagamit at kung saan nga nagmula ang problema. Kung kaya nga ang paghihimay dito ay kinakailangang magmula sa isang systems perspective, upang masiguro na ang ating mga pagkilos mula ngayon ay hindi makapapanumbalik ng dati na nating mga kahinaan. Sa lahat ngayon ng ating mga gagawin, kinakailangan nating lumingon upang tingnan at suriin kung saan man tayo nagkamali at huwag nang ulitin pa ito. Ukol sa kahalagahang ng pakikipagtulungan sa ibang bansa, binigyang diin ni Legarda na “ang international community ay kailangang sumuporta sa pamamagitan ng teknolohiya, exchange ng best practices, pinansyal na tulong, at capacity building upang transpormahin ang lokal na ekonomiyang tungo sa isang "green economy.” Ukol sa green recovery pathway para sa Pilipinas, “Napakalaki ng gastos kung di tayo makikibagay at susunod sa batas ng kalikasan. Panahon na upang sumunod sa mga batas pangkalikasan dahil dito nakasalalay ang ating kaligtasan." sabi ni Legarda. “Sa World Environment Day, maging mas mabait sana tayo sa isa't isa bilang tao, mas mabait sa ating pamayanan, mas mabait sa ating kapaligiran, mas mabait sa ating kalikasan. Kapalit nito, ang kalikasan ay magiging mas mabait sa atin.” pagtatapos ni Legarda.

MANILA 3 June 2020 – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) and the Office of Deputy Speaker and Antique Congresswoman Loren Legarda will host a virtual forum, “Conversations with the Champion,” which will discuss what the Philippines has accomplished thus far and what remains to be done to protect the environment and build resilience to climate change, as we seek to recover from the pandemic in a more sustainable manner.   The online forum, which will be livestreamed via Facebook Live on Friday, June 5, 10:00 am, is organized in celebration of World Environment Day, and the Philippine Environment Month this June.   It will feature ten landmark Philippine laws for environmental protection and climate risk governance, as well as ten exemplary adaptation solutions by local communities in adapting to climate impacts.   Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda will share her personal stories and insights on the laws she has authored or sponsored, as well as her leadership to advance environmental protection and climate action in the country and the world.   While being the country’s foremost advocate for the environment and climate change, Legarda is also a United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Global Champion for Resilience and Asia Pacific Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Global Champion for National Adaptation Plans, Commissioner of the Global Commission on Adaptation, and Member of the Green Climate Fund Board.   The forum will feature messages from global experts, including Global Optimism founder and former UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres; International Strategy for Disaster Reduction forerunner Salvano Briceño; United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Climate and Clean Air Coalition Secretariat Head Helena Molin-Valdez; Green Climate Fund Director for Mitigation and Adaptation Dr. Jerry Velasquez; World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Climate Prediction and Adaptation’s Former Director and Weather and Climate Extremes Journal Editor-in-Chief Dr. Mannava Sivakumar; and one of the Filipino authors in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, University of the Philippines Los Baños Professor Dr. Rodel Lasco.    Conversations with the Champion will be livestreamed through the Facebook accounts of the CCC and Congresswoman Loren Legarda.

MANILA, 03 June 2020 — The Climate Change Commission today called for the urgent establishment of safe and dedicated cycling lanes in observance of World Bicycle Day. Out of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), SDG 12 directly connects with the importance of bicycles, in recognition of the need to promote sustainable urban mobility and a healthy, economic way to commute.       However, CCC acknowledged that one of the main factors in decision-making for potential cyclists is the perceived danger on major roadways when merged with motor vehicle traffic. Thus, an important approach to increase the use of bicycles as a means of transportation is to provide dedicated and protected bike lanes that will link the cities of Metro Manila, complemented by interventions that enable a safe bicycle infrastructure and promote bicycle parking areas in different establishments. Having more local governments, especially those with sprouting urban centers, adopting bicycle masterplans will allow for a national transition to a new and better normal. As a mode of transportation, cycling produces no greenhouse gas emissions nor noise pollution. The effect of less congestion on the roads allows for more roadway and residential space, thereby providing room for trees and green spaces in urban areas.  The climate body said that the lockdown has triggered social, economic and cultural lifestyle changes, many of which have had a significant impact on mobility patterns. Using bicycles may be seen as a means of transport that allows for the required social distancing to be maintained. The 3rd day of June is designated as World Bicycle Day by the United Nations General Assembly, with the aim of celebrating and promoting bicycle use around the world.

