In an earlier column, I wrote that self-declared vice-presidential candidate Loren Legarda, descending upon what looked like a wake of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, rallied its members after their erstwhile presidential candidate Francis Escudero deserted them. Loren roused the troops a la Joan of Arc, promising to “lead you to victory.” I recounted the remark of a party elder, former Gov. Tomas Joson, as he watched the white-shirted lady senator sounding the clarion call to battle, “Yan ang tunay na lalaki.”
Now Joan of Arc is in furious search of her Dauphin, for whom she would do battle in the coming months up to May 2010. If reports are to be believed, she’s choosing between NP bet Manny Villar and Lakas bet Gilbert Teodoro. Villar offers entrepreneurship and a home for every poor Filipino as the pillar of his economic platform, while Teodoro doubtless would make the reconstruction of this storm-ravaged country his main preoccupation in the succeeding years, which will be filled with fears and uncertainties over the onslaught of climate change.
Pairing Loren off with either presidential candidate would be to the latter’s advantage, as her unique brand of political machismo has apparently not been lost on voters, especially after her former political partner, Chiz Escudero, proved faint-hearted. A prominent businessman who’s a regular fixture in the dinner circuit recounted to me recently that in various polling of candidate preferences in several dinners he attended, Loren always came out ahead in the VP race. His conclusion: Hindi nakakaseguro si Mar Roxas.
Source: http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20091110-235281/NPCs-Joan-of-Arc-in-search-of-a-Dauphin
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Loren seeks JOBS and PEACE for evacuees in Mindanao
DATU PIANG, North Cotabato – Sen. Loren Legarda yesterday called on the national government to provide a “viable livelihood program” for hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who have been displaced by the armed conflict in Mindanao.
In a visit here, Loren noted that the Philippines was ranked first in the number of internally displaced persons worldwide by registering 600,000 evacuees in 2008 The ranking was made by Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), a Geneva-based leading international body monitoring conflict-induced internal displacement.
Loren also called on the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to “faithfully observe their truce and to facilitate their peace talks in order to establish permanent peace in Mindanao. We must stop this fighting among brothers and sisters.”
Loren also asked the Department of Health to provide more medical assistance to the evacuees after receiving reports that many of them are suffering from diseases, arising from overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and malnutrion.
Loren said that the upsurge in fighting between the Moro Islamic Liberation Forces and the government has caused the displacement of more than 950,000 persons since early August 2008. As of the end of August 2009, based on data from the government’s National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), an estimated 66,000 families, or between 330,000 and 400,000 people, remained displaced in Mindanao.
Loren said that aside from their immediate needs for food, clothing and shelter, the evacuees desire to have jobs or to engage in livelihood activities in order that they can support themselves and their families and not be forever dependent on local and international aid.
“These evacuees from war do not want to be forever dependent upon charity. They desire to keep their dignity and secure their future by having stable employment and livelihood activities in farming, handicraft, small and medium industries, fishing and other productive activities,” said Loren.
Loren called on the government national agencies like the departments of agriculture, trade and industry, Technical Skills and Development Authority, and others to provide assistance to local governments in Mindanao to provide livelihood projects for the Mindanao war refugees.
Loren also called on the Department of Education to establish temporary schools in the evacuation centers so as not to disrupt the studies of children of school age among the evacuees.
The overwhelming majority of the displaced are located in the Autnomous Region for Muslim Mindanao, where 62,000 families or 310,000-370,000 live in evacuation centers, most of them in Maguindanao Province.
A further 3,800 families were reported to be still displaced in Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat Provinces and 260 families in Lanao del Norte Province (NDCC IDP Taskforce, 26 August 2009).
In addition to people displaced in 2008, many who had fled the 2000 and 2003 wars are still unable to return or have not found durable solutions, said Loren.
In a visit here, Loren noted that the Philippines was ranked first in the number of internally displaced persons worldwide by registering 600,000 evacuees in 2008 The ranking was made by Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), a Geneva-based leading international body monitoring conflict-induced internal displacement.
