Environment linked to jobs, economy - Legarda

MANILA, Philippines - Environmental protection and enhancement are directly linked to economic development and jobs, according to Sen. Loren Legarda.

Addressing students and professors at a forum held at the University of the Philippines, Legarda said environmental protection is necessary to improve agricultural and industrial production and reduce human casualties and property damage in cases of natural calamities, like typhoons and earthquakes.

A green program would provide “jobs for everyone,” she said, adding that “those jobs should include green jobs and livelihoods from clean energy, climate and environmental protection initiatives.”

A UN champion for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in Asia-Pacific, Legarda has vigorously pushed for the adoption of policies and programs to combat global warming, such as the El Niño phenomenon that causes drought and reduce harvests, and also causes extraordinary strong typhoons like Ondoy.

“Also included in my agenda is sustainable forest management. This involves intensive rehabilitation of degraded forests and denuded lands; industrial forest plantation development; conservation of biodiversity and remaining natural forests; livelihood support for small farmers living within and around protected areas; and upland community development,” Legarda declared.  

 “We need to mainstream climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in local government units through capacity building and development of best practices. Climate change must likewise be integrated in school curricula,” she said.

“There should also be strengthened enforcement of environmental laws and regulations such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and Climate Change Act,” Loren stressed.  As senator, she has actively participated in the enactment of these environmental law as author or co-author.  As chair of the Senate committee on climate change, she sponsored the recently-enacted Climate Change Act,” Legarda continued. 

In 1999, five million Filipinos petitioned the Philippine government to pass Republic Act 8749, the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, Loren said. The landmark legislation established ambient air quality guidelines and emissions standards, banned smoking in public buildings, and mandated that all motor vehicles undergo emissions testing at least oThe Ecological Waste Management Act improved solid waste management and resource conservation, while the Clean Water Act of 2004 aims to protect the country’s water bodies from pollution.