Marcos renews call to protect environment vs. climate change

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has highlighted the importance of pursuing more environmental protection programs to beef up the country’s fight against climate change.

Marcos said initiatives such as treeplanting would help mitigate the impacts on the country.

“We are celebrating Arbor Day to protect the forest. Now that the effects of climate change are worsening, it is important that the new Philippines takes care of the environment,” the President said.

The Philippines celebrates Arbor Day every June 25 by planting trees and ornamental plants, as well as conducting other relevant activities that promote a healthier ecosystem.

Under Presidential Proclamation 396 signed in 2003, all government agencies and institutions, private sector, schools, civil society groups, and the citizenry are enjoined to plant trees for the rehabilitation and regreening of the environment.

In a separate statement, Climate Change Commission Commissioner Albert Dela Cruz Sr. underscored the need for immediate climate action to address the serious health risks among the general population, particularly the critically vulnerable and marginalized sectors.

this is the last one. After July 25, the next day, July 26, your connection will be cut if your SIM card is not registered,” Dy said.

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned Filipinos against the threat and risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) as the government continues to monitor transactions in the digital space to protect the public against scammers and abusive online lenders.

“The SIM card registration (law) was a big step, and I think we are getting to the point where we have disposed of or taken out of the system many of the SIM cards that have not been registered because they have been used for illegal purposes,” the President said.

The Philippines has allocated 9 percent of its total national budget for climate change adaptation and mitigation programs this year.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has projected that between 2030 and 2050, climate change will cause around 250,000 additional deaths per year because of heat stress, malaria, diarrhea, and malnutrition alone.

Direct damage costs to health are estimated to be between $2 billion to 4 billion per year by 2030, according to a WHO report, adding that areas with weak health infrastructure, mostly in developing countries, will be the least able to cope without assistance.

THE Philippines is ready to assist Japan in repatriating the remains of Japanese soldiers who died in the country during World War II, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said on Sunday.

In a statement, Abalos said the DILG and the Department of Foreign Affairs will be closely working with Japan to ensure that the recovery and repatriation will be carried out smoothly.

Over 300,000 remains of Japanese soldiers who died during World War II between 1942 and 1945 are believed to still be in the country.

“Japan remains one of the closest partners and allies of the Philippine government and we are ready to assist them in the recovery of the remains of their fallen soldiers,” he said.

Abalos met with officials of the

Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan headed by Minister for Economic Affairs Nihei Daisuke of the Embassy of Japan on Thursday.

DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary Raphael Hermoso also attended the meeting.

As the lead of the repatriation effort, Abalos said the DILG is in a strategic position to ensure that the repatriation process will be well coordinated with local government units, where some of the remains lie.

Abalos said the DILG will activate its resources and manpower to assist Japan in the repatriation in consonance with the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) signed between the Philippine and Japanese governments in May 2018.

The MOC includes proper collection, handling, storage, and shipment of the remains.