An environmental advocacy group urged the national government to decisively address the challenges of climate change and its impact to the environment, saying failure to do so may result in more landslides in different parts of the country.

Based on the assessment of the Makakalikasan Nature Party Philippines, the Philippine government’s response in addressing climate change remains inadequate as some local government units remain generally blind as to the course of actions they can adopt and the amount of funds required for climate extreme proofing. 

If this would go on, Makakalikasan Nature Party Philippines head Roy Cabonegro said this would result in climate change adverse effects not only to the environment but also to the lives of the Filipino people and the country’s economy.

“The government appears to be not that serious despite the deaths of a number of people in Mindanao," said Cabonegro in an interview over dzRH, referring to the recent landslide that hit Davao de Oro.

He said Mindanao has become vulnerable to torrential rains and landslides caused by the extreme changes in weather patterns.

Of the local government unit in Mindanao, he said only Bukidnon province has an existing Local Climate Change Action Plan, which is a primary requirement to determine the amount of resources needed to mitigate the impact of climate change and its climate extreme manifestations.

A recent study made by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) showed that in the Southeast Asian region where countries like the Philippines are situated, climate change has resulted in extreme dry spells caused by El Niño and frequent torrential rains triggered by La Niña.

Because these extreme weather conditions have already altered soil integrity that caused land degradation, NASA warned of more landslides happening in different parts of the region. 

“Climate change exacerbates this situation due to the extreme weather conditions and its impacts.”

Cabonegro said climate change and its impact have now evolved into a political issue as the situation puts more lives in danger from landslides and other climate change induced disasters.

He called on the public to reconsider electing leaders that will carry the Green Agenda, a policy direction on climate change that will redirect public consciousness into adapting measures and course of actions that are focused on the mitigation requirements of climate change, as well as its impact and outcome brought by climate extremes.