CLIMATE RESOLUTION | PHILIPPINES

ROCHELLE MERGAL

Eastern Samar communities repeatedly rebuild from typhoon damage, only to be destroyed again by another climate disaster. As a response, Mayor Rochelle enacts a historic resolution to hold climate polluters accountable.

Even after recovering from the strongest typhoon in human history, Salcedo, Eastern Samar, has been constantly battered by typhoons that have become more destructive as climate change worsens.

As the mayor of Salcedo, she had to be courageous in her major decisions, just like when a landslide occurred last January 2023. A village reported cracks in the corners of their houses. Upon hearing the report, she responded immediately by mobilizing their disaster risk reduction unit to address the problem. They evacuated around 50 families whose homes were nestled around the hilltop’s corner ledge, saving them from the impending landslide that occurred a day later.

Climate Resolution I Philippines Low Res

Object of Memory

The Salcedo local government has been collaborating with its constituents to build resilient communities. Despite their relentless efforts to mitigate disaster risk and advance the climate agenda, international oil companies continue to exacerbate climate injustices. The repeated impacts of climate change have made it exceedingly challenging for their people to recover each time, severely limiting their capacity to address this crisis. This compelled them to pass the resolution to hold polluters accountable and pay for the loss and damages. She also urged other mayors and communities to join the call.