House committee approves resolution seeking to declare a climate emergency

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 24) — After overwhelming support from different agencies, the House Committee on Disaster resilience approved a measure, seeking to declare a disaster and climate emergency.

House Resolution No. 535 "seeks a whole-of-government, whole-of-society, and whole-of-nation policy response to anticipate, halt, reduce, reverse, address, and adapt to the impacts, consequences, and causes of natural disasters.”

The resolution was filed by Albay Representative Joey Salceda following a string of typhoons that hit the country, causing massive flooding in different areas.

“We will eventually defeat COVID-19, as we have beaten all other pandemics. But the climate emergency will be here to stay," Salceda said. "Unless we act now to make our communities safer, and to seek international climate justice, we will suffer the long-term consequences of this crisis."

The declaration aims to highlight the role of local government units in leading transformation and adaptation to climate change and disaster resilience initiatives, along with business communities, individuals and other stakeholders.

“By declaring a climate emergency, the Philippines can leverage its position as an emerging market and a potent labor source for new industrialization to pursue an official foreign policy of international climate justice,” Salceda said, defending his resolution.

According to weather bureau PAGASA, the Philippines ranked third among countries who are most exposed and at risk to natural hazards.

In only a year, the country faces an average of 20 tropical cyclones which bring strong winds, excessive rainfall and thunderstorms, floods, landslides, storm surges and even tornadoes.

Under the Resolution, the House of Representatives is expected to conduct a series of inquiries on the measures being implemented by all concerned national agencies to address the impact of disasters and climate change on the fundamental right of Filipinos.

Likewise, the Department of Disaster Resilience bill is now pending in the Senate as an urgent policy response.

During the same hearing, the Committee on Disaster Resilience has also approved the substitute bill seeking the establishment of mandatory evacuation centers.

The bill provides the minimum requirements for every evacuation center such as its location, amenities, accessibility, among others.

The appropriation for the construction and maintenance of these evacuation centers will be sourced from a portion of the general appropriations of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

According to the DPWH, there are already 317 evacuation centers since 2016, 82 of which were transformed into a health facility due to demands brought by COVID-19.