Senator Loren Legarda warned on Wednesday that the Philippines could face significant economic losses and the displacement of millions of Filipinos if climate inaction continues, emphasizing the urgent need for localized responses to the climate crisis.
Speaking at the launch of the Accelerating Climate Action and Transformation (ACT) Local Programme in Sibalom, Antique, Legarda highlighted that the impacts of climate change, such as extreme heat, could lead to annual productivity losses amounting to billions of pesos by 2030. “It was previously reported that between 2014 and 2023, nearly 43 million Filipinos were displaced due to disasters. By 2030, the projected cost of productivity loss here in the Philippines from extreme heat alone could reach PHP466 billion annually,” she stated in a news release.
Legarda cited data indicating that the World Risk Index has consistently ranked the Philippines as the most at-risk country to climate change for the 16th consecutive year, primarily due to its vulnerability to frequent and destructive typhoons. She further warned that continued inaction could result in a 13 percent reduction in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2040.
As the author of the Climate Change Act of 2009, Legarda emphasized the critical role of local government units (LGUs) in ensuring community resilience during natural disasters, noting that they serve as the first line of defense for the public. She underscored the importance of the ACT Local Programme in assisting LGUs to formulate their Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAPs), particularly in light of challenges related to data gathering and technical capacity.
“Ang pagpapatibay ng LCCAP ay isang mahalagang hakbang upang matiyak na ang Antique ay magiging mas ligtas at higit na handa sa pagtugon sa mga hamon at suliraning may kinalaman sa kalikasan (Strengthening the LCCAP is an important step to ensure that Antique becomes safer and more prepared in addressing environmental challenges),” Legarda remarked.
While acknowledging that the national government can provide resources, she stressed that climate resilience must be rooted in the experiences and participation of local communities.
