Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) – Presidential aspirant Leody de Guzman will focus on waging a war against climate change if he is elected to the country’s top post.
The labor leader emphasized the country must be more equipped in fighting climate change as he considers it a “threat” not just for Filipinos, but for all people in the world.
“Ayaw ko ng giyera. Ang gusto kong giyera ay giyera laban sa kahirapan at global warming. Dapat ang mundo ay magkaisa laban sa global warming,” De Guzman told DZRH’s Bakit Ikaw? The Presidential Job Interview on Monday.
[Translation: I don’t want a war (on arms). I want to wage a war against poverty and global warming. The world should be united against global warming.]
De Guzman said part of his presidential agenda in pushing for an “independent” foreign policy is to forge alliances with other nations in stopping the global climate emergency.
“Kailangan natin ng isang (We need an) independent foreign policy. More on economic and climate ang ating pagkakasunduan (are the things we should agree on),” added De Guzman, who reiterated the country’s commitment in some international pacts in halting climate change.
The head of labor group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino explained that to address climate change in the country, there is a need to shift to renewable energy which he said is safer and cheaper for the Filipinos.
De Guzman added if the country relies more on renewable energy, it will bring more jobs to Filipinos because these resources are labor intensive.
“Ang window raw natin ay nasa 10-15 years para pigilang lumampas sa 1.5 Degrees centigrade yung init. Kapag lumampas dyan, threatened na yung existence ng mga may buhay dito sa mundo, kasama tayo,” said De Guzman, citing data from scientists.
[Translation: Our window is 10-15 years to stop the warming of the earth into more than 1.5 Degrees centigrade. If our temperature exceeds that, the existence of all living things in our world is threatened, including us.]
De Guzman said solar energy is more feasible in the country, but other energy sources like wind and waves can also be tapped.
The labor leader, however, is not in favor of using nuclear energy as the main power source because of the complexity in handling its technology.
De Guzman also slammed big businessmen for still pushing for the use of fossil fuel in powering up the country, saying he will move to close coal plants if he is elected president.
“May mga negosyante, ang gusto nila ay puhunang libre halos. Ayaw nilang mag-invest ng malaki at kikita ng maliit. Kaya ang gusto nila, fossil fuel ang kunin. Eh nage-emit ng carbon dioxide at greenhouse gas, na siyang nagpapainit sa mundo kaya nagkakaroon ng global warming,” he explained.
[Translation: There are businessmen who want to have an almost-free investment. They don’t want to invest on something big, where they will earn only a little. That’s why, they always want to rely on fossil fuel. But these are emitting carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas, which warm the earth and cause global warming.]
De Guzman is running with former Akbayan Partylist Rep. Walden Bello as his vice presidential bet and nine senatorial aspirants.
