While the Philippines has passed several laws seeking to protect the environment, an expert raised concern over the government’s supposed inability to implement measures that could protect the community and improve the lives of the people.

Dr. Carlos Primero Gundran, an assistant professor from the College of Public Health of the University of the Philippines-Manila, acknowledged that the country has many laws pertaining to the protection of the environment.

But he believes that the people are not informed enough of the existence of such laws, and that the government is not putting enough efforts in implementing the legislations.

“I know na isa tayo sa mga bansa na marami talaga tayong batas (that we are one of the countries that really have a lot of laws). Unfortunately, magaling tayong gumawa ng batas pero mukhang hindi naman alam ng community lahat ng batas na ito (we are good at making laws but the community doesn't seem to know all these laws),” Gundran said.

“I don’t think na implement natin (we have implemented these laws), which is sad. Nangunguna tayo sa mga batas pero hindi natin siya na implement (We are leading in making laws but we do not implement them),” he added.

Gundran was one of the panel of experts in a webinar series on climate change organized by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL), in partnership with The Outstanding Women in Nation’s Service Inc. (TOWNS) on Friday, May 21.

In his presentation, he reported that the Philippines consistently ranked among the top five countries worldwide most affected by natural disasters and reported victims.

“Climate change exacerbates the impacts of disasters,” Gundran said, adding that the changing global climate have contributed to the effects of disasters making them more severe and affecting more people.

According to him, among the effects of climate change that could affect the health of the people are extreme temperatures, extreme events, air quality, vector- and water-borne diseases, and mental health.

Effects of climate change on mental health

Gundran explained that the effects of climate change such as extreme weather events like severe typhoons and intense heat could affect the mental wellbeing of an individual.

“Climate change causes extreme weather events. If you are exposed to extreme events, that has an effect to your mental health,” he explained.

“The effects of the climate change to our environment, and that change in the environment affects you, cause you suffering, cause you grief, that affects your mental health,” he added.

The expert recommended that the government should be more active in implementing environmental legislations that would improve the community and its constituents.

“I think what we should do, gawin natin, implement natin (we should implement these laws). Yung mga leaders natin, i-promote talaga natin yung mga batas (Our leaders should really promote the laws) which are actually there to serve the community, to improve the community hindi lang yung self interest,” Gundran said.

“I think we should be public service oriented and we should apply the laws that would improve everyone in the community,” he added.