KWENTUHANG KLIMA: A Summit on Climate Change Adaptation

This article was initially published in 2018.

The Climate Change Network for Community based Intiatives, Inc. (CCNCI) in partnership with the University of the Philippines Institute of Human Rights (UP IHR) held last October 12, 2018 at the UP Law Center “ Kwentuhang Klima : A Summit on Climate Change Adaptation”. This activity summarizes the results from various sectoral fora on the effects of climate change , adaptation and mitigation practices, and general sectoral calls for climate action.

Attended by more than 150 individuals representing 44 organizations and institutions across the country , the summit was a meeting of minds among key players in the arena of climate action in the Philippines — scientists (AGHAM or the Advocates of Science and Technology for the People and Center for Environmental Concerns), peasants (Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and MASIPAG), fisherfolk (Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Namamalakaya ng Pilipinas, Sitio Kinse Barangay Taliptip fisherfolk group), workers (Kilusang Mayo Uno, MASO, and Center for Trade Union and Human Rights ), indigenous people (Kalipunan ng Katutubo sa Pilipinas), women (Lingap – Gabriela), students and youth (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila College of Medicine, UP College of Law, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle College of St. Benilde, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sinagbayan, Batibot and PAI), members of the academe (UP Law Center, Ateneo Graduate School), the religious (National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, AKAP Maynila Bay), government agencies (Climate Change Commission, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Zambales Local Government Unit, ANAKPAWIS Party list of the 17th Congress ), members of the media (Philippine Collegian, Bulatlat News), human rights advocates (UP Institute of Human Rights, Assert Socioeconomic Initiatives Network and KARAPATAN), professionals ( Doctors for Health and Environment, lawyers, anthropologists), artists and civil society organizations and alliances (IBON Foundation, Institute for the Development of Indigenous People –Southern Tagalog, FARDEC , Advocates for Community Health, Salinlahi Foundation, ALCADEV, EVRAP, RAPSED, Offers-Panay, MASAI, PDG, PNFSP, CDRC, Network Opposed to New Centennial Water Source Project) and international NGO’s

IBON International, Kiyo, Solidagro and Viva Salud.

The program began with a prayer ritual from Fr. Ollie of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines followed by welcome remarks given by Atty. Michael Tiu of the Institute of Human Rights. Ms. Sharlene Lopez, CCNCI board chairperson stated the activity’s objectives of uniting the sectors and stakeholders on the perils of climate change and the principled struggle to address its roots combined with appropriate and

timely climate change adaptation.

Talks of Main Speakers

At the forefront of the activity is the keynote speech of Dr. Giovanni Tapang, chairman of AGHAM or Advocates for Science and Technology for the People, titled What is Happening to the World’s Climate? An update from the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Report 5. Dr. Tapang’s presentation consisted of three parts: the historical context and the cause of global warming and climate change (CC ), its effects and current solutions.

According to him, the production of greenhouse gases (GHG’s), the culprits behind the global warming phenomenon rose at the onset of the capitalist system and industrial revolution. It reflects the problem of overproduction largely dependent on burning fossil fuels releasing copious amounts of GHG’s mostly carbon dioxide and methane gas into the atmosphere . The largest emitter of GHG’s is the US, followed by a far second that is the Russian federation, China, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, France, Canada and Poland. An increase in global temperature brought about by these GHG’s is the cause of severe floods and storms, drought, extinctions of plant and animal species, a decrease in crop productivity, the inundation of coastal and low lying areas, worsening malnutrition and child growth and development disorders, increasing deaths, diseases and injuries, more cases of malaria, dengue and vector borne diseases and diarrheas resulting to heavier burdens on the delivery of health care services.

Low income countries are more vulnerable to CC effects. The Philippines, a developing country is a dangerous area due to CC with high climate hazard index, is densely populated, with limited or no adaptive capacity against CC, most vulnerable and disaster prone due to its geographic location. According to the IPCC 2007, adaptive

capacity is closely linked to social and economic development. Global warming also worsens the impact of globalization wherein profit is the primary objective.

