Thirteen years ago, the Philippine capital was hit by Typhoon Ondoy which left almost 700 fatalities. Super typhoon Haiyan in 2013 caused larger damage in many parts of the country.

We are convinced that these severe weather conditions were induced by climate change. Now that we are bracing for the impact of Super typhoon Karding (international name: Noru), which will grave affect communities in Luzon, Living Laudato Si Philippines (LLS) reiterates its call for the declaration of a nationwide climate emergency and the enactment of laws and policies that aim to protect vulnerable communities from the impacts of the worsening climate crisis.

We call on the government to empower local communities in disaster risk reduction and management, as first responders in the face of calamities, by advancing the localization of aid and providing skills development training and resources to local government units.

We expect President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., to actualize his climate stance before the United Nations General Assembly that “injustices must be corrected, and those who need to do more must act now,” by leading the nation in seeking accountability for the carbon debt of the developed countries and demand for funds to help victims of loss and damage in the Philippines due to climate crisis.

Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si’ said, “The effects of the present imbalance can only be reduced by our decisive action, here and now. We need to reflect on our accountability before those who will have to endure the dire consequences.”

In times of calamities, LLS encourages the public to monitor and listen to the authorities, especially those who are in low-lying areas.