THE Palace on Monday acknowledged the criticisms from former President Fidel V. Ramos, who has urged the Senate to ratify the Paris Agreement on Climate Change because any further delays would make the country more vulnerable to typhoons.
“We appreciate former President FVR’s advice. We will be guided by the wisdom of former President FVR,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a message to reporters.
“It is only in the approach or method [that] the two leaders [Duterte and Ramos] differ on the issue of climate change. Each has his own style and we have to learn to respect the difference.”
Ramos, who earlier warned Duterte that he was “shooting himself in the mouth” when he insulted the United States, the European Union and the United Nations, said it would benefit the government if the Senate ratified the Paris Agreement.
He said under the agreement, the wealthy countries were supposed to set aside at least $100 billion yearly as financial assistance to developing countries starting 2020 to enable all countries to develop and use renewable energy sources. This allocation was expected to increase with time.
Even the country’s chief economist, Socio-economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, has said he will explain to Duterte that the Paris Agreement on climate change will not hinder Philippine economic development.
Experts including former Environment Undersecretary Antonio La Viña say the Philippines’ approval of the agreement will help Duterte fulfill his 10-point agenda.
Duterte had earlier declared he was against ratifying the Paris Agreement that calls on member countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 70 percent.
The Paris Agreement will enter into force on Nov. 4 after it was ratified by more than 55 countries.
The Philippines signed the agreement in April this year.
The country is also set to participate the Marrakesh Climate Change Conference in Morocco this November.