“Under a system where profit is the primary objective of societal production, the environment and our ecosystems are reduced to being a source of raw materials and

dumping ground of wastes ... countries which top the list in terms of profit and industrial might also become the world’s culprits of environmental degradation," according to the speaker.

Mining, logging, quarrying and destruction of coral reefs further destroy carbon

sinks and multiply the destructive effects of disasters. There are true and false solutions and one of the latter is the KYOTO Protocol of 1997 signed by 175 countries except the US and Australia. It is an international agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) espousing voluntary reduction of GHG emissions of treaty signatories but has failed dismally. It has also established “flexibility mechanisms” like earning carbon emission credits through emission reduction projects in developing countries, and carbon trading among developed countries, also for profit. These mechanisms shuffle around the responsibility to curb their own emissions and does not address the issue of overproduction. Opportunities to overhaul the Kyoto Protocol during the Conference of Parties #16 ( COP 16) was postponed by Obama and then Philippine president Arroyo.

Dr. Gani laments the fact that nothing is being done to systematically address the hazards and vulnerability. When disaster strikes, people evacuate but what happens after? No homes, no jobs and there is also the infamous TRAIN law that makes life so difficult. CC vulnerability is compounded by the incapacity of people to recover and to assert their socioeconomic rights that includes right to land and jobs. CC is therefore not an just an environmental problem and according to the speaker, solutions like

technical or lifestyle changes are not enough.

Finally, the real challenge he says are the true solutions. The primary emitters must change their production activities, consumption of energy and seek sustainable solutions. We as a people must seek climate justice in concrete terms — meet the social needs of the people, work for social change both structural and systematic towards a society where human rights, national patrimony, genuine land reform, and

national industrialization is pursued. Defend our patrimony and communities against foreign and local plunder, popularize and implement proper and sustainable use of our natural resources in line with people's welfare and interests, proper technology, and mitigation measures. Pro poor, patriotic and scientific environmental orientation must be promoted to help communities cope and respond to environmental hazards.

After a short break, Mr. Owen Migraso of the Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC) talked about the Assessment of Climate Change Related Policies. Before Owen began his talk, he informed the audience of a latest update posted by the IPCC regarding a “final call to save the world from catastrophe” issued only this October 8, 2018. In a statement, the objective to target global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius is already off track and that temperatures may reach up to 3 degrees instead. This means that there is very little time left to avert the effects of climate change, a very dire forecast and an important challenge to tackle in this December’s Conference of Parties #24 (COP 24).

The speaker then enumerated four related policies to address climate change in the Philippines :

1. Republic Act 9729 or the Climate Change Act of 2009 created the Climate Change Commission that serves to coordinate, monitor, recommend and assess plans and programs of government in responding to climate change. The commission also functions to give technical and financial support for capacity building, manage the People’s Survival Fund, formulate the Framework Strategy on Climate Change and

action plans. The presentation included a slide on infographics showing the multifaceted approach summarized in the goal of “to build the adaptive capacity of communities and increase the resilience of natural ecosystems to climate change, and optimize mitigation opportunities towards sustainable development.”

2. Republic Act 10174 or the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) is intended for climate change adaptation projects of local governments and accredited community organizations. This amounts to 1 billion pesos a year and released upon completion of requirements to LGU’s.

3. National and Local Climate Change Action Plans (NCCAP and LCCAP) entails comprehensive assessment of risks and vulnerabilities, finance generation and implementation of adaptation and mitigation programs. These programs involve food security, water sufficiency, environmental and ecological sustainability, human security, climate-friendly industries and services, sustainable energy, knowledge and capacity development.

