Reflection Paper on the Country’s Report on Climate Change Policies, Green Jobs and

Decent Work in the Philippines

Over the past years, the Philippines are prone to natural disasters, particularly typhoons, floods,
landslides, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis, lying as it does astride the typhoon belt, in
the active volcanic region known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” and in the geologically unstable region
between the Pacific and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Philippines also suffers major human-caused
environmental degradation aggravated bay high annual population growth rate, including loss of
agricultural lands, deforestation, soil erosion, air and water pollution, improper disposal of solid and
toxic wastes, loss of coral reefs, mismanagement and abuse of coastal resources, and overfishing.

Aside from that, Philippines experiencing climate change, which is a global problem that affects
and give huge impact to the people’s living. According to the scientific studies it revealed that human
activities have contributed significantly to the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that
causes climate change. It raises risk for agricultural sector and food security due to extreme El Nino
and severe tropical cyclones. Also the spread of infectious diseases which is influenced by fluctuations
in climate variables, temperature, relative humidity and rainfall and its impact on coastal zones and
marine ecosystem are example of the effects of climate change in the country. As it more experienced
by the country and it causes so much disturbances.

Philippine government do actions to resolve this environmental issues. Many laws are being
implemented in the country. Laws that are specific for certain issues that focuses on the environmental
problem which can help to fight the effects of climate change. Being main contributor to global
warming, waste management become the first act to be passed under the Economic Solid Waste Ra
(9003). Unfortunately, the country still loomed with garbage problems after the law is passed. Even if
there are 677 open dumpsites, 343 controlled dumps, and 21 landfills in the country, it turned out not
enough to fight for this problem. So additional 215 landfills are proposed to open. In total, about 1,000
open and controlled dump sites exist in the country. But this does not mean it can stop climate change
to happen. Environmentalists stress that dumpsites and landfills are the major source of greenhouse
gases that adds to global warming. Still, it did not fight for climate change right. The suggested action is
the execution of the Kyoto Protocol prosed in the discussions and negotiations leading to the
ratification of various international agreements which Philippines participated. These international
agreements are geared towards the mitigation of the effects of climate change and the strategic
adaptation to the conditions. The most important outcomes of these negotiations include the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC). These international agreements are
geared towards the mitigation of the effects of climate change and the tragic adaptation to the
conditions. In the result of this agreement, Philippines expressed adherence to the principles of
sustainable development and environmental preservation based on the nation of equity and the
unique capabilities of the participating countries.

Following the Philippines is now implementing national measures to reduce greenhouse

emission in the atmosphere. The Clean Air Act of 1999, known as Republic Act 8749, was enacted in
order to arrive at an effective air quality management program that will mitigate the problem of air
pollution in the country. Reinforcing the country’s drive towards a healthier environment was the
enactment of the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003) that aimed at providing a
comprehensive solution to the country’s garbage problem. To address the issue about climate change,
intuitions in the Philippines created the Inter-Agency Committee on Climate Change (IACC) in May 8,
1991 under the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) was a concrete manifestation of the Philippines whose aim is to harness and
synergize the various activities being undertaken by the national government and civil society in
response to the crises posed by growing problems on climate change

Philippine Climate Change Act of 2007 which this bill seeks to create a National Framework
Program on Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation and Communication and establish mechanisms to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy, power, transport and manufacturing sectors to usher in
a low-carbon revolution in the Philippines and institutionalize the country's commitments to
international efforts to address the problem on climate change. Also the sectors made a program that
cushions the impact of global financial crisis and climate change through green jobs which is called The
Philippines’ Upland Development Program.

The Philippines’ Upland Development Program will create thousands of jobs in restoring forest
and watersheds, helping to mitigate hunger and poverty. Green jobs are created to help improve
incomes in upland areas and mitigate hunger while on the other side enhancing the country’s capacity
to adapt climate change. Aside from that, it also promotes environmentally sustainable development
in the country by providing jobs that is associated with the bottle and adaptation of climate change.
Green jobs not only help the countrymen to have decent work but also helping eco system and
environment to be protected. Workplace of green jobs are monitored by the program which ensures
the relationship of the job to our environment. There are two ILO green jobs programs that are
currently being implemented in the Philippines these are (a) Greener Business Asia (GBA) with support
from the Japan Government, and (b) Green Jobs Promotion with support from the Australian
Government. Towards Decent Work, Green Jobs and Sustainable Development. It highlights TUCP's
resolve to take actions that promote green jobs, build trade union leadership, commitment to make
enterprises greener, and monitor progress/developments.

Participation of the communities in every program will have a positive impact to these
problems. Participatory communication for development such social community empowerment,
developing community leaders, engaging multi-sectoral participation for youth, school, and so much
more programs. Community immersion that will open the minds of the people about the ways to not
do the things that makes these problems. Every one of us must be the one who take care of it,
everyone must be orient and be informed about this environmental problem. Also the government
must be the one who will do program and create plans on resolving this problem. If every one of us will
work, our behavior and our ways can make us win this battle against this issue. `With the policies, step
implemented by the government and proposed solutions, we can achieve a healthier, safe and greener
environment. Like Karen Ibasco, Miss Earth 2017 said, we have to do is to start changing our ways,
start recalibrating our mines, and to start redirecting our steps because together at a global
community, our micro efforts will have macro effects to help save our home, our planet.