MANILA, Philippines?Stronger and more frequent typhoons are expected to hit the Philippines in the years to come. Scientists say that drought and rising sea levels will also affect the country due to global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. The devastation wrought by Tropical Storm ?Ondoy? in Metro Manila and nearby areas, and the damage caused by Typhoon ?Pepeng? in northern Luzon last year saw how ill-prepared the government was in dealing with massive flooding and landslides.

To get an idea of how the next administration will deal with climate change, we asked the presidential candidates the following questions: What policies and programs would you pursue to mitigate the effects of climate change on the country? How will government address natural calamities caused by flooding, supertyphoons and drought? Are the systems and programs in place enough?

Benigno Aquino III
Liberal Party

The focus must be building up the capacity of local government units to respond to disasters, ideally within 24 to 48 hours, with support from the national government in the form of supplies and specialized equipment such as generator sets and amphibious vehicles. Infrastructure must be put up to coordinate government response with media outlets and the private sector, and to readily assemble and disseminate information such as SOS texts and calls and topographical information.

But disaster response should not end with rescue and relief operations. We need to stabilize the situation whereby victims can assume normalcy of life as soon as possible. The government should ease their transition back.

If typhoon victims were into farming, their crops would be lost from the calamities and their capital would dry up. The government should provide a bridging mechanism, such as capital or credit, to help them rebuild their lives.

In the long term we must stop relying on disaster response and implement a more general environmental agenda which would involve a clear framework on land use and conversion, and which would ensure, among other things, sustained food security, viable irrigation and sustainable freshwater-collection programs.

We have a calamity fund which states that all local government units have five percent of their budget allocated for this effort. Yet whenever typhoons strike, local government units frantically seek assistance from local and foreign donors. Where do these calamity funds go? The government claims that it had sufficient aircraft and boats for search and rescue operations. However, during Tropical Storm ?Ondoy? and Typhoon ?Pepeng? only a few surfaced at the time these were needed.

It is obvious that we need to prevent abuses of the funds to make the system more responsive. Submitted by Aquino?s staff

JC de los Reyes
Ang Kapatiran

Ang Kapatiran Party shall promote a safe, clean, healthy and wholesome environment, particularly zero-waste management; promote stewardship as a way of life; and promote the development of parks throughout the country.

Many threats to our environment have surfaced?irresponsible mining, illegal logging and global warming. We are against the uncontrollable plunder of our natural resources.

A moratorium on mining activities will be considered until the government and mining companies learn to uphold the right of indigenous peoples, compensate affected communities for past damages and ensure responsible mining practices.

The problem of illegal logging is an extremely complicated issue that must be dealt with by all stakeholders. The party will work for an enhanced multisectoral cooperation and the implementation of effective measures to clamp down on illegal logging trade. In particular, it will consider a temporary total commercial log ban and intensify efforts to rehabilitate and reforest logged over areas, particularly those places vulnerable to earthquakes, landslides and floods.

In making economic and political decisions, we would always consider that true stewardship does not mean economic gains for the powerful few. Interview by Jerome Aning

Joseph Estrada
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino

In 1999, we passed the Clean Air Act. We anticipated the pollution, the floods. About climate change, the burden should be more on First World countries because they?re responsible for it. Third World countries have no funding for the problem.

We can dredge riverbanks. All drainage should be unclogged. (Before) I got funding for the Camanava flood control. For the first time, in many years there was no flooding. If we were prepared, the devastation caused by Ondoy would not have happened. We should concentrate on what is doable and what we can afford?flood control, reforestation and addressing pollution.

We got a Belgian company for the dredging of the Pasig River. After just three months, it wasn?t continued. The contract was canceled. There should have been no flooding in the area had it been continued.

We have enough systems. We have good sanitary engineers. In fact, my father was one of the pioneers of sanitary engineering. In garbage disposal, we have the technical expertise (of having garbage) converted into fertilizer, hollow blocks. It?s a matter of focusing on it.

By preparing the irrigation system, we can address the effects of El Niño. The bill I authored when I was senator was to put up P10 billion a year in 10 years for irrigation. It was passed during the time of Cory but it was implemented only during my term. When I stepped down, GMA didn?t continue it. That?s why we (have) the biggest farm output during my time. Irrigation will address El Niño. Sayang, it was short-lived. Interview by Norman Bordadora

Richard Gordon
Bagumbayan

The big floods brought by Ondoy, Pepeng and Typhoon ?Santi? were not just because of climate change. We suffered from these floods because of poor leadership?the fact that we allowed people to take Laguna de Bay shorelines.

We cannot avoid natural calamities but we can minimize the risks. I carry a whistle in my pocket because I teach ?1-4-3? or the ?I love you Red Cross.? It means we have one leader plus 43 people in every barangay who will assess the risks in their areas.

When the summer season comes, we should unclog our drainage and remove structures that block waterways. We should make sure we fix the Manggahan Floodway and the Laguna de Bay. We should start moving people out there.

We have to start looking what the risks are and address those risks before they hit us. We in the Red Cross had more rubber boats than the Department of National Defense during last year?s floods.

We can design typhoon-resistant schools. We would have a 24-hour office in Malacañang. I would also require a 24-hour office in every local government and in every police unit so people can run to them for help.

The national government should be a source of logistics, a source of information so that we can move its resources to an area that is inundated or under siege.

