Bongbong Marcos calls for integration of climate change mitigation in all aspects of governance

Vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. today called for integration of climate change mitigation in all aspects of governance in the country.

Marcos aired the call in the wake of the visit to the country of environment advocate, former US Vice President Al Gore who has been calling for united global action to mitigate the effects of climate change.

"It is imperative for us to consider the effects of climate change in the planning and implementation of practically all government programs," said Marcos, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Works.

In particular, Marcos said government infrastructure projects should be designed and implemented to mitigate the effects of natural calamities brought about by climate change.

He cited the 2015 report of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction saying the Philippines was the fourth in the world among countries hit by the highest number of disasters.

Marcos said we should use the lessons learned from super-typhoon Yolanda to enable us to build structures that are designed to withstand natural disasters such as typhoons and floods.

He noted that many of the casualties of Yolanda perished in evacuation centers that collapsed due to strong winds or were submerged in the storm surge.

"We should make a careful study to determine what needs to be done for disaster mitigation so that our infrastructures would be able to withstand natural calamities that could strike our country," said Marcos.

Likewise, Marcos said all concerned government agencies must improve their preparedness to launch relief and rescue operations during times of natural calamities.