The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The successive destruction to properties, lives and livelihood in the country due to climate change and calamities caused by government inaction remain as unpopular electoral issues even as the Philippines continues to lead the list of countries most vulnerable to disasters.
This was the observation of analysts as they called for a stronger push among civil society groups, opposition forces, and the academe.
There are academic institutions and NGOs pushing for “credible” climate-related policies but efforts to popularize them at the local and national levels remain weak, said Georgi Engelbrecht, senior analyst for the international think tank Crisis Group, to Business World.
“Elevating them to national and local government levels is the biggest challenge.”
As for opposition groups, he said technical expertise in climate change remains a key challenge.
“Working together at the nexus of United Nations, international NGOs (nongovernmental organizations), local organizations and the academe is key,” he added.
A new low pressure area (LPA) locally named Leon entered the Philippines just weeks after the country was battered by storm Kristine that caused massive flooding in the Bicol region and Super TyphoonLeon hit the northernmost province of Batanes. This was followed by TS Marce and now by TS Nika, which would affect Central Luzon.
Political scientist Maria Ela L. Atienza, who has written studies on government responses to disasters, said climate change and DRRM should have been major election issues since the devastation of Super Typhoon Haiyan (Local name: Yolanda), which killed as many as 6,300 Filipinos mostly in the central Philippine province of Leyte in November 2013.
“Remember when Yolanda happened? We have laws related to climate change and DRRM. The problem is that our political parties are weak, and people vote on the basis of personalities,” she said.
Atienza said in countries where political parties are strong and are forced to act on issues, the green agenda has a chance to be a major election issue.
“However, you need an empowered set of voters and groups such as Green Parties literate on climate change and DRRM issues to lead,” she added.
“Scientists and experts also need to have a stronger voice. A responsible media is also needed.”
A recent survey by polling firm WR Numero showed eight in 10 Filipino millennials — or people aged 28-43 —and Gen Z or people aged 27 and younger were heavily concerned over the changing climate.
The March 2024 survey noted this is compared to 69% of Gen X and 64% of the Baby Boomers and Silent Generation. The figures are also higher than the national average of 74%.
Gen X are people born from 1965 to 1980, while baby boomers are those born from 1946 to 1964. The silent generation, meanwhile, are those born from 1928 to 1945.
WR Numero said 22% of baby boomers and the silent generation, and 18% of Gen X, were unsure about the negative impacts of climate change.
Climate change and DRRM issues could be major points of debate during the elections “if and only if advocates manage to attach it effectively to more pertinent issues for ordinary citizens like employment and corruption,” said Anthony Lawrence A. Borja, who teaches political science at De La Salle University.
“On their own, these issues are subject to being dismissed via romanticizing resilience and simply focusing on post disaster policies and programs,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.
“Simply put, comparable to being stewed slowly in our own juices, the Filipino electorate is under an ideology of resilience towards natural disasters that only shared and individual trauma can break.”