UniTeam Senate bet Loren Legarda has asked that the cities of Malabon and Navotas practice eco-friendly habits which include sustainable fishing, waste segregation and management.
“We have been blessed with the bounties of the Earth, but amid this abundance, we must be mindful. The pandemic and the climate crisis pose many development challenges, but it also presents the opportunity to promote sustainable growth for our own survival and for the generations to come,” Legarda said in a press statement on Friday, March 25.
She then mentioned the agricultural sector, specifically fisherfolk, and how they are affected by climate change.
“Our fisherfolks continue to face various challenges, especially with the impact of climate change, the pandemic, and stronger natural hazards. Thus, we have to continuously strengthen our coordination with them to ensure not only their livelihood but also sustain the country’s food security,” she said.
One of Legarda’s main platforms is environmental protection and development; as a legislator she was an author of the Clean Air Act; the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act; the Philippine Climate Change Act; and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act.
She further added that fisherfolk of fishing communities in Malabon and Navotas should benefit from “training and entrepreneurship opportunities” through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“I would also like to push for trainings and entrepreneurship opportunities for fisherfolks in Navotas and Malabon through government agencies like TESDA and DTI’s Shared Service Facilities (DTI-SSF) to provide fisheries-based livelihood alternatives,” Legarda proposed.
Legarda is running for Senate re-election in the 2022 polls under the UniTeam banner of presidential bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.