MANILA, 1 June 2020 – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) underscored the importance of preserving the coastal and marine resources to ensure the sustainable sources of goods and services during the online forum, “The Great Web: COVID-19, Climate Change, and The Ocean”, a knowledge-for-action webinar on COVID-19, climate emergency and ocean conservation. In observance of the Month of the Ocean, Climate Change Commissioner Noel Antonio V. Gaerlan said that the public should give preferential attention in reinforcing, observing, and developing coastal and marine activities to facilitate the conservation, rehabilitation, and sustainable management of the Philippine coastal and marine resources. During his intervention, Comm. Gaerlan also highlighted the value of the coastal and marine resources in the field of medicine and in providing services for the health sector. Among the resources speakers for today’s online forum were Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Balik Scientist and Director of Center for Chemical Biology and Biotechnology of the University of San Agustin Dr. Doralyn S. Dalisay; Department of Agriculture – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute Dr. Mudjekeewis D. Santos; and Associate Vice President and Research and Global Relations Director of the Center for Natural Drug Discovery and Development (CND3) of the University of San Agustin, Dr. Jonel P. Saludes. Dr. Dalisay and Dr. Saludes, both of the University of San Agustin, discussed the “Cures from Beneath Ebb and Swell of the Ocean” which highlighted the contribution of marine ecosystem in public health and the discovery of antibiotics from beneficial bacteria that could possibly treat secondary bacterial infections. Dr. Dalisay also shared that the marine environment is a very dynamic and fascinating ecosystem of diverse organisms that are continuously interacting with themselves and with their environment. These organisms are said to develop strategies to live, thrive and survive in the competitive environment. “Why is the marine ecosystem important to our discovery? As we all know, oceans occupy 71% of the Earth’s surface, and hold 97% of the Earth’s water and nearly 87% of life which is essentially unexplored and untouched life forms, and is a great source of undiscovered organisms, including microorganisms," said Dr. Dalisay. During the open forum, Dr. Saludes emphasized the importance of raising awareness and educating the public in effectively implementing environmental policies. “The country does not lack laws; we have a stockpile of laws to protect our biodiversity,  whether that’s on wildlife, marine resources, plants, natural products, and many more to protect biopiracy. In my opinion, what we lack is awareness among ourselves. What do we do to protect and implement those laws? I believe, educating our fellow Filipinos is the key to this, if not the lack of laws," said Dr. Saludes. Dr. Santos, an ocean and marine conservation advocate, discussed the importance of fisheries in the Philippine economy and how climate change affects the livelihood of local fisherfolks. "The Philippines is always ranked top 10 in terms of vulnerability to the impacts of climate change simply because we have exposure to natural hazards, typhoons, flooding, and many more. Our systems are very sensitive right now, meaning there's a lot of pollution, degradation in our reef system, and our adaptive capacities are very low. Seventy percent of the communities in coastal areas, a lot of them are fisherfolks, are considered the poorest of the poor in our country,” he emphasized. Dr. Santos added that mobilizing protection and conservation efforts are necessary in order to maintain a healthy marine biodiversity that is resilient to climate change. He also noted that while the country needs to address the Covid-19 pandemic, the public should not forget the big picture with the larger issues that the country needs to think about, related to climate change. Atty. Gamboa, who served as the moderator of the online forum, stated that the ocean plays a great role in the web of life, especially in putting balance to the environment, climate and health of human beings. “This is actually part of the celebration of the Month of the Ocean, and we would like to highlight the many uses and services of the coastal and marine ecosystem that does not only provide us with leisure and food, but also plays a great role when we talk about public health. Especially now that we are all in the midst of a public health emergency,” Atty. Gamboa concluded. This online forum is a partnership between the CCC and RARE Philippines, with support from the Center for Chemical Biology and Biotechnology and CND3 of the University of San Agustin, and the Department of Agriculture – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute.

"It’s time to build back better for People and Planet" The Philippines is one of the 17 mega-biodiverse countries of the world, together hosting two-thirds of the Earth’s biodiversity and between 70-80% of the world’s plant and animal species. But the Philippines is also considered as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots due to overexploitation, deforestation, land degradation, pollution, and other unsustainable human activities, all aggravated by climate change. As we celebrate the Philippine Environment Month and World Environment Day this June 5, the Climate Change Commission urges everyone to initiate and support each other's efforts to live more sustainably within our households, offices, and communities. It's time for nature to heal and thrive again. Let us continue protecting humanity’s delicate balance by working and building with nature around us. The hope and fate of the future generations rest on our actions today.

