Marcos commits PH to have stronger voice on climate change

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. vowed Thursday to ensure that the Philippines would have a strong voice on issues related to the impact of climate change.

This developed as Marcos expressed elation over the Philippines securing a seat on the board of the Loss and Damage Fund, which seeks to help poor nations cope with costly climate disasters.

"I am very gratified to hear the news that the Philippines secured a membership on the damage and loss board for the year 2024 and the year 2026, serving as an alternate for 2025," Marcos said in a video message.

"This will give the voice in the management of all funding that is available around the world to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change," the President said.

He added, "The next step that we are hoping to achieve is to host the damage and loss fund here in the Philippines because after all, we are very much in the mix when it comes on the climate change effects. So this is a good development that we'll keep working to make sure that the Philippines has a very strong voice when it comes to all the issues of climate change of which we are very severely affected."

Earlier in the day, Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said the Philippines garnered a seat on the board of the Loss and Damage Fund.

She noted that there would be a term sharing on the board. "For the three terms, we will have two years – the first year which is the inaugural year, 2024 and 2026. In the year 2025, we will have a term share with Pakistan who is the other Asia-Pacific country that is also part of the board," she said.

Loyzaga had said the Philippines is "most qualified" to host the Loss and Damage Fund because it is a living testament to the effects of climate change. — VDV, GMA Integrated News