BBM urges action as Phl hosts climate fund meet

President Marcos has expressed hope that the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) would find ways to ensure that Filipinos would not suffer from the impact of climate change.

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During a courtesy call of members of the FRLD board at Malacañang last Monday, Marcos noted that addressing the effects of climate change is an enormous task that requires everyone's participation.

He cited the crucial role of the FRLD to disaster-prone Philippines and expressed optimism that it would significantly assist the country in addressing the adverse effects of the phenomenon.

"We're working very hard for the board to be based here in Manila because of its supreme importance for the Philippines, because of all of the risks that we are bracing for because of climate change," Marcos said.

He urged the FRLD board to find solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change in the country so Filipinos wouldn't suffer its grave consequences.

"The momentum since the Industrial Revolution is something that can't be easily moved or stopped or at least redirected. In the meantime, I hope all of you can find solutions so that most of our people do not suffer. That's how urgent we consider the board's work and how it is important to us that you work here in Manila," Marcos said.

He discussed the disasters that hit the Philippines in the past weeks, saying such number of calamities did not happen since the mid-1940s and the government is doing all it could to help address the situation.

The Philippine government raised its climate change expenditures by 149.66 percent from P178.2 billion in 2021 to P444.9 billion in 2022, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

PCO further reported that a total of P457.4 billion has been allocated for climate change-related measures this year. The government has also mobilized P34.13 billion to support 54 forestry, land management, biodiversity, environment protection and climate change projects and commitments.