We should decongest Metro Manila and disperse industries. I?ll probably move the capital to Clark Field in Pampanga or thereabouts.

I would also be very proactive in climate change discussions and help the big states figure out the way to fix the problem of pollution and climate change.

The issue is not how much we, the presidential candidates, can promise, but who among us can deliver effective leadership. Interview by Edson Tandoc

Maria Ana Consuelo Madrigal
Independent

We should end the ravaging of Philippine forests, seas and air for logging, mining, fishing exports to the rich and industrialized countries. Dumping of toxic agro-chemicals, petroleum and coal products into the country and its environment should also be stopped.

Foreign companies and governments, as well as the politicians who have protected them, should be charged and penalized for destroying our environment.

Our government and our citizenry should push for a real, drastic, not token shift to renewable energy, genuine forest conservation and regeneration, organic farming and zero-waste management.

The government should take the lead and support Filipino-owned and -controlled wind- and solar-energy equipment, industries and projects.
Interview by Jerry Esplanada

Nicanor Perlas
Independent

The first and most important thing is to make Filipinos realize that we?re entering a new era in world history. For the first time, the Philippines and all of humanity will be living in a climate context that is unpredictable and dangerous.

We should prepare for disaster upon disaster, especially for supertyphoons, massive and prolonged droughts, increasing sea levels as well as epidemics, mass migration and increased conflicts.

Can you imagine what will happen to coastal towns? People will have to migrate somewhere else if we?re totally unprepared.

As a reality check, I?ve been going around the country. There?s already increased sea levels in Talisay in Cebu, Panglao in Bohol and reportedly even in Boracay. When it?s high tide, water reaches the houses. It rises up to one foot inside the houses.

The most intensive program would be in strategic planning, reinventing governance, redesigning human settlements (rural or urban) and the replacement of infrastructure, including roads and bridges.

Coastal areas are most vulnerable. Can you imagine if Roxas Boulevard is inundated? To be safe, we must design new settlements 50 to 100 meters above sea level. Some coastal cities are only a few meters above, while some are even below.

For the immediate solution, we must resettle all those staying in flood plains and riverbanks, like those in Marikina.

We account for just 0.3 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions, but we?re on the receiving end of much of the impact of climate change. The consumption habits of rich countries are at the expense of people from the developing world.

The systems, program in place are not enough. This is why we need a presidential candidate who?s totally up to speed with climate change. Interview by DJ Yap

Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
Lakas-Kampi-CMD

Adaptation is more important. Mitigation, we can do that, but we don?t produce the bulk of the world?s greenhouse gases. We contribute only 0.3 percent of emissions. So we?re victims. Although some mitigation measures are important like determining the actual amount of remaining forest cover and total log ban in those areas, shepherding wooded areas, and conserving marine resources and the like.

You will have to reengineer communities and adequately plan newly urbanizing communities. I will take the suggestions of the Public-Private Reconstruction Commission in the aftermath of Ondoy.

(Are the systems, programs in place enough?) Not at all because resources are lacking.

Start with design of infrastructure for mitigation. Preparation is not there. We don?t have resources to conduct adequate drills and we don?t have adequate rescue and logistical equipment. In addition, we lack infrastructure for relief and rescue. Rehabilitation is not finished yet. Interview by TJ Burgonio

Eduardo Villanueva
Bangon Pilipinas

Bangon Pilipinas would adopt mitigation and adaptation measures to minimize the impact of global warming. But the Philippines is not a major contributor to global warming. The big nations are.

I?m envisioning an economic bloc among Third World countries that are adversely affected. The economic bloc will represent the regional interest of victims. Industrial countries should listen to their demands and cries for preventive measures against the effects of climate change.

If the rich countries don?t listen, their products should not be welcome.

We will have a full implementation of the laws?Clean Air Act, Water Act, Waste Disposal. Plus clean up esteros and streams.

There is a glaring failure of government in preparing for natural calamities. If the government is responsible it should be prepared. Not just when there is flooding that government scrambles to look for rubber boats.

The bottom line is again corruption. If there is a righteous good government, we can avert massive corruption. Other countries also face El Niño but they?re ready. So we need new politics. Interview by Dona Pazzibugan

Manuel Villar
Nacionalista Party

Clearing up of waterways and esteros would be one. Having a moratorium on selling large, open government lands would be another. All remaining government lands in Metro Manila should be developed as open spaces to decongest the area. Zero waste should be a goal for every barangay and reforestation efforts should be intensified.

More advanced nations must be called to lead the fight against global warming as studies show they are the biggest polluters.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources should have a special division catering to climate change and new ecological issues to serve as the principal repository of data as well as the continuing body that studies this issue affecting all nations around the globe.

We should support Pagasa become a super agency by acquiring modern equipment and facilities so that it can better forecast storms and drought. This way, our emergency preparations will be adequate and more responsive. Accurate forecasting will lead to better planning and execution of mitigating measures.

A lot of things must be done like what we saw in Pepeng and Ondoy. But typhoons are just one type of calamity. Very recently we witnessed how earthquakes can destroy lives and infrastructure and eventually affect the soul of a nation. This should signal us to also prepare for earthquakes.

To this end, one of the improvements that I want to introduce is the creation of the National Disaster Coordinating Council as a permanent government agency and no longer just a simple ad hoc body. Submitted by Villar?s staff