4. Nationally Determined Contributions to climate change mitigation and adaptation are the following:

• 70% reduction on emissions but is conditional depending on availability of finance, technologies and capacitiy –Climate risk assessment and monitoring, climate and disaster resilient ecosystems, water, health, agriculture, economic growth

• Insurance as a loss and damages mechanism

  
  

According to Owen, climate change is a manifestation of a systemic problem so that it needs a systemic solution. The Philippines is agricultural, pre-industrial but has an economic and political system driven by foreign and local elite. In his critique of existing policies to address climate change, the speaker reiterates that the root cause has not been delved into. The policies rely on foreign financing and exist alongside other policies that do not promote climate change resiliency like the Mining Act, the EPIRA law and others. While knowledge on climate change and climate resiliency abound, these are not maximized and promoted on the ground. The People’s Fund is also quite difficult to access and very few LGU’s have benefitted from it. As a call for alternatives to existing policies, the speaker reiterates the need for true mitigation or the deep, drastic emission cuts by top historical emitters, a shift to clean, renewable energy, restoration of forests and other carbon sinks and system change. He further states adaptation or building community resilience through "'green’ and ‘brown’ infrastructure”, capacity building through DRRM or Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and the protection and management of the environment. Furthermore, Owen states the need to demand justice for the victims of climate change from the perpetrators of greenhouse gas emissions, payment for damage and losses, unconditional transfer of technology and accountability of climate “criminals”.

As a final call, he encouraged the audience to take part in actions to participate in the drafting and implementation of LCCAP and PSF, be vigilant regarding international treaties and agreements and take part in alternatives vis-à-vis inadequacies of current climate change policies.

The next speaker represented the University of the Philippines Institute of Human Rights. He is Attorney Michael Tiu, an expert on human rights and the international Human Rights Law. A graduate of the UP College of Law, he also attended post graduate studies in criminal law and is very much an advocate of climate justice. His talk titled “Human Rights Based Approach to Climate Change” set the tone

for climate action.

Atty Tiu began his talk by mentioning that climate change is a science. something technical and may be difficult to communicate while climate justice focuses on people. If this approach is used, the threat of climate change becomes more tangible because it delves on an injustice. A rights based approach makes sure that policies and programs formulated to address climate change have, for their main objective, the welfare of vulnerable sectors. This is guided by principles and standards derived from international human rights law.

Now climate change affects economic, social and cultural rights. State policies must respect, protect and fulfill these rights. If the people have no food or if their places of dwelling render them vulnerable to disease, the duty bearers or the government must identify and meet these needs. If a global regime on adaptation to and mitigation of climate change proceeds without the integration of human rights in the framework, an opportunity to promote and fulfill human rights will be missed and the regime will blind to countless possible harms that might otherwise be foreseen and averted. Atty Tiu further discusses the importance of the rights based approach to ensure the following:

• Interdependence of human rights and environmental sustainable development – must go hand in hand, move forward so that both shall benefit

• Establishes a framework of addressing conflicting rights and interests – for example in the transport sector, jeepney modernization is appreciated by the drivers but alternatives must be put in place

• More effective and sustainable programs

• Integrated approach for more strategic interventions for a holistic approach

• Attention to poor and marginalized

• Preventing “elite” capture or domination of elite interests in discussions

• Results-oriented management towards addressing the needs of the vulnerable

Finally, procedural guarantees that help enforce human rights can be invoked (e.g. right to information, right to participation) in order that those harmed by climate change may influence policies that affect them. Individuals can provide insight as to local knowledge, technology and capabilities. Thus, engaging individuals and empowering them to contribute to development programs would be instrumental to achieving the objectives.

Open Forum for Key Speakers

During the open forum, Dr. Tapang addressed the concerns of Sitio Kinse Barangay Taliptip, a coastal community in Obando, Bulacan. The Aerotropolis project of the San Miguel Corporation threatens the homes and livelihood of the barangay - a rich source of shellfish, seafood and hectares of mangrove forests in the area for the construction of an airport. He said that projects must address community needs and not that of large companies who stand to profit from the people’s loss. Taliptip does not need an airport. This project must be rejected. He encouraged the audience, particularly the medical students to visit the place and be one with the people in their struggle.