Loren also called on the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to “faithfully observe their truce and to facilitate their peace talks in order to establish permanent peace in Mindanao. We must stop this fighting among brothers and sisters.”
Loren also asked the Department of Health to provide more medical assistance to the evacuees after receiving reports that many of them are suffering from diseases, arising from overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and malnutrion.
Loren said that the upsurge in fighting between the Moro Islamic Liberation Forces and the government has caused the displacement of more than 950,000 persons since early August 2008. As of the end of August 2009, based on data from the government’s National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), an estimated 66,000 families, or between 330,000 and 400,000 people, remained displaced in Mindanao.
Loren said that aside from their immediate needs for food, clothing and shelter, the evacuees desire to have jobs or to engage in livelihood activities in order that they can support themselves and their families and not be forever dependent on local and international aid.
“These evacuees from war do not want to be forever dependent upon charity. They desire to keep their dignity and secure their future by having stable employment and livelihood activities in farming, handicraft, small and medium industries, fishing and other productive activities,” said Loren.
Loren called on the government national agencies like the departments of agriculture, trade and industry, Technical Skills and Development Authority, and others to provide assistance to local governments in Mindanao to provide livelihood projects for the Mindanao war refugees.
Loren also called on the Department of Education to establish temporary schools in the evacuation centers so as not to disrupt the studies of children of school age among the evacuees.
The overwhelming majority of the displaced are located in the Autnomous Region for Muslim Mindanao, where 62,000 families or 310,000-370,000 live in evacuation centers, most of them in Maguindanao Province.
A further 3,800 families were reported to be still displaced in Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat Provinces and 260 families in Lanao del Norte Province (NDCC IDP Taskforce, 26 August 2009).
In addition to people displaced in 2008, many who had fled the 2000 and 2003 wars are still unable to return or have not found durable solutions, said Loren.
On Sora
In his fifth State of the Region Address, ARMM Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan outlined the many challenges, issues and problems facing our Muslim brothers and sisters living within the ARMM. Foremost among these, as everybody knows, are the problems of dehumanizing poverty and the unabated fighting in the region.
As one who has cultivated a deep affection for Mindanao in general, I would like to express solidarity with the aspirations and hopes of our people in ARMM, specifically on their desire for peace, equality, justice and economic prosperity.
Likewise, I would like to add my voice to the deafening clamor not only of the people of ARMM or even of Mindanao in general, but the clamor of the entire nation. I call for the renewal of the Mindanao peace process -- one that is marked by full consultation of all parties involved, one that would fully hew to the provisions of our Constitution, and, most importantly, one that would not result to the Philippines being disemboweled or the separation of any of its parts.
The five-point agenda that had been laid down by Governor Ampatuan – concerning peace and security, infrastructure, stimulating its regional economy, social services and good governance – is indeed at the crux of all the issues facing the ARMM.
For without peace and order, no economy could possibly take off; and without good governance, the people cannot expect to get the most basic of social services. Without both, any and all infrastructure within the ARMM would be mere white elephants – roads hardly used for commerce, buildings that bear silent witness to still-born industries, and farmlands that are perpetually threatened by war.
Add to these the problem of Climate Change, ARMM, like the rest of the Philippines, has its work cut out for it.
As one who has cultivated a deep affection for Mindanao in general, I would like to express solidarity with the aspirations and hopes of our people in ARMM, specifically on their desire for peace, equality, justice and economic prosperity.
Likewise, I would like to add my voice to the deafening clamor not only of the people of ARMM or even of Mindanao in general, but the clamor of the entire nation. I call for the renewal of the Mindanao peace process -- one that is marked by full consultation of all parties involved, one that would fully hew to the provisions of our Constitution, and, most importantly, one that would not result to the Philippines being disemboweled or the separation of any of its parts.
