In pursuit for climate justice, Bohol’s first district representative and chairperson of the House Committee on Climate Change, Edgar Chatto, presided over a focus group discussion (FGD), on January 30, 2023, regarding the issue of loss and damage in relation to climate change.
The FGD was participated in by select representatives from government agencies, local government units (LGU) partners, non government organizations (NGO) and members of the House Committee on Climate Change. The FGD discussed Chatto’s “bill in progress” regarding the loss and damage in relation to climate change.
The solon said: “The heart of this bill in progress which I will file as soon as finalized, is climate justice. Being now the first in rank when it comes to risk to adverse effects of climate change, the Philippines must take the lead in exacting accountability from companies which immensely contribute to global warming. We have crossed the line; loss and damage is now as important as adaptation and mitigation”.
Chatto refers to the World Risk Index 2022 report, released in September 2022, which ranked the Philippines as the most vulnerable country to climate change risk out of 193 countries.
India and Indonesia are second place and third place, respectively; followed by Colombia and Mexico in the top five countries that are at most risk of the negative effects of climate change.
“This is not the list we are proud of being number 1,” he remarked.
In the privilege speech delivered by Chatto in November 2022, the solon said that, “the vulnerability of the Philippines as well as other poor nations underscores the importance of climate justice: Rich nations and corporations must take responsibility for the adverse impacts of climate change. Such a responsibility includes raising the ambition for cutting carbon emissions and committing to finance that allows poor nations to deal with adverse climate impacts.”
In the same speech, he emphasized that the 27th Conference of Parties of the United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP 27, in November 2022, discussed the issues on loss and damage, as well as the financing for the damage brought by climate change and adaptation to global warming. These issues are important to a country like the Philippines, the solon stressed.
To date, there is no national law providing legal framework on loss and damage. If Chatto’s bill is filed and eventually approved into law, this will be the first of its kind in the world.
Not only will it provide the legal framework but more importantly it will seek to provide compensation to victims of climate change.
Basically, the aim of the bill is to translate and operationalize the loss and damage framework into a national law in the country.
Bohol Provincial Project Management Office Executive Director and Secretary of the Abatan River Development Management Council, Emie Roslinda shared her concern on the effects of climate change to communities and how they can be assisted especially as they are the most at risk.
Rita Amor Narvasa, the Municipality of Tubigon Planning and Development Coordinator, mentioned her experiences of the effects of typhoon Odette specifically on non-economic losses.
“With this proposed legislation, it is my hope that instead of being known as the number one most vulnerable people, Filipinos will instead be recognized as being the first to translate into law our resolute call for Climate Justice,” Chatto concludes.
The participants in the FGD were: Jerome Ilagan, Chief of the Legislative Liaison Office, Climate Change Commission (CCC); Albert Magalang, Chief, Climate Change Information and Technical Support Division, Department of Environment and natural Resources (DENR); Emie Roslinda, Secretary, Abatan River Development Management Council and Executive Director, Project Management Office, Province of Bohol; Rita Amor Narvasa, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, Tubigon, Bohol; Lea Guerrero, Country Director, Greenpeace Philippines; Maya Quirino, Advocacy Coordinator, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center; Katreena Pillejera and members of the House Committee on Climate Change.