In connection with the Taliptip issue, Atty Tiu said that the community by virtue of their rights have basis for asserting the defense of their homes and livelihood against the said project. He also mentioned the importance of other means aside from legal to address the problem like election of leaders who are sympathetic to their cause.

Mr. Migraso also added that the issue of Taliptip has serious implications for millions of coastal residents since the airport is only part of a bigger project on reclamation.

Other open forum questions :

• Role of Philippines in Paris treaty negotiations: Mr. Migraso says that in spite the futility of treaty assertions, the venue is still an opportunity for us to unite other developing countries in pushing for mitigation by developed countries.

• Defense against human rights violations against environmental defenders : Atty Tiu says that this is clearly covered by the IHL and the entire HR law in the Philippines and cases may be filed.

• On landslide victims in Itogon and Cebu : Atty. Tiu says that cases can also be filed against the companies with detailed facts of the case defined, the Indigenous People’s rights can also be used as reference if the case involves IP’s and government can also be held responsible for negligence

• On the Department of Disaster Resiliency Bill : Mr. Migraso says that there are advantages like increases in Internal Revenue allotment for disaster resiliency programs and additional budgets for research institutions however there are disadvantages like incorporating agencies under the superbody like the PAGASA. Also, disaster resiliency is comprehensive and must not be a function of only one department.

  
  

Sectoral “Kwentuhan“ Presentations

Peasant sector presented by Ka Danilo Ramos, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas

Ka Daning engaged the audience in stories about farming way back when native varieties of rice was planted without the use of chemicals. Fishes, frogs and other edible wildlife can be caught in the rice fields for food and life was better. Monopoly capitalism ruined all of these. The 1972 Green revolution program and the Masagana 99 introduced chemical farming using Thiodan and furodan pesticides . Traditional seeds were replaced with high yielding varieties and the genetically modified vegetables were introduced like the BT eggplant and corn. All of these are chemical input driven so that fewer farmers are able to afford these. Then came climate change and devastating typhoons like Sendong, Pablo and Yolanda.

But the farmer’s movement is very much active in organizing and fighting for the environment against mining, deforestation and landgrabbing. He cites the agrarian reform efforts of revolutionary farmer’s organization PKM (Pambansang Katipunan ng Magbubukid) and the open mass movement that is the KMP in land occupation and cooperativization as climate change adaptation strategies. He brightens up the dire scenario of climate change effects with the updates on farmer’s resistance to oil palm plantations and mining in Mindanao, the “bungkalan” movement for people’s right to land and food and invited the audience to join their “October Resistance Against Hunger, Poverty and Fascism”. He also challenged the participants to resist charter change which legitimizes 100% land ownership by foreigners, human rights violations against peasants and further degradation of environment through foreign plunder.

Finally, he said that we must stand proud in our struggle and efforts to save our environment.

Fisherfolk Sector presented by Ka Bobby Roldan, Vice Chairperson for Luzon, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Namamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA)

According to 2017 data, the Philippines ranks 8th among top fish producing countries in the world, third largest producer of aquatic plants and a total fish production of 4.35 MT contributing 228.93 billion pesos to the national economy. Having the longest coastal line, 60% of the population live near the shores and many among them rely on fishing as a means of livelihood. Despite the richness and biodiversity of our seas, fisherfolk are to be the “poorest of the poor” aggravated by natural calamities and limited access to social services.

The effects of climate change on fisherfolk communities are: rising sea levels resulting to flooding, severe storms and storm surges, destruction of fishing grounds and saltwater contamination of land crops leading to low yield. As a consequence, the fisherfolk suffer from lower incomes, worsening health, exposure to diseases, destruction of homes and property and forced evacuation. The fisheries system is also widely contributory to the fisherfolk’s vulnerability to climate change. Ka Bobby described the difficulties encountered as fishermen in what he described as a backward and small scale means of living in spite the described wealth and abundance the Philippine seas have offer. This is because of the monopoly of big businessmen and large foreign companies fishing in the waters and the policies and laws favoring them.

