Background:

The Philippines is 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 by a 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.[1]

Bayani Fernando
  • The people have to touch and smell the river water. It is hoped that this exposure will galvanize them to muster enough political pressure for the government and the rest to act and conserve the river[2].
  • Bayani Fernando and his officials are known not for protecting the environment but for illegal cutting of trees. Numerous documents from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are clear proofs to BF’s illegal tree cutting activities[3]
  • Recycling waste is not viable in the Philippines, and it has cost the Metro Manila Development Authority millions of pesos to operate three of its Materials Reduction Facilities, according to MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando[3]
  • Save the marikina river program[4]
Chiz Escudero
  • "Pangangalaga ng ating kalikasan sa pamamagitan ng wastong paggamit nito upang matiyak na ang ating likas na yaman ay mapapakinabangan ng susunod pang mga henerasyon"[5]
Dick Gordon
  • RA9399 and 9400, fixing the tax regime in Special Economic Zones and Freeports in Clark in Pampanga, Poro Point in La Union; and John Hay in Baguio[6]
  • RA 9367, the Biofuels Act of 2007[6]
  • As Secretary of Tourism he accomplished this with his campaign: "WOW Philippines! More than the usual!"[6]
Gilbert Teodoro
  • Teodoro is more on anti-terrorism laws, civil rights protection, governance and economic development, no stand on the environment is seen[7].
Jejomar Binay
  • Jojo Binay is part of the annual celebration of Caracol, a part of the city government’s continuing commitment to preserve the cultural heritage and to promote the importance of preserving and conserving the environment and natural resources[8].
Jinggoy Estrada
  • Bills, platform and advocacy only includes labor and employment, human rights, pnp magna carta and modernization, tax reforms, ofw related bills, journalism-related bills, decriminalization of libel and local governance. No platform and advocacy regarding the environment[9].
Joker Arroyo
  • Voted yes for RA 9367 Biofuels Act (13th Congress) and RA 8749 Philippine Clean Air Act (11th Congress)[10]
  • Not much stand for the environment seen.  His advocacies are more on human rights and anti-corruption[10].
Joseph Estrada
  • Laws enacted by Estrada are about agriculture, projects on irrigation for farming, and protection for carabao and other animals[11].
Kiko Pangilinan
  • Shares with the mission of ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Kalikasan to spread environmental awareness through education and advocacy. In 2003, Sen. Kiko allocated 6M pesos worth of project assistance for Bantay Kalikasan’s La Mesa Ecopark Project. La Mesa Ecopark is a venue providing for healthful outdoor recreation and a true forest experience. It is a living classroom and laboratory for environmental education and aims to be a center for biodiversity conservation[12].

