Marilyn Cahatol

People wade through a flooded street in Manila on July 21, 2025, as enhanced southwest monsoon brought heavy rains and flooding to different parts of the Philippines. Five people were confirmed dead while seven have been reported missing, according to the country's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.   Ted Aljibe, AFP

Article (news)

HABAGAT FLOODING

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175438811936920250721-habagat-flooding-manila-AFP.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">People wade through a flooded street in Manila on July 21, 2025, as enhanced southwest monsoon brought heavy rains and flooding to different parts of the Philippines. <em>Ted Aljibe, AFP/file </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippine government has failed in coming up with projects that are climate change resilient, according to Sen. Loren Legarda.</p><p>Legarda on Tuesday delivered a privilege speech on the devastating effects of the three cyclones that recently battered the Philippines—Crising, Dante, and Emong.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2025/1/14/explainer-how-climate-change-is-driving-extreme-weather-events-1047">EXPLAINER: How climate change is driving extreme weather events</a></div><p>“We have failed. Government has failed its people, we have failed,&quot; Legarda replied to Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri&#x27;s question on what mark she would give to the government&#x27;s climate change projects.</p><p>“We have tried to enact the laws, but in so far as its implementation and monitoring and oversight is concerned, I think that we failed. We have failed our people. And I would not pin the blame on one person, one institution, one administration, it’s been going on for so long and I think that we must really find the solution,” she explained.</p><p>“We have enacted the laws so we cannot say that we are ignorant in terms of policies. We have all the laws in air, in water, in land, in climate action, in disaster risk reduction. We have the laws. We cannot say that we don’t have the funding resources,” she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2024/11/28/more-filipinos-aware-of-climate-change-but-only-a-few-take-action-1710">More Filipinos aware of climate change, but only a few take action</a></div><p>Legarda said some of the solutions are simple such as cleaning drainages everyday, following hazard maps, and early evacuation.</p><p>Legarda, a staunch advocate of climate change and environmental awareness, is pushing to:</p><ul style="list-style-type:circle"><li>mobilize and monitor climate finance </li><li>strengthen adaptation and local resilience </li><li>drive low-carbon development </li><li>demand international accountability</li></ul><div> </div><p>Legarda emphasized that climate change is a “development crisis, a public health emergency, and a human rights catastrophe.”</p><p>Among the negative effects of Crising, Dante, and Emong, according to Legarda, are the 38 lives lost, more than 8.26 million affected individuals, infrastructure damage amounting to P10.59 billion, and agricultural losses of P2.25 billion.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2025/6/19/climate-change-could-cut-crop-yields-up-to-a-quarter-0943">Climate change could cut crop yields up to a quarter</a></div><p>Legarda pointed out that the International Court of Justice released its advisory opinion on the obligations of states in respect to climate change.</p><p>“States have binding obligations under international law to prevent, reduce, and redress the adverse effects of climate change,” Legarda noted.</p><p>But she said action must be taken.</p><p>“May batas tayo, pinopondohan ang batas, kung hindi natin susundin at kung yung suporta at resources at pera na nilalaan sa imprastraktura ay mawawala o mangangalahati, siguro yung 70% ay dulot na rin sa ating kapabayaan at pagwalang-bahala at sabihin natin sa katiwalian,” Legarda stated.</p><p>“Hindi klima ang kalaban, kundi ang pagiging manhid,” she also said.</p><p>Fellow Senators Zubiri and Raffy Tulfo expressed support for Legarda’s statements.</p><p>“I completely agree that climate change and its impact on our daily lives is no longer a phenomenon but a serious matter that we cannot ignore,” Tulfo said.</p><p>Zubiri remarked, “I support the lady senator on her crusade.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2024/12/7/part-ii-the-price-of-underestimating-climate-change-0958">[Part II] The price of underestimating climate change</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pucfvQaIWn4?si=SkJrK9_jNdoBeOYI" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>“We have failed. Government has failed its people, we have failed," Legarda replied to Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri's question on what mark she would give to the government's climate change projects.</p>

“We have failed. Government has failed its people, we have failed," Legarda replied to Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri's question on what mark she would give to the government's climate change projects.

Legarda gives gov’t failing mark on climate change projects

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Legarda gives gov’t failing mark on climate change projects

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 05, 2025 06:22 PM PHT

Read More:

loren legarda

climate change

miguel zubiri

raffy tulfo

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