Climate resilience embedded in social agenda, infra projects --- PBBM
Emphasizing that the Philippines is one of the countries that are most vulnerable to climate change, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said the country will incorporate climate resilience and disaster proofing in all societal and infrastructural projects.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate)
During a reception for him hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday, May 22, Marcos once again brought up climate change and its impacts to the country. "Climate change will be the lodestar for our integral national policies and investment decisions," Marcos said. "[W]e will incorporate the elements of sustainability, climate resilience and disaster proofing in all phases of societal and infrastructural planning, design, construction up to operation and maintenance," Marcos added. The President said this will be implemented in the country's water supply, sanitation, energy and transportation systems, including agriculture and food production, and many other essential areas.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate)
During a reception for him hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday, May 22, Marcos once again brought up climate change and its impacts to the country. "Climate change will be the lodestar for our integral national policies and investment decisions," Marcos said. "[W]e will incorporate the elements of sustainability, climate resilience and disaster proofing in all phases of societal and infrastructural planning, design, construction up to operation and maintenance," Marcos added. The President said this will be implemented in the country's water supply, sanitation, energy and transportation systems, including agriculture and food production, and many other essential areas.
'Our options are limited'
The President said climate change will continue to pose a threat to the Philippines based on the 2022 World Bank Report as it also recently topped the World Risk Index 2022. This means, he added, the country has been found to have the highest disaster risk among the 193 countries in the planet. "Inspite of this, certain things have remained constant such as the geographical fact that the Philippines still lies along the typhoon belt and the ring of fire in the pacific. But set against the backdrop of all these worries from realities and statistics, the whole point is the climate change agenda is compelling, not only for the Philippines but for that matter the rest of the world," Marcos said. "Our options are limited, we must mitigate, we must adapt, and if we don’t do that we must suffer," he added. The chief executive stressed that "if we don't act, climate change can, will and already is unleashing nature’s fury upon our communities and our people." He vowed that the government will continue to strategically integrate climate agenda into the country's development plan. [READ MORE: Marcos hopes ADB sustains support for big projects in PH](https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/22/marcos-hopes-adb-continues-to-help-ph-in-its-big-projects)