Envi group lauds Duterte’s fight vs global warming

In Southern Tagalog, an environmental group lauded President Duterte for making the fight against global warming a top priority of his administration.
“We are glad that the President considers the issue of global warming as top priority. The climate crisis has left a lesson of a seemingly right path to industrialization through the use of fossil fuels and over-extraction – a lesson of loss of livelihood and thousands of lives,” said Rodne Galicha, country manager of nongovernment organization, The Climate Reality Project.
In his State of the Nation Address, Duterte said addressing the global warming, however, should be done in an “equitable equation” and shall not “stymie” the country’s industrialization.
Enrique Gavino Jr., 54, store owner in Naga City, described Mr. Duterte’s speech as “naiiba talaga (really different).”
“But he is telling the truth, especially on [the plight of] poor people who needed government help. He was also sensitive to their needs, like the extension of passport validity to 10 years and the cutting of red tape in government transactions,” Gavino said.
Vince Casilihan, former information officer of the human rights advocate group, Karapatan Bikol, said Mr. Duterte’s Sona was “concise, brief.”
“He knows what to do, he knows the problem… may paninindigan (he has determination),” he said.
Irene Kayle Santillan, 20, former Bicol University Student Council chairperson, said Mr. Duterte’s speech was no different from his campaign promises.
“It was plain, sincere and no-nonsense approach… Unlike the usual Sona speeches, he removed all numerical facts and other data that we don’t really understand and appreciate,” she said.
Dr.  Marius Agua, a college professor from the City of Calapan in Oriental Mindoro, said there was nothing new in Mr. Duterte’s long list of promises and plans.
“But he exudes the aura that he means business,” Agua said.  Reports from Ma. April Mier, Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Maricar Cinco, Juan Escandor Jr. and Madonna T. Virola, Inquirer Southern Luzon/TVJ

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