Press Release
March 24, 2010

FARMERS PARTY LIST GROUPS DEFEND LEGARDA

NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda gained massive support from farmers and indigenous peoples groups for maintaining her stand on climate change. They also condemned Mar Roxas for belittling the impact of climate change in the country.

"Mariing kinokondena ng Pamamalakaya, Katribu at Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) ang pahayag ni Senador Mar Roxas ukol sa pagmamaliit niya sa isyu ng environment at Climate Change. Ang aming mga kasapi ang siyang unang nagiging biktima ng mga sakuna tulad ng bagyo at El Nino dulot ng mga epekto ng Climate Change," according to a joint statement issued by the three party-list organizations.

This was in response to Roxas' insensitive remarks during the Harapan ANC Vice-Presidential Debate held last Sunday, March 21, 2010 at the La Consolacion College in Manila.

"Mar Roxas is belittling my advocacy to fight climate change. That shows ignorance and insensitivity to the people have to face the threat of food and water shortage," said Legarda.

In reply to Roxas' remarks, Legarda said, "Ang isyu ng environment at climate change ay hindi lamang sa Plipinas kundi sa lahat ng mahirap na bansa sa buong mundo at iyan ay nakakabit sa sikmura at bituka".

"Climate change is real. You can see it in the daily struggles of the poor. To disregard the issue of climate change, like Mar did, is to ignore the poorest in the country," Legarda countered.

Legarda, the only candidate carrying environmental issues in her national campaign, cited the plight of farmers against El Nino, hunger, poverty, and the spread of disease as "everyday effects of climate change".

"Ang mga pinaka-apektado ng climate change ay ang mga mahihirap. Sino ba ang nawawalan ng ani tuwing tagtuyot? Sino ang nasasalanta ng mas madalas at mas makapaminsalang bagyo? Sino ang tinatamaan ng malaria, dengue at iba pang mga sakit na dulot ng climate change?" she said.

The Philippines faces on average 20 typhoons each year, resulting to loss of lives, mostly women, children belonging to the poor sector of society, and livelihood, not to mention destruction of infrastructure. With climate change, the country is foreseen to suffer stronger typhoons, more heavy rains, more flashfloods, more devastating droughts, and increased incidence of water and vector-borne diseases

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