The five-point agenda that had been laid down by Governor Ampatuan – concerning peace and security, infrastructure, stimulating its regional economy, social services and good governance – is indeed at the crux of all the issues facing the ARMM.
For without peace and order, no economy could possibly take off; and without good governance, the people cannot expect to get the most basic of social services. Without both, any and all infrastructure within the ARMM would be mere white elephants – roads hardly used for commerce, buildings that bear silent witness to still-born industries, and farmlands that are perpetually threatened by war.
Add to these the problem of Climate Change, ARMM, like the rest of the Philippines, has its work cut out for it.
At last a candidate with a Vision! Loren Legarda tops all candidates
Loren Legarda just announced that she'll be running for the vice presidential post come 2010. Her Luneta announcement last night is better than all the other candidates running for the top post. Instead of a melodramatic speech, peppered with necropolitical imagery, Loren presented a platform.
At last! A candidate with a vision, a candidate who has the strong will to say what she truly wants to do and what she intends to fulfill should she be elected for the top post. Let me quote her "six-point must-do" Pro-People Agenda from an Inquirer report :
First, the country’s resources, including government funds, should go toward affording all Filipinos housing, sanitation, potable water, access to medicines and proper health care, education for the youth and skills training.
Second, government must recognize the contributions of overseas Filipino workers by facilitating their gainful employment, providing them ample protection against abuses and by continuously upgrading their skills and knowledge.
third, the new administration must really crack down on corruption, which wastes the country’s limited resources, destroys institutions and undermines the trust of the people and of the international community, including foreign investors.
Fourth, protection of the environment and initiation of pro-active measures to address the problem of climate change and the disasters related to it by strictly following geohazard maps in pursuing development plans, flood control and solid waste management systems.
Fifth, forge a genuine peace, especially in Mindanao, not only through law enforcement but through the resolution of the root causes of the conflicts in the countryside, poverty and social injustice to name a few.
Sixth, forge a cultural renaissance for Filipino culture and traits to be recognized, rejuvenated and passed on to future generations “because they are what makes Filipinos unique as a people.”
I asked all New Patriots to vote for Loren Legarda. I ask my fellow brothers and sisters in the Islamic faith and all other faiths, to campaign for her.
With Loren's entry, the vice presidential derby has become more interesting than the presidential. Imagine, two political heavyweights, namely Mar Roxas and Loren Legarda, will be fighting headlong in this. Loren enjoys an edge since based on SWS surveys, she has a solid mass base support of 26%, far from the 13-14% mass base support of Roxas.
Roxas has the money but Loren has the support of local government officials and of course, Danding Cojuangco.
If the Estrada oppositionist camp wants to win, it must convince Binay to just give way to Loren Legarda. Now, if Loren runs with Chiz as her presidentiable, they might possibly clinch it. A Chiz-Loren tandem has better chances than, say, a Villar-Loren or a Teodoro-Loren, although this tandem is really very, very ideal for one simple fact---both are highly intelligent and with a vision. Sadly, this cannot be because of a misconception that it is a kiss of death to align with the administration.
Source:http://newphilrevolution.blogspot.com/2009/10/at-last-candidate-with-vision-loren.html
At last! A candidate with a vision, a candidate who has the strong will to say what she truly wants to do and what she intends to fulfill should she be elected for the top post. Let me quote her "six-point must-do" Pro-People Agenda from an Inquirer report :
First, the country’s resources, including government funds, should go toward affording all Filipinos housing, sanitation, potable water, access to medicines and proper health care, education for the youth and skills training.
Second, government must recognize the contributions of overseas Filipino workers by facilitating their gainful employment, providing them ample protection against abuses and by continuously upgrading their skills and knowledge.
third, the new administration must really crack down on corruption, which wastes the country’s limited resources, destroys institutions and undermines the trust of the people and of the international community, including foreign investors.
