Legarda Congratulates President Obama for Successful Re-election

MANILA, November 7, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, congratulated US President Barack Obama on his successful bid for a second term as the chief executive of the United States of America.

“I warmly congratulate President Obama for his re-election. The citizens of the United States have once again placed their trust in their incumbent leader to advance the causes of the nation and its people. As a leader of a powerful nation, other countries, including the Philippines, also hope that President Obama will champion vital global issues,” said Legarda.

The Senator also expressed optimism that President Obama’s second term will be more productive and beneficial not only for the people of the US but also for the whole world as the US is one of the most powerful nations.

“I trust that in the next four years, he will be at the forefront of disaster risk reduction politics by further strengthening the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) not only to respond to disasters but also to enhance preparedness and build back more resilient communities. Disaster risk reduction agencies, such as FEMA, are important as the economic crisis that is experienced in many parts of the world is exacerbated by climate change, which leads to loss of lives, homes and livelihoods,” she said.

Legarda, the United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, stressed that President Obama should be a leader of the world and set an example by reducing USA’s fossil fuel consumption, promote use of renewable energy, provide better support for agricultural workers and vulnerable sectors, and assist developing nations who bear the brunt of disasters caused by climate change.

She also cited Obama’s commitment to provide affordable quality healthcare for all Americans and stressed that it is an inspiring flagship program that should be emulated by leaders worldwide.

KIKO URGES THE GOVT: BITE THE BULLET, ADDRESS FISHERIES SECTOR WOES

MANILA, November 7, 2012-Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan calls on the government to focus on arresting the slow decline of the output of the country's fisheries sector.

"The government needs to designate an Undersecretary for Fisheries as a crucial first step. It would be a waste of an immense natural bounty if we fail to address the issues that hound our fisheries sector."

Pangilinan, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, says that while the Department of Agriculture has made tremendous headway in modernizing the country's agriculture sector it cannot afford to leave behind the fisheries sector.

"Our national territory is 1/5 land and 4/5 water. We must ensure that we achieve a balancing of priorities and not leave fisheries behind. We must allocate a considerable amount of our resources both human and material to address the fisheries sector's many concerns."

Legarda: Inclusion of People’s Survival Fund in 2013 Nat’l Budget, Key in Improving Nation’s Resilience to Disasters

MANILA, November 7, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today stressed that it is important and urgent to include the one billion-peso People’s Survival Fund (PSF) in the 2013 National Budget as it will help ensure significant improvements in the disaster resilience of communities in the country.

“We must immediately implement the People’s Survival Fund Act as it will help local governments’ adaptation activities, such as in the areas of land and water resources management, agriculture and fisheries, health, infrastructure development, and natural ecosystems,” said Legarda, sponsor of the PSF Act (Republic Act 10174).

“The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) should take the lead, because as specified in R.A. 10174, undertaking the formulation of the annual national budget in a way that ensures the appropriate prioritization and allocation of funds to support climate change-related programs and projects in the annual program of government is their responsibility,” she added.

The Senator explained that the PSF will also support the improvement of monitoring, controlling and prevention of diseases triggered by climate change, establishment of forecasting and early warning systems, and strengthening institutional development, for local governments, for preventive measures, planning, preparedness and management of impacts relating to climate change.

In a related matter, Legarda, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, has co-sponsored the 2013 Alternative Budget Senate Presentation Forum by the Social Watch Philippines.

In the alternative budget proposal, the Senator highlighted the proposed climate-sensitive and disaster risk reduction-proofed budget priorities amounting to Php 31 billion.

The proposed budget items shall be allocated for disaster risk reduction and management; biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry; renewable and sustainable energy systems; and, ecological waste management.

“We must have a climate-sensitive national budget because as we experience extreme weather events, such as heavy rains and prolonged droughts, it becomes even more crucial to prioritize actions that would enhance communities' resilience to disasters and climate change impacts. We have to build up our defenses against disasters to free us from the costly and exhausting cycle of rebuilding our communities every time nature unleashes its wrath,” Legarda concluded.