Duterte: Rich countries should pay Philippines for climate change effects

Wealthy countries which spewed massive carbon emissions should pay the Philippines for the damages caused by climate change, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday.

Duterte made the remark after seeing for himself the damage brought about by Tropical Depression Agaton in Leyte, which was hit by massive landslides following massive rains.

“Dapat ang mga mayayaman na hindi tinatamaan ng destruction caused nitong pollution, bayaran nila tayo for the damage or dapat sila ang mag-ano talaga na maggawa sila ng paraan na at least equalized,” Duterte said.

(The rich who are not affected by the destruction caused by this pollution, should pay us for the damage or they should find ways to equalize.)

Duterte admitted that the country would have a difficult time dealing with natural disasters such as the typhoons.

He said he was hoping that the next administration would be better prepared.

“Alam kong mas kaya nila kaysa sa akin. Itong typhoon na ito, hindi ko naman mapigilan,” Duterte said.

(I know they can do it better than I do. I can't stop this typhoon.)

Duterte said Philippines had experienced disasters despite the country’s insignificant contribution to climate change.

“Ang ating carbon emissions is just 0.0 something, while iyong industrialized countries, malaki ang binubuga nila, double digit pa. Ang problema, the consequence is being suffered by all,” Duterte said.

(Our carbon emission is just at 0.0 something, while industrialized countries emit a lot, in double digits. The problem is the consequence is being suffered by all.)

“’Yung mga countries na maraming factories and yet you will see the result of the consequence of pollution, pinakamaliit tayo (na emissions) pero tayo ang pinakamasaklap,” he added.

(There are countries with many factories and yet you will see the consequences of pollution. We have the smallest (emissions) but we suffer the worst.)

Agaton death toll

Duterte went to Leyte on Friday to check on the damage Agaton caused and met with both national and local officials involved in the rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts.

In its 8 a.m. report on Monday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 172 died due to the onslaught of Agaton.

The NDRRMC said that 156 of the reported fatalities were from Eastern Visayas, 11 from Western Visayas, three from Davao, and two from Central Visayas.

A total of 2,015,514 people or 584,108 families were affected by Agaton in 2,423 barangays in Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and Bangsamoro.

The NDRRMC said 10,402 houses were damaged—9,732 partially and 670 totally—in Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga.

Damage to agriculture reached P249,826,730 in Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, and Bangsamoro, while  P6,950,000 of damage in infrastructure were reported in Western Visayas, Central Visayas,  Northern Mindanao, and Bangsamoro. -NB, GMA News