Latest news with #Legarda
GMA Network
14-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Legarda urges climate-vulnerable nations to protect culture, heritage
Senator Loren Legarda has called on climate-vulnerable countries to rethink outdated policies and adopt a more holistic and inclusive approach to climate action — one that protects not just lives and livelihoods, but also cultural identity, history, and heritage. Speaking at the Climate Vulnerable Forum and V20 Finance Ministers (CVF-V20) meeting on Monday, Legarda said climate change poses a multidimensional threat, especially for nations that are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. "Climate change endangers all that you see and so much more: climate change imperils not only lives and livelihoods; it threatens to erase who we are," she said. The four-term senator and longtime climate advocate stressed that risk assessments must expand beyond economics and infrastructure to include cultural well-being — from ancestral homes and sacred sites to time-honored traditions. "It is this understanding that demands we broaden our definition of risk to fully encompass the cultural well-being of our people," she added. According to Legarda, extreme heat could cost the Philippines as much as ?466 billion annually by 2030. But more than the monetary loss, she warned of the intangible costs of losing cultural heritage, forced displacement from ancestral domains, and the gradual erosion of social cohesion rooted in shared traditions. She emphasized that preserving cultural memory and indigenous knowledge must be seen as central to climate resilience. "As legislators, we are more than mere policymakers; we are the stewards of our nation's future," the lawmaker said. "We must ensure that our laws reflect an unwavering commitment to both climate action and cultural preservation." The CVF-V20 is a coalition of 74 climate-vulnerable countries, including Bangladesh, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Barbados, and the Philippines. Together, they are developing Climate Prosperity Plans (CPPs) — ambitious national investment strategies designed to harness renewable energy, nature-based solutions, and financial innovation to foster inclusive development and climate resilience. The Philippines, which holds a founding role in the V20 group, has crafted its own Climate Prosperity Investment Memorandum, aligning climate goals with economic growth, clean energy transition, and local adaptation efforts. Legarda, principal author of the landmark Climate Change Act and champion of the People's Survival Fund, urged fellow lawmakers to prioritize the implementation of the country's Climate Prosperity Plan. "Let our collective efforts safeguard our precious cultural treasures, empower our resilient communities, and build a sustainable future for all Filipinos," she said. — Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
14-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Legarda urges countries prone to climate change to update policies
A fishpond owner walks on a dried fishpond in Laur, Nueva Ecija on Saturday, April 27, 2024, as extreme heat brought about by El Niño caused some owners to stop operations. The Department of Agriculture earlier said that damage from El Niño has reached around P3.34 billion. DANNY PATA Senator Loren Legarda on Monday called on climate-vulnerable countries, including the Philippines, to update their laws and policies and push for better actions towards climate action and cultural preservation. At a high-level meeting of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and V20 Finance Ministers (CVF-V20), Legarda said extreme heat alone could cost the Philippines an estimated P466 billion annually by 2030. 'Climate change endangers all that you see and so much more. Climate change imperils not only lives and livelihoods, it threatens to erase who we are,' the senator said. 'It is this understanding that demands we broaden our definition of risk to fully encompass the cultural well-being of our people,' she added. Legarda further pointed out policymakers must ensure that laws in their country reflect their commitment to both climate action and cultural preservation. She also called on colleagues in the Philippine Congress to fully implement the climate prosperity plan. 'Let our collective efforts safeguard our precious cultural treasures, empower our resilient communities, and build a sustainable future for all Filipinos,' Legarda said. The CVF-V20 is a coalition of 74 countries highly vulnerable to a warming planet, including Bangladesh, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Barbados, and the Philippines. — LA, GMA Integrated News
The Star
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Senator bats for labour reforms as Philippines still in ‘worst countries for workers' list
FILE PHOTO: A worker prepares firecrackers for sale in a makeshift factory ahead of New Year celebrations in December 27, 2019. Labour watchdogs have pointed out a lack of enforcement of labour protections, the suppression of union activities, and the failure to resolve longstanding complaints in the Philippines. - AFP MANILA: Senator Loren Legarda has called on the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) to urgently lead a clear and measurable reform agenda in response to the Philippines' inclusion—for the ninth straight year—in the International Trade Union Confederation's (ITUC) list of the '10 worst countries for workers.' 'This should not be taken lightly. Our international standing when it comes to labour rights is a reflection of our domestic realities,' Legarda said. 'Workers are the backbone of our economy, and the consistent red-flagging by global monitors means we still have deep institutional gaps to fill,' she added. The ITUC Global Rights Index 2025 cited widespread violations of labour rights and the persistence of violence, threats and union-busting practices in the Philippines. Labour watchdogs have pointed out a lack of enforcement of labour protections, the suppression of union activities, and the failure to resolve longstanding complaints. Legarda urged DOLE to undertake a systematic, multi-agency analysis of labour rights gaps, particularly those highlighted in the ITUC report, and to identify which government agencies are best positioned to address specific areas of concern, whether in enforcement, protection, grievance mechanisms, or legal reform. She emphasised the need for a targeted and coordinated approach that avoids duplication and ensures accountability. Legarda further stressed that the persistent red-tagging and demonisation of legitimate labour movements must not be used to suppress dissent or collective action, as doing so erodes democratic safeguards and deepens mistrust. She asked DOLE to submit a clear set of reform priorities to Congress at the soonest possible time, with defined milestones and timelines, to enable responsive legislative and budgetary support. Legarda also emphasised that it is the government's duty to lead and structure inclusive dialogues on labour reform. 'DOLE must proactively engage the labour movement and steer conversations toward key policy priorities. It is through genuine, coordinated dialogue that we can craft reforms grounded in the realities faced by our workers,' she said. In 2017, Legarda championed the Senate's ratification of ILO Convention 151, affirming her commitment to extend labour protections not just to private sector employees, but also to over 2.3 million public sector workers. By sponsoring the measure, she sought to ensure that government employees would enjoy the same rights to organise, bargain collectively and access fair employment conditions—rights long available to the private sector. As a four-term senator, Legarda has long fought for laws that uplift workers and promote inclusive development. Among her landmark legislation are the Magna Carta of the Poor (RA 11291), which affirms the right to employment and livelihood; the Expanded Maternity Leave Law (RA 11210), which grants 105 days of paid leave to working mothers; and the Green Jobs Act (RA 10771), which creates opportunities at the intersection of decent work and environmental sustainability. 'We cannot afford to let another year pass—not because of the label we've been given, but because we owe it to every Filipino worker whose rights and dignity demand protection,' Legarda concluded. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