Fourth, protection of the environment and initiation of pro-active measures to address the problem of climate change and the disasters related to it by strictly following geohazard maps in pursuing development plans, flood control and solid waste management systems.
Fifth, forge a genuine peace, especially in Mindanao, not only through law enforcement but through the resolution of the root causes of the conflicts in the countryside, poverty and social injustice to name a few.
Sixth, forge a cultural renaissance for Filipino culture and traits to be recognized, rejuvenated and passed on to future generations “because they are what makes Filipinos unique as a people.”
I asked all New Patriots to vote for Loren Legarda. I ask my fellow brothers and sisters in the Islamic faith and all other faiths, to campaign for her.
With Loren's entry, the vice presidential derby has become more interesting than the presidential. Imagine, two political heavyweights, namely Mar Roxas and Loren Legarda, will be fighting headlong in this. Loren enjoys an edge since based on SWS surveys, she has a solid mass base support of 26%, far from the 13-14% mass base support of Roxas.
Roxas has the money but Loren has the support of local government officials and of course, Danding Cojuangco.
If the Estrada oppositionist camp wants to win, it must convince Binay to just give way to Loren Legarda. Now, if Loren runs with Chiz as her presidentiable, they might possibly clinch it. A Chiz-Loren tandem has better chances than, say, a Villar-Loren or a Teodoro-Loren, although this tandem is really very, very ideal for one simple fact---both are highly intelligent and with a vision. Sadly, this cannot be because of a misconception that it is a kiss of death to align with the administration.
Source:http://newphilrevolution.blogspot.com/2009/10/at-last-candidate-with-vision-loren.html
Sunday, November 8, 2009
‘Polluters must pay,’ says Loren To push at UN debt-for-climate adaptation swap
Senator Loren Legarda yesterday proposed a ”novel” way to fund the country’s climate change adaptation and reconstruction initiatives in view of the fact that half of the country’s annual budget, pegged at P1.5 trillion for 2010, is allocated for foreign-debt servicing.
Loren said that the country’s reconstruction efforts from the devastations wrought by typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi, as well as its implementation of the landmark 2009 Climate Change Act, are hobbled primarily by lack of funds.
“I am proposing for our creditors, including the World Bank and the United States, to consider a Debt for Climate Change Adaptation Swap, in which portions of our payments for our foreign debts will be used by us instead for reconstruction and climate adaptation measures,” said Loren.
The chair of the Senate Oversight Committee on Climate Change, Loren revealed that she would formalize her proposal during the United Nations Conference on Climate Change Adaptation to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark from December 7 to 18.
Appointed by the UN as its Climate Change Mitigation and Disaster Risk-Reduction Champion for the Asia-Pacific Region, Loren will co-head the Philippine delegation to the Copenhagen conference.
She explained that under her proposal, the World Bank and the US, for example, may allow the Philippines to use US$1 billion (roughly P47 billion at the present exchange rate) for climate change related activities.
Among those that may be funded by the swap are the reforestation of three to eight million hectares each year, relocation of families displaced by the recent typhoons, and the refurbishing and/or the building of new schools, hospitals and mass settlements to higher standards, away from geographically hazardous areas.
Loren said international lending institutions and rich, highly developed nations like the US and Japan must also help poor and developing countries like the Philippines grapple with the effects of climate change.
She explained that as the primary user of fossil fuel like oil and coal, rich nations have the lion’s share in the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which is blamed for global warming.
“Under my Polluters Must Pay Principle, the international community of nations must press developed countries not only to lower their greenhouse gas emissions, but to contribute financially to a Climate Adaptation Fund,” Loren said.
She said that poor countries affected by climate change such as the Maldives, whose coasts are being swamped; Bhutan, which is hounded by perennial flooding and earthquakes; and the Philippines, may tap into the fund.