MANILA 30 May 2020 – Sa kamakailang Sustainable Urban Mobility episode ng programang “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways” tinalakay ni House Deputy Speaker at Antique Congresswoman Loren Legarda kasama ang mga bike advocates at cyclists kung paanong ang pagbi-bisikleta ay makatutulong sa ating mga frontliner na makapagbiyahe sa gitna ng dinaranas nating community quarantine at kung paano masusuportahan ng mga syudad at probinsya ang pagbi-bisikleta bilang isang mas maka-kalusugang alternatibo para sa ating mga commuter at transport sector. Si Red Constantino, Executive Director ng  Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, ay co-anchor ni Legarda sa talakayan, at kasama sina Undersecretary Frisco San Juan, Jr. ng Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA); Atty. Crisanto Saruca, MMDA Director para sa Legal and Legislative Affairs, Edison Nebrija ng MMDA Task Force of Special Operations; Keisha Mayuga, Life Cycles PH founder; Aldrin Pelicano MNL Moves founder Aldrin Pelicano; at Rommel Miles Corro, Climate Reality Leader at Triabetics member.  “Hindi dapat na maging pangarap na lamang ang Sustainable Urban Mobility. Gawin natin itong isang permanenteng solusyon para matugunan ang mga paghihirap at araw-araw na pakikibaka ng ating mga commuters. Sa ating Better Normal Bill, sisiguruhin ko na ang lahat ng mga konstruksyon at imprastraktura ay magkakaroon ng kani-kaniyang luntiang espasyo na may mga pagtataniman ng mga halaman at puno na akma sa ating klima, at may pedestrian at bike lanes. Ibalik natin ang mga espasyong  ito sa ating mga mamamayan,” sabi ni Legarda, na mag do-donate ng bagong bike sa Life Cycles PH at MNL Moves. Ibinahagi ni Red Constantino ang tantya ng Department of Transportation na mahigit kumulang na 50% na kabawasan sa passenger capacity ng mga bus, pampasaherong dyip o PUJ, at public utility vehicles o PUVs, kasama na rito ang  80-90% na kabawasan mula sa rail sector. Nagbigay din sya ng mga halimbawa at paliwanag ukol sa malaking pakinabang ng pagbi-bisikleta sa ating ekonomiya at klima. “Ang pagbi-bisikleta papuntang trabaho ay mabuti para sa ating ekonomiya dahil nababawasan ang gamit na gasolina at importasyon ng langis, mas malinis ang hangin, at mas mainam ang kalusugan para sa ating mga manggagawa. Nakatutulong rin sa climate action. Napakaraming mga projection ang nagpapakita na napakalaki ng carbon emissions ang maaaring maibawas —makatitipid ang mga syudad ng $25 trillion sa loob ng susunod na 25 na taon dahil sa pagbibisikleta at maaaring makaiwas ng 300 megatonnes ng carbon,” sabi ni Constantino. Ibinahagi ni Keisha Mayuga ang mga simulaing isinagawa na ng Life Cycles PH upang matulungan ang ating mga frontliners sa gitna ng kasalukuyang pandemic at ang panawagan upang magkaroon ng mga dedicated at protected na mga bike lanes sa Metro Manila na konektado sa mga karatig-pook. “Sinimulan ko ang grupong Life Cycles PH noong narinig namin na mawawalan ng mass transport sa gitna ng pandemic. Nadurog ang puso ko nang malaman na ang mga mamamayan ay hindi makauuwi sa kani kaniyang mga tahanan kung kaya't namigay kami ng mahigit na 