Marcos SONA: A lot of talk on environment, not as much on its defenders

 

MANILA, Philippines — While President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mentioned climate change at least six times in his first State of the Nation Address, his speech was deafeningly silent on the threats faced by Filipino climate advocates and environmental defenders.

The Philippines is one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. It is also consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous countries for environmentalists.

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In his speech to Congress, Marcos emphasized that renewable energy is "at the top" of the government's climate agenda. In the same speech, he also discussed nuclear and fossil-fuel development.

He also stated that disaster resilience capacity building is essential. "Investment in science and technology is critical to providing accurate weather forecasts and timely disaster alerts."

Marcos added that communities affected by sea level rise should be prepared for disasters and efforts should be made to find new sources of fresh water.

Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, a disaster resilience expert, has been appointed by Marcos to lead the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Laws must be properly enforced.

The CEO also emphasized the importance of properly enforcing environmental laws. In recent years, the DENR has been heavily chastised for failing to enforce laws designed to protect the country's diverse ecosystems and natural resources.

"Those who exploit our natural resources must abide by the law." "We all have a responsibility to preserve this Earth because we are only custodians, and we will pass this treasure down to future generations," Marcos said.

"There is no doubt that environmental preservation is life preservation," he added.

However, the environmental organization Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment has warned that Marcos' promise to build more international airports, railway and transportation systems, solar and wind farms, nuclear power plants, and dams will result in the destruction of forests, farmlands, and other critical landscapes and seascapes.

"Despite all of the rosy rhetoric about responding to worsening disasters and pursuing renewable energy, the proposed public-private partnership model for these economic projects has a track record of bringing displacement and conflict to communities and defenders," said Leon Dulce, Kalikasan PNE's national coordinator.

Uncomfortable silence
Green groups also criticized Marcos' first SONA for failing to mention human rights.

"While climate change was woven in agriculture, health and energy themes, Marcos Jr. was distressingly silent about mining issues, human rights, indigenous and women rights, extrajudicial killings and environmental defenders," Alyansa Tigil Mina national coordinator Jaybee Garganera said.
According to a Global Witness report, the Philippines is still the worst place in Asia for land and environmental defenders in 2020. In the two months following the May elections, Kalikasan PNE recorded six new attacks on environmental defenders.


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