She pressed immediate action by the Philippines for the 60,000 families living under a mountain of garbage in Lupang Arenda in Taytay, Rizal, the thousands of farmers from Laguna whose farmlands had been flooded and had become part of Laguna de Bay; and the many other Filipinos in Bulacan whose livestock and poultry had been washed away by the flood.
“Farmers in Laguna had been forced to become fisher folks as their lands had come under water. Such an irony manifests the gravity of our problem,” Loren said.
During the Global Humanitarian Forum held last June in Geneva, Switzerland, Loren already presented her concepts on how poor nations can have access to climate adaptation funds, including those culled from the gross domestic products of rich nations.
She recalled the ideas being received enthusiastically by the forum, with UN Undersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes describing them as “noble ideas.”
Source:http://www.lorenlegarda.com.ph/article-1257747411.html
Loren said that the country’s reconstruction efforts from the devastations wrought by typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi, as well as its implementation of the landmark 2009 Climate Change Act, are hobbled primarily by lack of funds.
“I am proposing for our creditors, including the World Bank and the United States, to consider a Debt for Climate Change Adaptation Swap, in which portions of our payments for our foreign debts will be used by us instead for reconstruction and climate adaptation measures,” said Loren.
The chair of the Senate Oversight Committee on Climate Change, Loren revealed that she would formalize her proposal during the United Nations Conference on Climate Change Adaptation to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark from December 7 to 18.
Appointed by the UN as its Climate Change Mitigation and Disaster Risk-Reduction Champion for the Asia-Pacific Region, Loren will co-head the Philippine delegation to the Copenhagen conference.
She explained that under her proposal, the World Bank and the US, for example, may allow the Philippines to use US$1 billion (roughly P47 billion at the present exchange rate) for climate change related activities.
Among those that may be funded by the swap are the reforestation of three to eight million hectares each year, relocation of families displaced by the recent typhoons, and the refurbishing and/or the building of new schools, hospitals and mass settlements to higher standards, away from geographically hazardous areas.
Loren said international lending institutions and rich, highly developed nations like the US and Japan must also help poor and developing countries like the Philippines grapple with the effects of climate change.
She explained that as the primary user of fossil fuel like oil and coal, rich nations have the lion’s share in the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which is blamed for global warming.
“Under my Polluters Must Pay Principle, the international community of nations must press developed countries not only to lower their greenhouse gas emissions, but to contribute financially to a Climate Adaptation Fund,” Loren said.
She said that poor countries affected by climate change such as the Maldives, whose coasts are being swamped; Bhutan, which is hounded by perennial flooding and earthquakes; and the Philippines, may tap into the fund.
She pressed immediate action by the Philippines for the 60,000 families living under a mountain of garbage in Lupang Arenda in Taytay, Rizal, the thousands of farmers from Laguna whose farmlands had been flooded and had become part of Laguna de Bay; and the many other Filipinos in Bulacan whose livestock and poultry had been washed away by the flood.
“Farmers in Laguna had been forced to become fisher folks as their lands had come under water. Such an irony manifests the gravity of our problem,” Loren said.
During the Global Humanitarian Forum held last June in Geneva, Switzerland, Loren already presented her concepts on how poor nations can have access to climate adaptation funds, including those culled from the gross domestic products of rich nations.
She recalled the ideas being received enthusiastically by the forum, with UN Undersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes describing them as “noble ideas.”
Source:http://www.lorenlegarda.com.ph/article-1257747411.html
Senator Loren Legarda Speech on Philippine Forest
Ladies and gentlemen, officers and members of the Society of Filipino Foresters, Incorporated, my partners in environmental protection, a pleasant day to all of you.
Across the years, Philippine forests continuously declined in physical and environmental terms. Forest land area alarmingly went down from 36.3 percent or more than one-third of the country’s land area in 1970 to 18 percent in 2001. Evidently, most of our country’s once rich forests are now gone.