1,400 na mga bisikleta sa pamamagitan ng isang donation drive, na nakalikom na ng mahigit 3 million pesos na pondo. Sa pamamagitan ng community matching sa Facebook, ang mga pribadong indibidwal at mga frontliners ay maaring makahiram ng mga bisikleta. Gayundin, sa pamamagitan ng EDSA Evolution ay ipinaglalaban at isinusulong ang pagkakaroon natin ng  permanent at protected bike lanes para masiguro ang kaligtasan ng ating mga frontliners at bikers,” sabi ni Mayuga. Ibinahagi ni Aldrin Pelicano kung paanong nagmula lamang sa kahiligang gawain ang MNL Moves, na ngayon ay naging isa ng pamayanan ng mga nagsusulong ng pagbibisikleta. Ibinahagi din niya ang survey na kanilang ginawa kasama ng ICSC at ng University of Twente (UT) sa Netherlands ukol sa regular na bike routes ng mahigit na 400 cyclists at ang naging resultang mga rekomendasyon ukol sa pagkakaroon ng interconnected bike lanes. “Ang pagkakaroon ng mas maraming oras para sa pamilya dahil sa pagbi-bisikleta ang naging mensahe ko para mapalawak ang MNL Moves hanggang ito'y maging isang community. Kami ngayon ay nagsimulang manawagan at manghikayat sa mga organisasyon maski na sa labas ng cycling community upang makapagdaos ng mga pagsasanay at ang pagkakaroon ng mga programa upang makapagbahagi ng kaalaman. Maaaring ipatupad muna ng mga LGUs ang pagkakaroon ng temporary bike lanes upang matutunan din paano gawing permanente ang mga bike lanes,” sabi ni Pelicano.    Tinalakay at ibinahagi din ni Rommel Miles Corro ang kanyang mga karanasan sa pagbi-bisikleta mula Muntinlupa, kung saan inihahatid nya ang kanyang mga anak sa kanilang paaralan, at pagkatapos noon patuloy siyang nagbibisikleta papunta sa kanyang trabaho sa Makati.  “Papaano at bakit ba ako nagkaroon ng matinding kahiligan at pagmamahal sa pagbibisikleta? Hindi lamang ito dahil nakaka-menos ako sa gastos. Hindi lamang ito dahil binabawasan ko ang ating carbon footprint. Kundi, napupukaw din nito ang pagiging malaya ng aking kaluluwa at damdamin. Nagkaroon na din ako ng natural na pagkasuklam sa kadalasang pag-iisa ko sa loob ng kotse. Nakaka-konsensya kasi bahagi ako ng traffic at hindi bahagi ng solusyon. Ngunit kapag ikaw ay nagbibisikleta papuntang trabaho, nagkakaroon ka ng bahagyang kalayaan at nabibigyan ako nito ng malawakan na laya sa anumang oras na mayroon ako,” sabi ni Rommel Miles Corro. Samantala nagpahayag ng suporta sa rekomendasyon ni Legarda na magkaroon tayo ng isang  bike masterplan sa Metro Manila si MMDA Usec. San Juan. Bahagi ng bike masterplan na ito ay  kang pagkakaroon ng  dedicated at protected bike lanes, na isusulong sa House Bill 6864, o ang "Better Normal for the Workplace, Communities and Public Spaces Act" o ang Better Normal Bill na ini-akda at itinaguyod ni Legarda. “Kami ay sumusuporta sa  bike lane program sa Better Normal Bill. Bago magkaroon ng pandemic, mayroon nang kasalukuyang umiiral na bike lane project sa kahabaan ng Ilog Pasig, mula Pasig hanggang Manila. Inaayos pa po ang obstructions para maging continuous bike lane siya. Ang ating panaginip ay binibigyan ng pagkakataon na maging isang katotohanan sa mga darating na buwan,” sabi ni Usec. San Juan.

