Loren Keynotes “Gross National Happiness” Conference

Loren Keynotes “Gross National Happiness” Conference
Senator Loren Legarda left for Thimpu, Bhutan yesterday to address the Bhutan National Sensitization Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction, in her capacity as United Nations (UN) Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for the Asia Pacific Region.
Loren was invited by Bhutan Home and Cultural Affairs Minister Lyonpo Minjur Dorji and the royal government of Bhutan.
Before leaving for Bhutan, Loren said that climate change has become the biggest challenge to mankind, with its devastating effects that include extreme droughts and flooding, decimation of species and very strong weather disturbances like super typhoons.
In 2008 alone, 321 disasters had been recorded, killing about a quarter of a million people and affecting 200 million more, she said, adding that they also resulted to $180 billion worth of economic losses.
Loren is chair and founder of the Luntiang Pilipinas (Green Philippines) movement which, through its many volunteers from the private and public sectors, have already planted over two million trees nationwide.
Climate change is blamed on global warming, which, in turn, is due mainly to increased greenhouse gas emissions by man. One way of decreasing said emissions is to plant more and more trees.
Loren is expected to share to the Bhutan delegates the Philippine experience in dealing with climate change, including her efforts to push for the adoption of climate change measures and disaster-risk reduction in government’s program of actions and policies.
The senator is either an author, co-author or sponsor of landmark environmental laws like the Clean Air Act, Solid Waste Management Act and the declaration of several bio-diverse areas in the Philippines as sanctuaries protected by law.

Loren questions plan to stop use of thermal scanners

Loren questions plan to stop use of thermal scanners
BHUTAN (May 26) – Senator Loren Legarda questioned today the plan to stop the use of thermal scanners in the country’s international airports on account of their alleged ineffectiveness in detecting A(H1N1)flu infection.
“The thermal scanners are already in place and operational in our airports, so I don’t see the point of stopping their use in detecting possible A(H1N1) viral infection of inbound passengers,” said Loren.
Loren is here in Bhutan to address a climate change conference in her capacity as UN Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction for Asia Pacific.
“While the Department of Health may be correct that thermal scanners may not detect A(H1N1) flu carriers during the virus’ incubation period, the scanners can nonetheless detect full-blown virus cases as manifested by the carriers running a fever,” she said.
“We have already invested in the scanners and the training of the personnel who use them. The said equipment would go to waste if they would not be used. More importantly, we would be removing one check valve in the fight against the virus.”
She added that the use of the scanners complement other measures in place against the spread of the virus, including the purchase by the DOH of A(H1N1) testing kits to verify the result of tests conducted abroad on specimens sent them by the Philippine government.
“The more layers, the more ways we try to contain the spread of this virus, the better. The use of the thermal scanners also gives our people peace of mind knowing that the government is acting against the spread of the disease right on our gateways.”

Loren, change to make an enduring difference

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
So much remains to be done to usher our desired change and to make an enduring difference in building the resilience of nations and communities.
The predominance of risks in our societies calls for urgent policy reforms. We need new policies that build local capacity beyond disaster response capability; new policies that link disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and mainstream them into development action and formal education; new policies that reduce and not worsen existing vulnerabilities and risks; new policies that make reducing risk a prerequisite for development funding; new policies that ensure the resilience of our development investments; new policies that are backed by scientific studies and empirical proofs; new policies that are sensitive to indigenous knowledge systems; new policies that promote gender sensitivity and equality; new policies that uphold fairness and equity especially for the poor and disadvantaged.
There is no more appropriate time to show political will, good governance, and exemplary leadership than these trying times. Indeed, these times call for a new breed of leaders – leaders of integrity and responsibility, leaders of wisdom and compassion, leaders of conscience and conviction, leaders who are truly committed to eradicating poverty and uplifting humanity.

LOREN LEGARDA