This is tragic because forests are indispensable in the overall ecological balance of the world by acting as a home for biodiversity and by protecting vital water and soil resources. Also, forests serve as major carbon sinks that absorb great quantities of carbon dioxide that otherwise would add to the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and rapid climate change.
Recent events have shown us the grim scenario of climate change impact. The intense and record-high rainfall by Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi, as well as the consequent fatalities and damages have shown us that the price we pay for denuding our forests and abusing the environment is well beyond our means.
It is therefore an imperative for us to do everything in our power to protect the forests left for our children and for humanity. It is an uphill climb but we must gather courage. We must pool in our knowledge, our skills, our commitment, and our passion. Essentially, we could find the know-how, the skills, and the passion among our foresters.
Our foresters are the ones who are literally “on the ground” in protecting our forests from abuse and misuse. They are the foot soldiers. They are our forests’ caretakers. And incident to their vocation, foresters are also our partners in reducing poverty in the rural areas. Indeed, many are already rising to the challenge, and our gathering here today is a testament to this.
Let me reiterate that forest protection, like environmental protection, is not its own end. As always, the strong environmental thrust of my advocacy is part of my larger plan and vision of eradicating poverty in the grassroots. Taking care of our forests not only responds to climate change and other environmental concerns but also deals with persistent local poverty because forests are a vital part of the development in the rural areas. I envision every part of the country, every nook and cranny, to be planted with trees so as to be eventually capable of developing to their fullest potential.
The recently passed Climate Change Act gives a window of opportunity for us to respond to the challenges of climate change in a comprehensive manner. As the principal author and sponsor of the law, I set out to give more stakeholders and communities greater responsibility and opportunity to initiate programs in their respective areas of responsibility that are aligned to the national and global goal of sustainable development.
This legislation mandates the creation of a Climate Change Commission which will create an enabling environment for multi-stakeholder participation. Moreover, it will provide technical and financial support to local research and development programs and projects in vulnerable communities. Financial packages for climate change related projects will be provided by government financial institutions.
Given the global condition of the environment, foresters are becoming more important in the future. Rest assured that my advocacy of tree-growing and rejuvenating our forests has not been a case of missing the foresters for the trees. You have my ears in matters of environmental protection and so feel free to tell me your concerns. We will find ways to address them.
In conclusion, I wish you success in your convention this year. As I read your theme, “Sustainable Forests: Key to Climate Change Adaptation and Biodiversity Conservation," I am gladdened because it is aligned with my advocacy of environmental protection and sustainable development. It is aligned with our efforts in finding the best ways to put forests to work for the benefit of the poor in rural communities and in the world. It is aligned with our efforts in making forests adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. Forests make the world safe for habitation and you, foresters, are instrumental for making this world a better place.
Source: http://www.lorenlegarda.com.ph/article-1257562801.html
Across the years, Philippine forests continuously declined in physical and environmental terms. Forest land area alarmingly went down from 36.3 percent or more than one-third of the country’s land area in 1970 to 18 percent in 2001. Evidently, most of our country’s once rich forests are now gone.
This is tragic because forests are indispensable in the overall ecological balance of the world by acting as a home for biodiversity and by protecting vital water and soil resources. Also, forests serve as major carbon sinks that absorb great quantities of carbon dioxide that otherwise would add to the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and rapid climate change.
Recent events have shown us the grim scenario of climate change impact. The intense and record-high rainfall by Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi, as well as the consequent fatalities and damages have shown us that the price we pay for denuding our forests and abusing the environment is well beyond our means.
It is therefore an imperative for us to do everything in our power to protect the forests left for our children and for humanity. It is an uphill climb but we must gather courage. We must pool in our knowledge, our skills, our commitment, and our passion. Essentially, we could find the know-how, the skills, and the passion among our foresters.
Our foresters are the ones who are literally “on the ground” in protecting our forests from abuse and misuse. They are the foot soldiers. They are our forests’ caretakers. And incident to their vocation, foresters are also our partners in reducing poverty in the rural areas. Indeed, many are already rising to the challenge, and our gathering here today is a testament to this.