Loren Legarda

  • Over of the environment, Loren started her campaign for environmental protection and preservation during her stint as a broadcast journalist [13].
  • During her incumbency as Senator, she actively espoused the passage of important environmental measures such as the Philippine Clean Air Act (RA 8749) and Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003)[13].
  • She also espoused the clean up of toxic waste left behind by former US bases in Subic and Clark, and has helped provide medical assistance to children victims of toxic waste contamination[13].
  • Among her co-authored laws on environmental protection are: Mt. Kitanglad Range Protected Area (RA 8978), Batanes Group of Islands Protected Area (Ra 8991), and the Conservation and Protection of Wildlife Resources Act (RA 9147)[13].
  • In 2001, she was awarded by the United Nationals Environmental Program (UNEP) in Turin, Italy, for her significant contributions for the protection of the environment[14]
  • Biggest project in the environmental field is the Luntiang Pilipinas (Greening of the Philippines) Foundation, which she has founded[14]
  • Luntiang Pilipinas has planted over two million trees. As a UNEP laureate, Loren is part of a global network of environmentalists assisting the UN organization in caring for the Earth’s resources[14].
  • President of Trees for Life Foundation[15]
  • President of Save our Seas Foundation Inc.[15]
Manny Villar
  • Initiated a privately funded tree planting drive in his district. He developed a P10-million tree nursery beside his home [16]
  • He also quietly led a dedicated tree-planting drive complete with maintenance and watering of tree seedlings planted in the open spaces of the community[16].
  • He set a strong and principled stance on environment protection legislation with the passage of the “Clean Air Act,” a measure that for more than ten years and three previous congresses were not able to pass[16]
  • SB 941 authored by Manny Villar "an act providing for comprehensive conservation, protection, utilization, development and management of the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ)"[17]
  • SB 942 authored by Manny Villar "an act providing for the conservation and protection of wildlife resources and their habitats, appropriating funds therefore for other purposes" and many more[17]
Mar Roxas
  • Directing the appropriate Senate Committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the status of Implementation of RA 9275, otherwise known as “The Clean Water Act of 2004" in relation to PD 856, otherwise known as the "Code on Sanitation of the Philippines" to determine appropriate remedial measures that will ensure that the law is effectively implemented and sufficiently funded[18].
  • Directing the appropriate senate committee to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the global marine distress safety system (GMDSS) project that the government entered into in 1998 with Thomson CSF NCS of France, which has not been installed and activated at present, and which could have prevented sea mishaps such as the M/V princess of the stars disaster[19]
Miriam Santiago
  • Most of her agenda are on education, job creation and support to entrepreneurs, public order and illegal drugs, youth, women and family relations, health and demography, justice and human rights, revision of codes and laws. No agenda on environment was given[20].
Noli de Castro
  • Proposed to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that the Department of National Defense and Department of Interior and Local Government be tasked to adopt and implement, as a matter of policy, the integration of the environmental intelligence in the overall mission of the intelligence groups of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police[21]
  • About climate change
    • He cited some demonstration projects that are already in place, and are aimed to: 1) enhance the capacity of local communities to adapt to climate change; 2) strengthen the early warning and surveillance system and improve prevention and management of climate change-sensitive diseases; 3) develop the resiliency of human settlements in cities and municipalities to the impacts of climate change[21].
  • Along with other government agencies and the UNDP, he is signatory to the Spanish government supported-program on strengthening the Philippines’ institutional capacity to adapt to climate change[21].
  • VP Noli De Castro cited the importance of preserving the environment while pursuing a more aggressive tourism industry[21].
Pia Cayetano
  • Co-chaired the Joint Congressional Oversight Committees on the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004[22]
  • “Oil Pollution Compensation Act of 2007" (RA 9483)[22]
  • The landmark law mandating the use of biofuels. Known as the "Biofuels Law of 2007" (RA 9367)[22]
  • Helps in the promotion of proper waste segregation by sponsoring community seminars on ecological solid waste management all over the country[22].
  • Active in the campaign to revive the heavily polluted Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River System in Bulacan-the site of one of the worst toxic waste dumping incidents in 2006[22].
  • Initiated several sporting events for a cause, including "Bike for Hope," which raises community awareness on pressing health and environmental issues[22]
Ping Lacson
  • Voted yes for RA 9367 Biofuels Act (13th Congress)[10]

Sources:
[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_in_the_Philippines
[2]http://bayanifernando.ph/profile.html
[3]http://bayanifernandox.tripod.com/baho/baho.html
[4]http://emi.pdc.org/soundpractices/Metro-Manila/SP6-MM-Save-the-Marikina-River.pdf
[5]http://www.chizescudero.com/chiz/aboutChiz.php
[6]http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/gordon_bio.asp
[7]http://www.newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3473&Itemid=88889067
[8]http://www.makati.gov.ph/portal/news/view_news.jsp?news_id=2141
[9]http://www.senjinggoyestrada.com/index.php/index.html
[10]http://eleksyon2007.inquirer.net/
[11]http://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Estrada
[12]http://www.kiko.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=113&Itemid=127
[13]http://www.lorenlegarda.com.ph/index.php
[14]http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/legarda_loren_bio.asp
[15]http://www.adnu.edu.ph/AdnuPagmatu2007/legardal.htm
[16]http://www.mannyvillar.com.ph/biography.html
[17]http://www.mannyvillar.com.ph/bills.html
[18]http://www.marroxas.com/new/dl/SR_525_14th Congress Inquiry on Clean Water Act 24 Jul 08.pdf
[19]http://www.marroxas.com/new/dl/SR_505_14th Congress Global Marine Distress Safety System 14 Jul 08.pdf
[20]http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/santiago_agenda.asp
[21]http://bicol.da.gov.ph/rafc/resolutions_03/rafc_resolution_01-03-03.html
[22]http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/pcayetano_bio.asp