Doctors Call for Sustainable Multisectoral Action On Climate Change

                                       

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The medical community headed by the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) and the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) expressed alarm on the never-ending disasters facing the Filipino people and called for concrete actions to mitigate, if not prevent the impact of climate change through sustainable and multisectoral programs.

The PCP, PMA, educational institutions like University of Sto. Tomas and University of the Philippines and other NGOs added their voices to the global call to action on climate change by urging the Filipino people to join the nationwide planting of trees on November 8 in commemoration of the day the Philippines was hit by supertyphoon Yolanda last year.

“Hopefully, this initiative will be sustained through the years to protect us from the ravages of typhoons and similar calamities. We need to enhance our defense from the deadly impact of extreme weather conditions that render our people hostage to massive flooding, landslides, damages to crops and properties and worse, led to helpless dead bodies lying in devastation,” said Dr. Minerva Calimag, PMA President.

The monsoon rains yesterday brought about the typhoon Mario brought several households to evacuation centers and some homeless. Perennial and recurrent flooding of several areas has also caused water-related illnesses like dengue, leptospirosis , typhoid fever that led to scores of Filipinos dying from these deadly and debilitating diseases.

“We need to ensure healthier environment where people are safe, educated and resilient. We can’t be sitting ducks. We need to move and find long-term solutions,” said PCP President Dr. Anthony Leachon.

The PCP has proposed to Congress and the Executive the project, Day of Rising on November 8 featuring a nationwide, Guinness World Record-breaking simultaneous planting of one million trees to symbolize the Filipinos’ resolve to reduce the impact of climate change on the people and their livelihood.

The Senate has passed the Resolution of Sen. Grace Poe about this project early this month and the House of Representatives is set to pass the resolution of Mindoro Rep. Salvador Leachon. “I hope the Executive Order in this regard will be issued to facilitate the participation of national government agencies in this endeavor. We plan to get the support of ULAP President and Mindoro Gov. Alfonso Umali to mobilize the local government units for this,” said Leachon.

The Resolution passed in the Senate by Sen. Poe proposed the observance of the ‘Day of Rising’ in the Philippines beginning November 8 this year, as a day to plant trees to meaningfully remember Arbor Day, and to rekindle the bayanihan spirit, venerating a year of survival after typhoon Yolanda.

Last week, the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate published their report, Better Growth, Better Climate, which explores the relation between economic growth and positive climate action. The report showed the cost of mortality from outdoor air pollution in the top 15 greenhouse gas (GHG)-emitting countries was on average 4% of GDP. In China, that rises to more than 10% of GDP, making an even stronger case for countries to pursue low-carbon energy sources that will improve public health.

President Aquino is one of the world leaders scheduled to speak at the United Nations Climate Change Summit on September 23. UN leader Ban Ki-moon pushed for this high level meeting to reach a consensus among nations at the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris on cutting greenhouse gases.

“The Philippines is not one of the major contributors of greenhouse gases and yet our people suffer from stronger typhoons with storm surges that become more frequent due to climate change. We are getting the raw end of the deal but we also need to take action for our own survival,” Leachon added.