MANILA 29 May 2020 – In the Sustainable Urban Mobility episode of the “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways” series, House Deputy Speaker and Antique Congresswoman Loren Legarda discussed with bike advocates and cyclists how biking is helping frontliners move during this community quarantine and how cities and provinces can support biking for a healthier and better normal for commuters and the transport sector.  Mr. Red Constantino, Executive Director of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, co-anchored the show with Legarda. Resource speakers included Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Undersecretary Frisco San Juan, Jr.; Atty. Crisanto Saruca, MMDA Director, Legal and Legislative Affairs, Edison Nebrija, Head, MMDA Task Force of Special Operations; Life Cycles PH founder Keisha Mayuga; MNL Moves founder Aldrin Pelicano; and Climate Reality Leader and Triabetics member Rommel Miles Corro. “Sustainable urban mobility should no longer be a dream. Let’s make it permanent. The government must address the struggles of our frontliners and daily commuters. Sa ating Better Normal Bill, I will see to it that all constructions have green spaces, may mga pagtataniman ng halaman at puno, akma sa ating klima, at may pedestrian at bike lanes. Let’s give back the space to our people,” said Legarda, who will donate one new bike each for Life Cycles PH and MNL Moves.  Constantino shared the Department of Transportation’s projection of at least 50% reduction in passenger capacity for buses, jeepneys or PUJs, and public utility vehicles or PUVs, as well as an 80-90% reduction for the rail sector. He also cited figures on benefits of cycling to the economy and climate. “Cycling to work as a mainstream and essential service and option is good for the economy, in terms of less fuel use, less imports, better air quality, and better health of workers, with co-benefits to climate action. A lot of projections are showing that the amount of carbon emissions that we can reduce is really substantial—cities could save $25 trillion over the next 25 years due to cycling and could avoid 300 megatonnes of CO2,” said Constantino. Mayuga shared Life Cycles PH’s initiatives to help frontliners during this pandemic and in calling for dedicated, protected, and connected bike lanes in Metro Manila and neighboring areas.  “I started the group Life Cycles PH when we heard that there’s no mass transport. It broke my heart to learn that people won’t be getting home. Now, we’ve provided more than 1,400 bikes through a donation drive, which already raised over P3 million pesos, and through community matching on Facebook, where private individuals and frontliners can lend or borrow bikes. Also, through EDSA Evolution, we advocate for permanent and protected bike lanes to ensure the safety of our frontliners and bikers,” said Mayuga. Pelicano shared how MNL Moves started as a passion project, which has now become a community of cycling advocates. He also shared the survey they did together with ICSC and the University of Twente (UT) in the Netherlands on the regular bike routes of more than 400 cyclists and the resulting recommendations on interconnected bike lanes. “Ang pagkakaroon ng mas maraming oras para sa pamilya dahil sa pagbibisikleta ang naging mensahe ko para mapalawak ang MNL Moves into a community. We then started reaching out to organizations even outside the cycling community to hold trainings and knowledge exchange programs. Local governments can implement temporary bike lanes to learn how to build permanent ones,” said Pelicano.   Corro talked about his experiences cycling from Muntinlupa, where he drops off his kids for school, to Makati for work.  “Why am I passionate and committed to cycling? It’s not just because I get to save a lot. It is not just because I’m minimizing my carbon footprint. There’s something spiritual about it. I’ve developed a natural abhorrence to being alone inside a car. Nakaka-konsensya kasi I’m part of the traffic and not part of the solution. But when you bike to work, it’s allowing you a certain degree of freedom. It gives me a lot of controlled time,” said Corro. MMDA Usec. San Juan meanwhile expressed support to Legarda’s recommendation for a bike masterplan in Metro Manila, which would include dedicated and protected bike lanes, to be incorporated in House Bill 6864, or the "Better Normal for the Workplace, Communities and Public Spaces Act of 2020" (Better Normal Bill) authored and sponsored by Legarda. “We are in full support of the bike lane program under the Better Normal Bill. Bago magkaroon ng pandemic, mayroong ongoing bike lane project along Pasig River, from Pasig to Manila. Inaayos pa po ang obstructions para maging continuous bike lane siya. Ang ating panaginip ay binibigyan ng pagkakataon na maging isang katotohanan in our near future, sa mga darating na buwan,” said Usec. San Juan. 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 to lead sustainable lives towards a healthier, safer, and much better normal than we used to have. This online discussion is organized in partnership between the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda and the Climate Change Commission (CCC), with support from the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), The Climate Reality Project-Philippines, and Mother Earth Foundation.

MANILA 27 May 2020 – In the third episode of the online discussion series “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” with the topic of sustainable urban mobility, House Deputy Speaker and Antique Congresswoman Loren Legarda will facilitate the discussion on how to encourage cities and citizens to adopt greener modes of transportation and infrastructure.  The third episode will air this Thursday, May 28, 10AM via Facebook Live at facebook.com/conglorenlegarda or facebook.com/CCCPhl. Mr. Red Constantino, Executive Director of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities and bike advocate, will join as Legarda’s co-anchor. Resource speakers will include: Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Ret. General Danilo Lim; Life Cycles PH founder Keisha Mayuga; urban planner behind the Facebook Page MNL Moves Aldrin Pelicano; The Climate Reality Project (TCRP) Philippines Branch Manager Nazrin Castro; and TCRP leader and cyclist Rommel Miles Corro. As an episode produced in anticipation of World Bicycle Day on June 3, it will highlight the role of bicycles as a common mode of transportation for frontliners and other essential workers during this community quarantine period. It will also discuss the challenges and opportunities of using bicycles, the economic and environmental benefits of cycling, and national and local government strategies to establish bicycle masterplans in key areas. Legarda had earlier written the members of the Metro Manila Council, urging them to declare cycling as an essential mode of transportation and providing recommendations where dedicated and protected bike lanes can be established to link the cities in Metro Manila. 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 to lead sustainable lives towards a healthier, safer, and much better normal than we used to have. This online discussion is organized in partnership between the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda and the Climate Change Commission (CCC), with support from the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), The Climate Reality Project-Philippines, and Mother Earth Foundation.

