House Deputy Speaker and Antique Represenatitve Loren Legarda has vowed to push for more people-centered solutions in the provincial government of Rizal, an area known to be prone to the negative effects of climate change.
Legarda, who is seeking a Senate comeback in the upcoming May 2022 elections, made her promise at a rally over the weekend in Taytay, Rizal. According to the lawmaker, a people-centered approach would include adopting policies that highlight sustainable development that would benefit more vulnerable people.
“We must promote nature-based solutions to ensure that all communities are safe from flooding and other disaster-related risks,” Legarda said.
“Rizal is a very beautiful province. They say it is ‘where you touch base with nature and art without losing touch with the finer points of urban life’,” she pointed out.
Despite this, though, the former senator said Rizal is often one of the provinces heavily affected by floods during typhoons.
“This is why we have to increase our understanding of disaster and climate science, impacts, and policy responses,” she stressed.
Known for her climate change initiatives, Legarda has authored several laws regarding climate adaptation and disaster resilience.
She said Rizal’s experience with typhoon Ulysses is a concrete reminder of the challenges brought by the severe change of weather.
“We have to effectively implement climate change adaptation, and mitigation and disaster risk reduction measures, to ensure that Rizal develops communities that are safer and more resilient to extreme weather events,” Legarda said.