Aquino vows to enforce environmental laws

Leading presidential candidate Benigno S. "Noynoy" Aquino III, in celebration of Earth Day on April 22, 2010, has vowed to make disaster preparedness and the strict enforcement of environmental laws as key objectives of his administration should he be elected.

Aquino said, in his 16-point Social Contract with the People, he will bring about "a government that will encourage sustainable use of resources to benefit the present and future generations" instead of "a government obsessed with exploiting the country for immediate gains to the detriment of its environment."

Aquino added that environment concerns could easily be simplified. "If there are no forests, there are no watersheds. No watersheds, no water. No water, no food. No food, no people."

A cross-cutting approach will guide the environmental efforts of an Aquino administration:

1. EDUCATION - An Aquino administration will strive to raise people's awareness on the impact of climate change and environment protection on our economy, and build up their capacity for adaptation strategies.

2. ENGINEERING - An Aquino administration will partner with the private sector in building infrastructure for urban and rural agriculture and renewal energy initiatives, and in applying appropriate technologies for sustainable development. It will invest in people to keep sectors competitive and healthy.

3. ENFORCEMENT - Through strict enforcement of existing environmental laws like the Clean Air, Water, and Solid Waste Acts, coupled with sound mechanisms to ensure compliance, an Aquino administration believes that the Philippines can become more climate-change adaptive.