MANILA 27 May 2020 – Sa ikatlong episode ng online discussion na "Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” tampok ang temang sustainable urban mobility, kung saan pangungunahan ni House Deputy Speaker at Antique Congresswoman Loren Legarda ang talakayan kung paano mahihikayat ang mga mga mamamayan at mga local government unit (LGU) na maisulong ang mas luntiang kalakaran ng transportasyon at inprastraktura.   Ang ikatlong episode ay mapapanood ngayong Huwebes ika-28 ng Mayo, 10 ng umaga sa Facebook Live at facebook.com/conglorenlegarda or facebook.com/CCCPhl. Kasama rito si  Red Constantino, Executive Director ng Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities na isa ring bike advocate, at syang co-anchor ni Deputy Speaker Legarda. Kabilang sa mga imbitadong panauhing tagapagsalita ay sina: Ret. General Danilo Lim; Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman, Keisha Mayuga ng Life Cycles PH, Aldrin Pelicano ng MNL Moves, Nazrin Castro ng The Climate Reality Project (TCRP) Philippines; at Rommel Miles Corro na TCRP leader at cyclist. Bilang paggunita ng World Bicycle Day sa ika-3 ng Hunyo, pahahalagahan at bibigyang-diin ng episode na ito ang papel ng mga bisikleta bilang karaniwang kalakaran ng transportasyon para sa mga frontliners at iba pang mga essential workers sa gitna ng panahong ito ng community quarantine. Tatalakayin din dito ang mga hamon at mga oportunidad sa paggamit natin ng mga bisikleta, ang mga pakinabang pang-ekonomiya at pang-kapaligiran, kasama na rito ang mga plano at pamamaraang pambansa at pang pamahalang-lokal upang bumuo ng mga bicycle masterplans.  Kamakailan lamang sinulatan ni Deputy Speaker Legarda ang mga miyembro ng Metro Manila Council, kung saan hinihikayat silang i-deklara ang pagbibisikleta bilang isang essential mode of transportation at nagsusulong ng mga rekomendasyon kung saan dapat at maaaring makapag-lagay ng mga dedicated at protected bike lanes na mag-uugnay sa mga lungsod ng Metro Manila. Bilang isang online discussion na nakapagsusulong ng kalusugan at climate-friendly, sustainable practices, ang Stories for a Better Normal ay naglalayong baguhin ang kaisipan ng mga mamamayan, pamilya, at mga pamayanan na isulong na mamuhay-sustainable tungo sa isang mas-malusog, mas-ligtas, at isang mas-mabuting "normal" kaysa dati. Ang online discussion ay inorganisa ni Deputy Speaker Legarda at ng Climate Change Commission (CCC), at sinusuportahan ng Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), The Climate Reality Project-Philippines, at Mother Earth Foundation.

Tuesday | 26 May 2020 | 1PM   In celebration of the Month of the Ocean, the Climate Change Commission, in partnership with RARE Philippines, invites you to a webinar on the importance of oceans and the marine ecosystem as we address climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.   Experts Dr. Doralyn S. Dalisay, a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Balik Scientist and Director of Center for Chemical Biology and Biotechnology of the University of San Agustin; Dr. Jonel P. Saludes, Associate Vice President and Research and Global Relations Director of the Center for Natural Drug Discovery and Development (CND3) of the University of San Agustin; and Dr. Mudjekeewis D. Santos from the Department of Agriculture – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, will join Climate Change Commissioner Noel Antonio Gaerlan and Atty. Alexandra Gamboa of RARE Philippines today at 1PM.   The Great Web: COVID-19, Climate Change, and The Ocean will be on livestream on Rare Philippines Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/RareOrgPH].

