Loren urges Aquino to convene Climate Change Commission

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Loren Legarda urged President Aquino to immediately convene the Climate Change Commission and start making disaster risk reduction as among the priorities of his administration.

Legarda said that the President, as chairman of the Commission, should recognize the impact of climate change on the nation, not only to the lives of Filipinos but also on the economy as a whole.

She emphasized the need to incorporate climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in his administration’s development agenda as the economic cost of disasters has become very evident all over the world.

Citing a report from global reinsurer Swiss Reinsurance Co., Legarda said that there has been a significant increase in the economic cost of disasters, from $68 billion in 2009, it jumped up to $218 billion in 2010.

“The impacts of natural hazards have been a major constraint and an important development issue that many countries, including the Philippines, have to face time and again,” Legarda said.

“With climate change, such hazards can be more frequent and intense. Thus, we need to strengthen our disaster prevention measures,” she added.

Lesson learned

Legarda reminded the administration that the experience of the country in 2009 with typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” should already serve as a lesson on the damage that storms bring.

There is also the threat of a strong magnitude earthquake hitting the country at anytime, which studies have shown would cause severe damage and loss of life in Metro Manila.

Legarda said that these show that disaster prevention and mitigation are more cost-effective than focusing on enhancing our capacities in relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation.

“Without effective disaster prevention, hundreds of lives, thousands of homes, billions worth of properties and livelihoods, even government’s growth and revenue targets, can be at the mercy of a single disaster,” Legarda said.

“Disasters maim and kill. They devastate the environment and set back economic development. Yet disasters can be prevented if we have the political will to invest in disaster prevention,” she added.

Improvement of early warning system

According to Legarda, the government could start by improving the early warning system and strengthening the capabilities of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

Investments in flood control and earthquake mitigation, particularly in Metro Manila should also be done immediately.

“Furthermore, our local government leaders should be actively involved in the fight against disaster and climate risks because they are in the frontline and most in need of capacity-building,” she said.