Let me reiterate that forest protection, like environmental protection, is not its own end. As always, the strong environmental thrust of my advocacy is part of my larger plan and vision of eradicating poverty in the grassroots. Taking care of our forests not only responds to climate change and other environmental concerns but also deals with persistent local poverty because forests are a vital part of the development in the rural areas. I envision every part of the country, every nook and cranny, to be planted with trees so as to be eventually capable of developing to their fullest potential.
The recently passed Climate Change Act gives a window of opportunity for us to respond to the challenges of climate change in a comprehensive manner. As the principal author and sponsor of the law, I set out to give more stakeholders and communities greater responsibility and opportunity to initiate programs in their respective areas of responsibility that are aligned to the national and global goal of sustainable development.
This legislation mandates the creation of a Climate Change Commission which will create an enabling environment for multi-stakeholder participation. Moreover, it will provide technical and financial support to local research and development programs and projects in vulnerable communities. Financial packages for climate change related projects will be provided by government financial institutions.
Given the global condition of the environment, foresters are becoming more important in the future. Rest assured that my advocacy of tree-growing and rejuvenating our forests has not been a case of missing the foresters for the trees. You have my ears in matters of environmental protection and so feel free to tell me your concerns. We will find ways to address them.
In conclusion, I wish you success in your convention this year. As I read your theme, “Sustainable Forests: Key to Climate Change Adaptation and Biodiversity Conservation," I am gladdened because it is aligned with my advocacy of environmental protection and sustainable development. It is aligned with our efforts in finding the best ways to put forests to work for the benefit of the poor in rural communities and in the world. It is aligned with our efforts in making forests adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. Forests make the world safe for habitation and you, foresters, are instrumental for making this world a better place.
Source: http://www.lorenlegarda.com.ph/article-1257562801.html
Loren to Press Debt Swap for Disasters in UN Meet
Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on climate change, will press for the adoption of her proposal to swap foreign debt for disaster mitigation and adaptation projects in developing countries during the United Nations Conference on Climate Change Adaptation to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, on December 7 to 18.
Loren, who is also UN champion for disaster risk reduction in Asia-Pacific, initially made the
proposal during the world parliamentarians’ Global Platform 2009 in Geneva last June as a creative solution to raise funds for disaster risk reduction programs.
In announcing her plan to push her proposal at the Copenhagen conference, Loren said that the “huge devastation and the horrific casualties caused by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, as well as rising threats of even greater natural catastrophes in the future, make international cooperation more urgent in combating climate change.”
World parliamentarians adopted Loren’s proposal for a debt-for-risk reduction swap at the Global
Platform 2009 meeting in Geneva as a practical approach to climate change adaptation involving both developed and developing countries.
“It’s a new concept adopted at the UN Global Platform on DRR. This is the easiest because no new funds, financing or resources, are needed. This is a creative way of paying for debt and it’s a creative collaboration between the developed and poor developing nations. In this effort, nobody loses, humanity wins,” said Senator Loren Legarda, the United Nation’s International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) champion for disaster risk reduction and climate change
adaptation in the Asia Pacific region.
In a summary report on the global platform proceedings, the Chair said, “The Global Platform recognized a drastic mismatch between the resources required to address disaster risk in developing countries and those actually available. A massive scaling up of action is needed. Put bluntly, many countries must dedicate substantially more funds from national budgets – or increasingly suffer the consequences. This is also a must for the international community, since some countries suffer from institutional and capacity weaknesses and unless their capacities are strengthened implementation will not succeed.”
“A variety of innovations, such as incentives for retrofitting, risk transfer tools, risk-sensitive development, private sector involvement, debt swaps to finance disaster reduction measures and linkages with adaptation financing were proposed at the Global Platform,” the conference report said.
“Institutional innovations proposed included more direct resourcing of local initiatives and groups that are effective in reducing risks, such as grassroots women’s organizations.”