This Thursday, catch Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda with co-anchor Red Constantino of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities in the third episode of "Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways" tackling the topic – Sustainable Urban Mobility. The series is organized in partnership with the Climate Change Commission. See you this May 28, 2020 at 10 AM onwards via Facebook Live!

MANILA 24 MAY 2020 – Nanghikayat si Deputy Speaker at Antique Representative Loren Legarda sa mamamayan na magtanim at magkaroon ng kani-kaniyang gulayan sa bakuran ng tahanan at pamayanan upang makapagdagdag sa suplay ng pagkain.   Sinabi ito ni Legarda sa ikalawang episode ng “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” isang online knowledge-for-action series ukol sa COVID-19 at climate emergency. Ang ikalawang episode ay tungkol sa mga pamamaraan kung paanong maski sino ay maaaring magtanim ng sarili nilang pagkain at kung papaanong mapapanatili ang urban at community gardens.   Itinampok ang mga payo ng mga panauhing tagapagsalita na sina: Assistant Director Rosana Mula ng Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), Niccolo Aberasturi ng DowntoEarth PH, Patis Tesoro ng PatisTito Garden Café & Permaculture Farm, journalist at content writer ng Almost Diplomatic blog na si Carol Malasig, at Barangay Captain Sheryl Nolasco ng Barangay Potrero, Malabon.      “Sa pamamagitan ng urban home gardening at backyard farming, tinuturuan natin ang ating mga sarili kung papaanong maging self-sufficient, lalung-lalo na sa panahon ngayon ng pandemic at climate crisis. Sa pamamagitan ng simpleng pamamaraan, pwede nating i-convert ang mga bakanteng lugar sa ating mga bahay, maski na sa maliit na apartment o condo unit, at makapag-tanim tayo ng mga prutas, gulay, o mga halaman. Ang pagsisikap nating magkaroon ng “better normal” ay ang pagsisiguro din na mayroon tayong sapat na suplay ng pagkain sa ating mga tahanan,” sabi ni Legarda, na isa ring home gardener at may-akda ng House Bill No. 637 o Food Forest Gardening Act of 2019.    Tinalakay ni Assistant Director Mula ang programang “Plant, Plant, Plant,” ng pamahalaan na naglalayong madagdagan ang agri-fishery output ng bansa at suplay ng murang pagkain sa bansa. Ibinahagi din niya na tumutulong ang DA-ATI sa libreng distribusyon ng starter kits.   “Mayroong starter kits for households, para sa mga nakatira sa condominium, at para sa mga walang sapat na lugar. Ang nasabing kits ay naglalaman ng lupa, compost, buto, at may kalakip na detalyadong impormasyon kung papaanong mapapalaki ang mga halaman. Hinihikayat din natin ang pagkakaroon ng entrepreneurial spirit sa ating mga mamamayan upang makapagtanim ng pagkain na maaaring ibenta din sa kani-kaniyang mga pamayanan,” sabi ni Mula.    Binigyang diin naman ni Aberasturi ang basics ng food gardening, tulad ng regenerative agriculture at ang proseso ng mulching, pati na rin ang mga inisyatibo ng Down To Earth PH sa pagsulong at pagpalaganap ng compact ecosystems at vertical gardens.     “Dapat sabay ang pagtanim ng pagkain at paglinis ng kapaligiran. Importante ang organikong pamamaraan sa pagpapatubo: ‘yung tubig kailangan lang mawala ang chlorine para mabuhay siya. Dapat hindi natin papatayin ‘yung mga mikrobyo na nagpapabuhay ng mga halaman natin.  In short, pakainin natin ‘yung lupa at ‘yung lupa ang magpapakain sa mga halaman natin,” sabi ni Aberasturi.   Tinalakay ni Tesoro, na isa ring matagal nang tagapagsulong ng heritage preservation at indigenous textiles, ang kaniyang karanasan sa “permaculture.”   “Ang proseso ng pagtatanim ay kadalasang nangangailangan ng masinsinang organisasyon. Hindi ka lamang magtatanim ng maski ano o basta na lamang makikipagsapalaran at baka ika’ mag-aksaya ng pera, panahon, at gastos. Ang permaculture ay ang pagaaral ng iyong tatanimang kalupaan at kapaligiran nang hindi kinakailangang magputol ng mga puno. Ito ay ang pagtatanim ng anumang likas na tumutubo sa iyong lugar, at pagsisikap na maging organic,” sabi ni Tesoro.   Ibinahagi naman ni Malasig, na nakatira sa Berlin, Germany, ang konsepto ng Kleingarten o “small garden” at kung paanong binibigyang halaga ng mga Aleman ang urban gardening bilang bahagi ng kanilang pamumuhay, lalung lalo na ang mga nakatira sa lungsod, sa mga apartments na walang sapat na espasyo.   “Para sa karamihan ng mga Germans, ang gardening ay isang napakahalagang bahagi ng buhay. Karamihan sa kanila, maski na doon sa mga nakatira sa lungsod, sinisiguro na mayroon silang kani-kaniyang tanim sa tahanan. Mayroon din silang tinatawag na “kleingarten,” kung saan ang mga mamamayan ay maaaring mag-apply ng permit sa gobyerno para gumamit ng maliliit na espasyo para sa isang garden. Siyempre, kinakailangan nila itong alagaang mabuti, at kung hindi, maaaring bawian sila ng permit,” sabi ni Malasig.    Ibinahagi din ni Barangay Captain Nolasco kung papaanong ang Barangay Potrero, sa tulong ni Legarda at ng Mother Earth Foundation, ay nagsulong at nagpatupad ng ecological solid waste management. Kinilala ang Potrero sa Best Solid Waste Management Program Award ng Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) sa taong 2016.   “Noong nakaraang tatlong taon, natutunan ng Brgy. Potrero ang ecological solid waste management at itinuro po namin ito sa 12,000 na mga kabahayan para bigyang importansya ang paghihiwalay ng basura. Ang unang Materials Recovery Facility ay nakatayo sa isang pribadong lote at ngayo’y nakapagpo-produce na ng gulay at medicinal plants na ipinamimigay namin sa karatig-lugar,” sabi ni Nolasco.   Ipinakita rin ni Deputy Speaker Legarda ang sarili niyang gulayan sa bakuran, at sinabing ang pagtatanim ng mga prutas at gulay sa tahanan at mga pamayanan ay isa sa mga paraan para masiguro na may masustansyang pagkain kahit sa gitna ng kasalukuyang krisis.    “Ang paraan para makasulong tayo tungo sa kinabukasan, ang paraan para mabuhay tayo sa panahon ngayon, ay ang hindi pagbalik sa kung papaano tayong namuhay noon. Isang malaking kamalian na para bang wala tayong natutunan sa ating mga pinagdadaanan ngayon. Ang better normal ay ang pamumuhay na mas sustainable, malusog, matatag at ligtas para sa lahat,” pagtatapos ni Legarda.

MANILA, 22 May 2020 — In observance of the International Day for Biological Diversity, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) called for solidarity in bending the curve of biodiversity loss to prevent the risks of future viral outbreaks and to help address the prevailing climate emergency. According to the CCC, the theme for this year’s observance, Our Solutions Are In Nature, is a timely and powerful reminder amid the current public health emergency of the fundamental role of biodiversity to human well-being and health. Since the start of the year, governments around the world are pursuing efforts to arrest the spread of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19), a zoonotic disease caused by neglecting the importance of biodiversity management and giving a lenient control on illegal wildlife trade. Reiterating the pronouncement of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) that there is a need to re-examine the relationship between the global community and the natural world, the CCC said that efforts to address the impacts of the current public health emergency to economy should be green, climate-resilient, and supportive of the implementation of our environmental laws. These laws include the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 or the Republic Act (RA) No.  9147, Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018 or RA 11038, and the Climate Change Act of 2009 or RA 9729—all aimed at protecting the country’s megadiverse natural resources. According to UN-CBD, the Philippines is one of 18 mega-diverse countries in the world. It contains two-thirds of the Earth’s biodiversity and between 70% and 80% of the world’s plants and animal species, respectively. Species endemism in the country is very high, covering at least 25 genera of plants and 49% of terrestrial wildlife. UN-CBD also reported that the country is one of the world’s known biodiversity hotspots with at least 700 threatened species, thus making it one of the top global conservation areas. Currently, the country uses the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Strategies (PBCP) as a framework to protect its 228 key biodiversity areas (KBAs). PBCP incorporates major strategies and immediate actions aimed at sustainably managing and conserving the estimated 10.56 million hectares of KBAs. The CCC said that the protection and conservation of our national resources is the first step toward ushering a better normal for the Filipino people—one that paves the way for a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future for the generations to come.