The advocacy group Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC-Iloilo) has called the attention of the Provincial and City governments of Iloilo to take a stand on climate change as environmentalists mark December 8 as Global Day of Action Against Climate Change.
The group makes this timely call as Philippine representatives and civil society trooped to Bali, Indonesia, to join world leaders and decision-makers for a new round of negotiations for the formulation of a new framework that will follow the Kyoto Protocol – an agreement signed by nations to address climate change.
Lawyer Romeo Gerochi, FDC-Iloilo's chairperson, cited the November 17 report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which "concluded that climate change is 'unequivocal', meaning its is here and its impact is widely felt – so people and governments from the national down to the local level must take immediate action and institute efforts to counter its impact."
" This is the reason why we are urging both the Provincial and the City governments under the leadership of Mayor Jerry Treñas and Vice-Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Governor Niel Tupas, Sr and Vice-Governor Rolex Suplico, respectively, to take immediate action by rejecting the entry of coal-fired power plants in the City and Province of Iloilo, said Gerochi.
The group encouraged the leaders of the Provincial and City government to initiate the passage of an ordinance or resolution similar with the Renewable Energy Bill that redirects energy dependency on fossil fuels and pave way for the full utilization of the abundant renewable energy sources in Panay.
" We are aware the Regional Development Council has passed a resolution for the purpose of harnessing the full potential of indigenous and renewable energy sources in Panay. The Provincial Government through the Provincial Board also voted for the rejection of a 100-MW coal-fired power plant in 2004. These are landmark local initiatives that serve as investments towards a clean future for Panay," stressed Ted Aldwin Ong, the group's secretary-general.
O ng further emphasized, "These initiatives must not be put to waste but rather must be supplemented by more concrete actions in order to showcase that our leaders has a clear vision of the future – a future free from pollution-causing technologies like coal plants."
"The effect of climate change is alarming. In the household level alone, it has manifested through the increasing incidence of asthma attacks among children caused primarily by drastic changes of weather conditions. The stronger and deadlier typhoons each year has hampered women's ability to embark on productive endeavors and affected the smooth operations in the household." declared Joan Silva, coordinator of FDC's women's committee.
Sil va also added that "government cannot continue to neglect the phenomenon that results to climate change. Undeniably, it could kill human beings. In fact, it has caused the death of thousands of women and children in many parts of the globe proving the vulnerability of women and children to climate change."
"We join in the marking of this day in order to raise the awareness of the public on the issue of climate and we echo the calls of environment groups for the passage of the Renewable Energy Bill. The time to act on climate change is now and not tomorrow," concluded FDC.
The group makes this timely call as Philippine representatives and civil society trooped to Bali, Indonesia, to join world leaders and decision-makers for a new round of negotiations for the formulation of a new framework that will follow the Kyoto Protocol – an agreement signed by nations to address climate change.
Lawyer Romeo Gerochi, FDC-Iloilo's chairperson, cited the November 17 report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which "concluded that climate change is 'unequivocal', meaning its is here and its impact is widely felt – so people and governments from the national down to the local level must take immediate action and institute efforts to counter its impact."
" This is the reason why we are urging both the Provincial and the City governments under the leadership of Mayor Jerry Treñas and Vice-Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Governor Niel Tupas, Sr and Vice-Governor Rolex Suplico, respectively, to take immediate action by rejecting the entry of coal-fired power plants in the City and Province of Iloilo, said Gerochi.
The group encouraged the leaders of the Provincial and City government to initiate the passage of an ordinance or resolution similar with the Renewable Energy Bill that redirects energy dependency on fossil fuels and pave way for the full utilization of the abundant renewable energy sources in Panay.
" We are aware the Regional Development Council has passed a resolution for the purpose of harnessing the full potential of indigenous and renewable energy sources in Panay. The Provincial Government through the Provincial Board also voted for the rejection of a 100-MW coal-fired power plant in 2004. These are landmark local initiatives that serve as investments towards a clean future for Panay," stressed Ted Aldwin Ong, the group's secretary-general.
O ng further emphasized, "These initiatives must not be put to waste but rather must be supplemented by more concrete actions in order to showcase that our leaders has a clear vision of the future – a future free from pollution-causing technologies like coal plants."
"The effect of climate change is alarming. In the household level alone, it has manifested through the increasing incidence of asthma attacks among children caused primarily by drastic changes of weather conditions. The stronger and deadlier typhoons each year has hampered women's ability to embark on productive endeavors and affected the smooth operations in the household." declared Joan Silva, coordinator of FDC's women's committee.
Sil va also added that "government cannot continue to neglect the phenomenon that results to climate change. Undeniably, it could kill human beings. In fact, it has caused the death of thousands of women and children in many parts of the globe proving the vulnerability of women and children to climate change."
"We join in the marking of this day in order to raise the awareness of the public on the issue of climate and we echo the calls of environment groups for the passage of the Renewable Energy Bill. The time to act on climate change is now and not tomorrow," concluded FDC.
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