Among these laws are the Fisheries Code and Amendments, the AFMA and projects like reclamation, privatization and conversion of fishing grounds for the benefit of private businesses. The recommendations are as follows:

1. Dismantle the monopolies of big businesses in the fishing industry through unified action.

2. Stop all forms of exploitation of fisherfolk.

3. Implement a program to nationalize the Philippine fishing industry.

4. Uphold preferential rights of fisherfolk in municipal fishing grounds. BFAR says that importation of formalin laden round scad will help in reducing fish prices but this is not true. If only they would support the small fishermen instead of the commercial fishing businesses, the prices will not increase.

5. Place under the jurisdiction of cooperatives all groups and individuals engaged in commercial fishing and fish pond owners.

6. Provide just living wages for workers in the fishing sector. Commercial fishing companies give very low wages in Hagonoy ang Pampanga

to fisherfolk who work in fishponds or for large fishing vessel owners.

7. Implement equitable sharing of fish catch amongst workers of commercial fishing companies.

8. Establish programs to support and subsidize fisherfolk and eliminate exploitative financial schemes like usury.

9. Enforce policies on fair pricing of ocean catch and cooperativize the operation of the “consignation” or fish trading post.

10. Implement a sustainable and environment-friendly fishing industry. Prohibit destructive practices and conversion of fishing grounds , ban pollution of

waters and the use of explosives in fishing.

Ka Bobby also invited the audience to join the fisherfolk sector in an indoor activity on November 21, the International Fish Day

Children and Climate Change by Teacher Lita Malundras , Daycare Teacher from Parent’s Alternative, Inc (PAI)

Teacher Lita lives in Marikina and has herself experienced typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in the area. Children, she says are the most vulnerable to hunger and disasters as she has witnessed. In 2009, they formed “Task Force Children of the Storm 2009“ to be able to mobilize support, conduct psychosocial intervention and provide for immediate needs of children victims of typhoon Ondoy.

Before the onslaught of the massive floods, teacher Lita said that it has been raining for 10 days already in Marikina but there was no flooding. Floods came after dams were opened, thus the tragedy that claimed lives, destroyed homes and displaced communities, children included. Stories of psychosocial trauma upon witnessing death and destruction confirmed the vulnerabilities of very young children, pregnant women, young mothers and the elderly. Children have nightmares and experience bedwetting due to anxiety. When they go back to school, the students easily panic upon hearing rainfall or mistake loud sounds for thunder. The already malnourished children are more exposed to diseases like leptospirosis, cough, colds and pneumonia. She also noted the occurrence of summer diseases like chicken pox and measles during the typhoon season. Deaths also occur because of lack of funds for hospitalization and medicines.

Teacher Lita also sharply noted a rise in asthma among children and decrease in weight. Miscarriages among the pregnant and injuries are also common. Children of the Storm also visited the victims of typhoon Yolanda where many children died. Some of those who survived became victims of human trafficking, engaging in prostitution, child pornography and domestic slavery. Child labor is another problem encountered after disasters because the young family members need to work for food. These children aged 7-10 drop out from school.

PAI has adapted to the “new normal” of disasters due to climate change by establishing programs for children disaster victims. They now provide psychosocial processing, feeding and climate change education for children. They have noted the inadequacies of government response and lack of health programs for children to address the health effects of climate change.

Indigenous People by Pya Malayao, Secretary General, Kalipunan ng mga Katutubo sa Pilipinas (KATRIBU)

Ms. Malayao began her talk by saying that indigenous people know nature best. They are bonded to their land. When disaster strikes, they easily adapt. They know where to go to avoid lanslides. They are fully aware of the characteristics of rivers, wildlife and foliage. They can easily cope.

But today many things have changed says Pya because now they have become vulnerable. They have been driven out of their land and the threats have remained so that they cannot go back to their usual life. She thus enumerates the factors that have contributed to this:

• National oppression in the form of dams, mining projects

• Non-recognition of right to ancestral lands forcing them to evacuate to give way to “development” that is not for them

• Non-recognition of right to self-determination: government fields “fake indigenous people leaders” who pretend to favor the projects. Their systems of justice and defense of community are criminalized.

