Independent presidential candidate Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he will pursue building climate-resilient homes for families moving away from disaster-prone coastal municipalities should he win in the upcoming presidential elections.

Under a possible Lacson administration, the senator said no family shall be left to fend for itself whenever natural calamities strike—such as super typhoons and massive earthquakes—in accordance with existing laws.

The presidential aspirant made this promise when it was brought to his attention by a resident living near a coastal area during a town hall forum with senatorial aspirant Dr. Minguita Padilla, Friday (April 29), at the Peñaranda Park in Legazpi City, Albay.

“Did you know why we are moving our citizens away from coastal areas? Because these are disaster-prone. When a storm surge occurs, there would be a number of casualties, that’s why we have an easement,” Lacson explained to the resident, who asked if it would be okay if they choose not to leave their town.

“Do not blame the government whenever it asks you to leave a coastal area, but a relocation site for you must be prepared, that’s a must. It is the obligation of the state to keep our countrymen safe, especially here in Bicol, where you are frequently visited by storms, right,” he appealed to the resident.

Citing Global Climate Risk Index 2021 by Germanwatch, Lacson noted that the Philippines ranks fourth among nations most vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as violent storms and extreme

“So we really need to find suitable relocation sites for our citizens who are in the coastal areas so that, once they are resettled, they would feel safe and the government should provide that kind of assistance for them,” the presidential bet stressed.

Dr. Padilla agreed, adding the government must consider building climate-resilient houses for families, who would be asked to relocate elsewhere.

The doctor said this could be incorporated in plans to seek “climate justice” from nations identified as the biggest contributors of greenhouse gas emissions.

“If you are going to be relocated in different places that are safe, I think the government must carefully think about the style of houses it will be building,” Padilla said.

“It should go for housing units that will not be blown away by storms... So, that is what we call climate change resiliency,” the senatorial candidate said.

Padilla said it is about time that Filipinos change their perspectives when it comes to the structures that we are going to develop in areas that are frequently visited by typhoons.

“So, you should consider building houses that would not be easily destroyed by a storm. That’s one thing. We can still do a lot of things,” she said.