The Philippines has a foreign debt of around $52 billion, draining a huge portion for the national budget for payment of amortizations and interests every year and contributing to a huge deficit.
Through a debt swap, the creditor country cancels a portion of debt. In return, the debtor country invests the canceled amount in development projects according to conditions previously agreed by both parties.
Championed by the Philippines in the United Nations’ system, debt swaps have surfaced on the agenda of some donor or lending countries as a novel way to finance the UN Millennium Development goals.
Some of the projects that can be funded to lessen risks during disasters are the building of safe hospitals and schools, planting mangroves in coastal areas, cleaning up rivers in blighted urban areas and retrofitting unsafe public infrastructures as a protection against imminent earthquake, said the senator.
The Legarda proposal was commended by no less than UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes who considered it “a noble idea” along with the proposal to use 30 percent of the UN climate adaptation funds for DRR. Presently, 45 percent of the Philippine annual budget goes to debt service.
Source: http://www.lorenlegarda.com.ph/article-1257677621.html
Loren, who is also UN champion for disaster risk reduction in Asia-Pacific, initially made the
proposal during the world parliamentarians’ Global Platform 2009 in Geneva last June as a creative solution to raise funds for disaster risk reduction programs.
In announcing her plan to push her proposal at the Copenhagen conference, Loren said that the “huge devastation and the horrific casualties caused by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, as well as rising threats of even greater natural catastrophes in the future, make international cooperation more urgent in combating climate change.”
World parliamentarians adopted Loren’s proposal for a debt-for-risk reduction swap at the Global
Platform 2009 meeting in Geneva as a practical approach to climate change adaptation involving both developed and developing countries.
“It’s a new concept adopted at the UN Global Platform on DRR. This is the easiest because no new funds, financing or resources, are needed. This is a creative way of paying for debt and it’s a creative collaboration between the developed and poor developing nations. In this effort, nobody loses, humanity wins,” said Senator Loren Legarda, the United Nation’s International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) champion for disaster risk reduction and climate change
adaptation in the Asia Pacific region.
In a summary report on the global platform proceedings, the Chair said, “The Global Platform recognized a drastic mismatch between the resources required to address disaster risk in developing countries and those actually available. A massive scaling up of action is needed. Put bluntly, many countries must dedicate substantially more funds from national budgets – or increasingly suffer the consequences. This is also a must for the international community, since some countries suffer from institutional and capacity weaknesses and unless their capacities are strengthened implementation will not succeed.”
“A variety of innovations, such as incentives for retrofitting, risk transfer tools, risk-sensitive development, private sector involvement, debt swaps to finance disaster reduction measures and linkages with adaptation financing were proposed at the Global Platform,” the conference report said.
“Institutional innovations proposed included more direct resourcing of local initiatives and groups that are effective in reducing risks, such as grassroots women’s organizations.”
The Philippines has a foreign debt of around $52 billion, draining a huge portion for the national budget for payment of amortizations and interests every year and contributing to a huge deficit.
Through a debt swap, the creditor country cancels a portion of debt. In return, the debtor country invests the canceled amount in development projects according to conditions previously agreed by both parties.
Championed by the Philippines in the United Nations’ system, debt swaps have surfaced on the agenda of some donor or lending countries as a novel way to finance the UN Millennium Development goals.
Some of the projects that can be funded to lessen risks during disasters are the building of safe hospitals and schools, planting mangroves in coastal areas, cleaning up rivers in blighted urban areas and retrofitting unsafe public infrastructures as a protection against imminent earthquake, said the senator.
The Legarda proposal was commended by no less than UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes who considered it “a noble idea” along with the proposal to use 30 percent of the UN climate adaptation funds for DRR. Presently, 45 percent of the Philippine annual budget goes to debt service.
Source: http://www.lorenlegarda.com.ph/article-1257677621.html
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