• Institutionalized discrimination: the media and educational institutions promote discrimination through misinformation. The lack of social services also worsens discrimination. Their culture is also being commercialized.

• Intensifying fascist attacks and plunder under the US-Duterte Regime.

• Effects of CC – disasters and further land-grabbing

While these are all clear forms of exploitation, this is not a fight between the indigenous and non-indigenous but rather a struggle against increasing vulnerability because their land has been taken away from them. This has disabled them from responding to climate change and to rise above natural disasters. Above these, CC is now being used as a reason to drive them away from their ancestral lands through the

National Greening Program (NGP) wherein indigenous plants are replaced by cash crops. This becomes the government’s excuse for land grabbing.

Adaptation and mitigation of the IP’s still involves organizing, collective action , education and research on indigenous practices and transfer

of knowledge to the next generations . Included in the collective action are protest activities against policies that exploit natural resources and IP’s and movements to cultivate land for food (bungkalan). The IP’s also espouse productive and self-sustaining communities through the setting up of IP schools, linkage and support building.

Workers sector by Ms. Daisy Arago of Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR)

Ms. Arago began her talk with a question. Why are we talking about climate change? What are its effects that merit this discussion? She answers: everything that we fight for like jobs, wages, right to unionize, security of tenure and all will mean nothing if we all perish because of climate change. Climate change is a cross cutting issue and it definitely affects workers. The CTUHR conducted a research on CC and its

effects on workers. The state policies have not been adapted to CC so that adverse incidents have occurred among workers like heat exhaustion, accidents among informal sectors engaged in construction, mining, street sweeping, overheating and heat strokes in factories. Cooling systems in factories are more for the protection of machinery rather than people.

In addition to this, repressive policies like “no work no pay” further add to the burden during times of disasters. Gender injustice is also a reality with women bearing a double burden- lower wages, more difficult work, usually takes charge of saving the family in emergency situations in the home during disasters, and have to contend with loss of loved ones and caring for family survivors. Typhoons are also used as venues to dissolve unions. During typhoons Pablo and Sendong, palm oil plantations where closed and the companies made sure that union members were not rehired when the plantations reopened. Like farmers, agricultural workers live in poverty and this renders them more vulnerable. Adaptation and mitigation, as mentioned can be false and fail to address the roots of climate change like the REDD or reforestation of deforested areas, not with forest trees but converted into oil or rubber plantations. These REDD areas are also exempted from land reform and is also a form of land grabbing. Sugar workers of the National Federation of Sugar Workers ( NFSW ) are victims of this scheme.

And lastly, she mentioned the plight of small scale miners, the most recent victims of landslides due to typhoons whose means of livelihood are endangered by CC. For workers, the solution must be in the hands of communities and organizations. A massive education campaign on CC and its effects, adaptation and mitigation need to be done. She also mentioned their continued anti imperialist campaigns, discussions on climate justice and engage in relief and rehab efforts through their project Task Force Obrero. Finally, through PISTON, the workers sector continue to resist jeepney modernization which corporatizises transport for profits.

Legislative Efforts on Protecting the Natural Environment and Genuine Agrarian Reform by Representative Ariel Casilao of Anakpawis party list of the 17th Congress

Legislative work is actually a work in progress for Bayan Muna and Anakpawis. There are current laws pending like the creation of a department of disaster resiliency. But Rep. Casilao considers the government of Duterte as the real disaster causing the death of thousands like EJKs and war on drugs. Miners killed by landslides are blamed for their fate in spite the fact that commercial mining has been in Itogon for 100 years. Now there is the imminent law of charter change that practically cancels out all mitigation and adaptation measures since the government will push for the devastation of nature and put at risk the lives of Filipinos.

There is also the Mining Act of 1995. Bayan Muna filed a motion for the Supreme Court to declare this unconstitutional but the SC ruled otherwise. This legitimizes open pit mining and the ravage of mountains for mineral extraction. Climate change has many deleterious effects but the worst part is making money out of this.

