Senate President Tito Sotto III has thrown his support behind the campaign of a group that seeks to be the first green party in the House of Representatives.
Luntiang Pilipinas Party-list first nominee Michael Ubac on Thursday confirmed that Sotto, Chairperson of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), had endorsed his group, a movement founded by Senator Loren Legarda for the protection and conservation of the environment.
“We are grateful for the support of the Senate President, and we hope that the endorsement of a national leader with his stature can help us convince other leaders of the need for champions of the environment in the Legislature,” said Ubac, a University of the Philippines-trained, multi-awarded journalist whose master’s thesis in Harvard focused on issues involving climate change and the Supertyphoon Yolanda.
“Luntiang Pilipinas is a legitimate green party that has a deep understanding of the environmental issues facing the country.”
Luntiang Pilipinas is gunning for seats in the House of Representatives under the party-list system. Over 120 party-list groups have been accredited by the Commission on Elections.
Ubac explained that Luntiang Pilipinas “is a legitimate green party that has a deep understanding of the environmental issues facing the country, a clear program of action to address these issues, and a track record that shows that we can deliver.”
Established in 1998 as a movement, Luntiang Pilipinas is responsible for planting and growing two million trees in 33 provinces, 28 cities, and 84 municipalities across the country.
The group’s platform is founded on its four pillars: regreening (forest parks and mangrove growing); ecological solid waste management; coastal and marine resource management; and disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
“As we saw in Yolanda and Boracay there are serious consequences when we fail to address environmental issues.”
According to Ubac, he expected more political leaders to extend their support for Luntiang Pilipinas, “as more and more of those in elective office––or vying for elective office––recognize the importance of protecting the environment.”
“As we saw in Yolanda and Boracay there are serious consequences when we fail to address environmental issues. Alam na ng mga lider natin na kailangan na itong tugunan, at handa ang Luntiang Pilipinas na manindigan para sa kapakanan ng kapaligiran at para makipaglaban para sa ating kinabukasan.”
