Marcos' UNGA speech on environment, peace inconsistent with PH policies —groups

Marcos' UNGA speech on environment, peace inconsistent with PH policies —groups

Several groups on Thursday said the speech of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the United Nations General Assembly on climate change and peace does not match the policies being implemented in the Philippines.

During a press conference on the Philippine's Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Kalikasan international network officer Clemente Bautista said Marcos engages in “doublespeak” on the issue of climate change.

“While he talks about addressing climate change, his economic policies on allowing big mining, pushing reclamation projects, and expanding [the] fossil fuel industry, particularly the dependency to dirty and high-source of carbon emission… hindi po mangyayari ‘yung sinasabi niyang mare-resolve,” he said.

The UPR involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all UN member states. The UPR is a significant innovation of the Human Rights Council which is based on equal treatment for all countries, according to its website.

Climate change, peace and stability, and food security were among the main topics tackled by Marcos during the Assembly.

In his speech, Marcos said climate change is the greatest threat affecting various nations and that its effects are uneven and reflect historical injustice. He added that the country accepts its share of responsibility.

"Those who are least responsible suffer the most. The Philippines, for example, is a net carbon sink, we absorb more carbon dioxide than we emit. And yet, we are the 4th most vulnerable country to the effects of climate change," he said.

"This injustice must be corrected, and those who need to do more must act now. We accept our share of responsibility and will continue to do our part to avert this collective disaster," he added.

In his State of the Nation Address in July this year, the president also put to fore addressing climate change by vowing to increase the country's renewable energy resources.

These include hydropower, geothermal power, solar, and wind.

Bautista said big mining operations are being conducted in Ilocos and Cagayan while reclamation projects are being done in Bulacan and Cavite.

“Dahil dito sa mga proyektong ito na tinutulak ng bagong administrasyon ni Marcos ay lalo pang maasahan natin yung lalong pag dami ng mga trahedya at mga sakuna dulot ng pagbabago sa klima,” Bautista said.

Further, he said Marcos did not hold the United States accountable.

“He didn’t even mention accountability from the biggest polluter in the world, ‘yung US, na pangunahin din, lalo na ‘yung mga korporasyon nila ‘yung sumira sa ating kagubatan, nagmina dito,” Bautista said.

“Walang pagbanggit man lang, particularly in increasing climate finance and i-demand ‘yung pag pull out nung mga destructive projects ng US dito sa Pilipinas,” he added.

Meanwhile, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) said Marcos did not bring up peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

“Sa tingin namin, ‘yung hindi niya pagbanggit na ‘yun ay magiging tuloy-tuloy ‘yung all-out-war niya sa NDFP at ang mag inaakusahan nila na mga communist terrorist front organizations and individuals,” Mervin Sol Toquero of the NCCP said.

He said this may lead to an increase in red-tagging and the use of laws to stifle peace advocates and human rights defenders.

For Coalition for People’s Right to Health co-convenor Dr. Joshua San Pedro, there are still deficiencies in addressing health.

“Marami pa ring pagkukulang, there are still many inefficiencies of this current administration in respecting, protecting, and fulfilling the right to health of the people and this is something that we want the UN to look into,” San Pedro said.

Meanwhile, IBON executive director Sonny Africa said Marcos talked about sustainable development but cannot achieve it for the Philippines.

“Sa harap ng paglala ng kalagayan ng milyong-milyong Pilipino, pinapanatili nila ang suporta sa malalaking kumpanya sa pamamagitan ng tax cuts, pinapanatili yung suporta sa mga kumpanya sa kanilang tubo sa pamamagitan ng mga infrastracture projects,” he said.

GMA News Online reached out to the Palace spokesperson for reaction but has yet to receive a response.—LDF, GMA News