A green agenda for the new Congress: 10 laws the Philippines must enact now

As a new Congress convenes, the Philippines continues to find itself battling the impact of the global climate crisis.

- 

With typhoons intensifying, natural resources depleting, and inequality widening, newly elected lawmakers face a historic opportunity: to legislate sustainability not as an option, but as the backbone of national development. This is a golden opportunity for all to stand up and turn the spotlight away from themselves and on to all issues that matter.

They should all realize that sustainability is not a buzzword, a slogan, and, worse, an empty promise. It is no longer just a conviction for environmentalists. It has become an economic, social, and moral imperative for all. The choices this Congress makes will determine if we continue to chase short-term growth or build a resilient, inclusive, and low-carbon future.

This space offers 10 legislative proposals that the new Philippine Congress should consider enacting immediately:

1. Philippine Sustainable Finance Act. This law would mandate all financial institutions to embed Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into their lending, investment, and risk management strategies.

Key provisions:

• Climate risk disclosures;

• Incentives for green bonds and loans;

• Creation of a transition fund for carbon-heavy industries;

• Alignment with global green taxonomies.

This complements the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ sustainable finance guidelines by giving them statutory backing.

2. National Waste Reduction and Reuse Act. Despite RA 9003, poor implementation has led to growing waste problems. A stronger law must reinforce extended producer responsibility (EPR) across all sectors.

What it should include:

• EPR compliance for all businesses, not just large corporations;

• Mandatory reusable or compostable packaging standards;

• Tax perks for circular businesses;