The NGP costs 30 million pesos but is a failure with only 20% survival rate. They planted bamboo with a private enterprise partner, drove away IPs in the area and declared the ancestral land as government property. Rep Casilao cites the difficulty of promulgating laws if the President himself is the most active implementor of neoliberal policies reflected in the Ambisyon Natin 2040, plantations, high ways and “build, build, build” projects where lands are for businesses and not for people. There is also the liberalization of agriculture, turning farms into chemical laboratories.

It is very frustrating that all their proposed bills are being rejected by congress but the growing mass movement outside of congress continue to inspire them to fight for bills that support the people like the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill. They uphold the principle that it is only by means of shattering land monopoly can we have true economic and agricultural reforms including protection of IP’s ancestral lands. The Organic Act and amendments shall create a community based program for organic farming that is environment friendly and pesticide-free. The Anti GMO Bill that seeks to define GMO impacts on health and environment. Existing laws like the CC Act of 2009 and the People’s Survival Fund exist alongside policies being enforced by economic managers that totally negate these laws . Among other initiatives, there is the alternative bill to the existing mining act which is the People’s Mining Bill that includes a resolution to revoke all mining contracts with China and currently, Rep Casilao and other progressive congressmen are studying the “Solar para sa Bayan” project which is privately funded and questionable as to its true intention. Other bills are the GFARB (Genuine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Bill) for the cause of fisherfolk and the repeal of the EPIRA ( Electric Power Industry Reform Act ) that violates the principles of renewable energy and the existing fisheries code. Finally, Rep Casilao called upon all sectors to popularize climate justice, incorporate CC in all our sectoral struggles and emphasized that CC is an anti imperialist fight.

Message of Solidarity from the Climate Change Commission as read by Mr. Erwin Husmalaga, CC Commission Information Officer

CCC Commissioner Atty. Efren Bascos attended the morning session of the activity but had to leave in the afternoon because of appointments. He instead requested Mr. Erwin Husmalaga to read the message of the commission for the CCNCI activity. Here is our summary of the message:

The Philippines, as a developing nation, is highly vulnerable to climate change (CC), exemplified by typhoon Yolanda's devastation. This vulnerability necessitates comprehensive policy-making and tangible action for disaster risk reduction and CC adaptation. A pro-poor response is crucial. Efforts have focused on risk assessment, public health, ecosystem protection, improved agriculture, safe zones, early warning systems, better building, insurance, and awareness. However, a change in approach is needed. The post-2015 sustainable development framework, Disaster Risk Reduction 2013 agenda, and Paris Agreement guide our resilience-building efforts. The Paris Agreement aims to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees, crucial for vulnerable nations like ours. The IPCC's report supports this, highlighting the need for faster action and policy alignment with the 1.5-degree goal to balance economic growth and climate action. Current policies could lead to a 4-degree rise by 2100, threatening poverty eradication, water availability, marine biodiversity, and coral reefs. Achieving the 1.5-degree target can mitigate these impacts. The Climate Change Commission (CCC) remains committed to a resilient Philippines through inter-agency collaboration, energy policy, carbon pricing, and clean job incentives. We propose a national risk information system and integrated data network for local officials, alongside capacity building for local development and investment plans. Students and policymakers are key to achieving the 1.5-degree goal. We urge unity and increased efforts for a safer, cleaner world.

Towards the end, the summit was wrapped up through synthesis depicted in a mural on climate change effects, climate change adaptation and mitigation by sectors. The audience was also encouraged to write pledges for climate justice which they used to adorn the Climate Justice Tree, as a symbolic gesture. The pledges all contained positive messages on how each participant can do their share from CC adaptation, pro-environment practices, promotion and education initiatives, research and active participation in concerted efforts for climate justice. Closing the program were remarks from Ms. Cora Jasmines of the Citizen’s Disaster Response Center. She thanked all the participants and further encouraged them to be one with CCNCI in the fight for climate justice.