MAR ROXAS: CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT MY PRIORITY

We now know the position of Vice-Presidential Candidate Mar Roxas on environment and climate change. In the recently-held Vice-Presidential Debate, Roxas belittled Senator Loren Legarda’s prioritization of climate change and the environment (see press release below from Roxas’ Senate office) in her agenda. He does not believe or maybe he does not know “Green Growth” – that economic development can be achieved while protecting the environment. He probably does not know that “Green Growth” has been adopted as a paradigm for development in the Asia-Pacific region since 2005 by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) (http://www.greengrowth.org/). Moreover, he probably does not know that South Korea, one of the economic tigers in Asia, has been pursuing “Low Carbon, Green Growth” under the leadership of its environmentalist President, Lee Myung-Bak, since 2008 (http://www.unep.org/pdf/OP_Feb/EN/OP-2010-02-EN-ARTICLE1.pdf). Finally, and the most important, Roxas probably does not know that the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has adopted “green growth” as a strategy for the 2010-2016 Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/235678/neda-pushes-green-growth-dev-t-plan). Will Roxas ignore the MTPDP if it goes against his “priority”?

The GVGG Movement believes that there should be a top-ranking environmental officer (President or Vice-President) at the executive branch (aside from the Environment Secretary) to help balance the politics of environment-development debate in the national government. Roxas has made his position known and we heard it loud and clear. Hence, the GVGG Movement now declares its unequivocal support for the candidacy of LOREN LEGARDA for Vice-President of the Philippines. VOTE FOR LOREN LEGARDA FOR VICE-PRESIDENT ON MAY 10, 2010.

Press Release
March 27, 2010
ROXAS ADVOCACY CENTERED ON JOB CREATION, ECONOMIC STABILITY

Liberal vice presidential candidate Senator Mar Roxas did not have any intention to set aside the Climate Change issue during Sunday's "Harapan: The Vice Presidential Debate."

Roxas said perennial VP survey second-placer Loren Legarda deliberately twisted his motive when he asked about her keen interest on the subject to give the public the false impression that he did not care about the environment.

"The point I was making in the debate is that Senadora and I have an honest difference of opinion of what should be the priority for the next Vice President, the next government and for every Filipino family," Roxas explained.

Unlike Legarda whose campaign is centered on her environment advocacy, Roxas firmly believes the administration should focus on job creation, higher wages, and lower prices of critical goods and services like medicines, food and education. "That is what I will be working on," he promised.

He added: "This is an honest difference of opinion. There is really no need for Senadora to engage in political name-calling. I'm disappointed. The voters deserve better than that."

Legarda, the day after the vice presidential debate, publicly rebuked Roxas for allegedly belittling the impact of Climate Change in the country and said this showed his ignorance and insensitivity to the people threatened by the effects of food and water shortage - two of the adverse consequences of the El Niño phenomenon. She offered to give Roxas a tutorial on Climate Change issues.

"Let me thank Senadora for her offer. But actually, I know quite a bit about both climate change and environmental issues," he said, adding: "I am confident in the wisdom and intelligence of the Filipino to choose what is most important to them and for the nation. I choose job creation, and making prices affordable."

Source: http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2010/0327_roxas1.asp

This press release is a damage-control measure because what was really evident during the debate was Roxas' condescending attitude on Legarda's environmental and climate change advocacies. Roxas' remarks really show his ignorance about global cooperation against climate change - that no matter how small the contribution the Philippine makes to GHG emission - its cumulative and transboundary effects can be felt worldwide. And it matters even more because the Philippines, a Third World country, is at the receiving end of the global warming's devastating effects. Read his remarks below:

“Senadora, matagal na po kayong nasa public eye, 20 taon bilang brodkaster, tumakbo bilang senador, tumakbo bilang bise presidente, tumakbo bilang senador muli, at kilala na po kayo sa ating buong bansa. Sa halalang ito, yung inyong pagtangkilik sa environment ang siyang pinaka sentro ng inyong programa. Bakit po ito ang sentro samantalang ang Pilipino — ang Pilipinas — ay less than one percent ng problema sa kabuuan ng climate change?”