{"id":67836,"date":"2025-05-06T17:59:17","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T09:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/?p=67836"},"modified":"2025-07-02T15:32:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T07:32:22","slug":"88-percent-of-senate-candidates-ignore-environmental-crisis-ahead-of-2025-midterm-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/press\/67836\/88-percent-of-senate-candidates-ignore-environmental-crisis-ahead-of-2025-midterm-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"88% of Senate Candidates Ignore Environmental Crisis Ahead of Midterm elections"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Green groups slam \u201cdeafening silence\u201d as ecological threats escalate<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Quezon City \u2014 <\/em><\/strong>Leading environmental groups decried the sidelining of urgent environmental issues in the platforms of candidates running for senator in the upcoming Mid-term Elections, revealing that about 88% (56 of 64) failed to disclose their environmental agendas in the 2025 Green Electoral Initiative.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Only 8 candidates responded to the pre-election survey that sought to capture candidates\u2019 positions on crucial environment issues facing the Philippines today.<\/strong> The <\/strong>groups behind the initiative includes Ecowaste Coalition, Greenpeace Philippines, PANGISDA Pilipinas, Health Care Without Harm, Community Legal Help and Public Interest Center (C-HELP), Mother Earth Foundation, Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS),  BAN Toxics and Break Free from Plastic (BFFP). <\/p>\n\n

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\u201cOnly eight candidates responded to urgent environmental questions\u2014that\u2019s not just disappointing, it\u2019s a red flag,\u201d said Lea Guerrero, Country Director of Greenpeace Philippines. \u201cWhen climate justice is absent from platforms, it shows a dangerous disregard for the crises deepening hunger, worsening health, and driving poverty. We need leaders who will stand with people, hold polluters accountable, and put climate at the top of the agenda.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Who Showed Up? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The candidates who responded to the survey and submitted their positions include Leody De Guzman, Teddy Casino, Luke Espiritu, David Delano D\u2019Angelo, Jocelyn Santos Andamo, Norman Marquez, Mody Floranda, and Atty. Arnel Bondilles Escobal,<\/strong> while previous positive efforts and track records by non-respondents like ex-senators Francis \u201cKiko\u201d Pangilinan (Sagip Saka Act and legislative efforts to address single-use plastics) and Gringo Honasan (Clean Air Act and Solid Waste Management Act) were noted.<\/p>\n\n

Frontrunners\u2019 Notable Absence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Meanwhile, top-polling candidates snubbed the survey entirely, despite a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll showing that 92% of voters prioritize issues that are strongly linked to environmental and climate action, including food security and hunger, jobs, reduced poverty and disaster resilience.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe silence of frontrunners is  a damning symptom of our broken political system,\u201d said Von Hernandez, Global Coordinator of the Break Free From Plastic movement. \u201cWhile Filipinos grapple with climate disasters, plastic pollution and biodiversity collapse, our politicians cling and aspire to power through  dynastic politics, smear campaigns and empty theatrics. Filipinos deserve leaders who fight like our nation\u2019s survival depends on a safe and healthy environment\u2014because it does, and survival is non-negotiable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

The groups also lamented the current state of  the Philippine environment which they said seems to be  regressing as evidenced by the programs and policies driven by the government\u2014from entertaining problematic nuclear energy and waste burning incineration as solutions, to allowing the continued proliferation of single use plastics and recent attempts to open municipal fishing waters to commercial fishing interests.<\/p>\n\n

PANGISDA Pilipinas chairperson Pablo Rosales minced no words: \u201cAng ating mga pulitiko ay nahuhumaling sa mga panandaliang remedyo o band-aid solutions habang patuloy na nalulugmok ang bansa sa kahirapan, basura at krisis. Kailangang pagtuunan ng pansin ang sistematiko at  makatarungang mga solusyon upang lunasan ang kawing-kawing na krisis ekolohiya.\u201d<\/em> (Politicians obsess over quick fixes while the nation wallows in poverty, trash and crisis. We need systemic and just solutions to solve the inter-connected ecological crisis.) <\/p>\n\n

The groups unveiled a Survival Agenda to guide the electorate in selecting candidates they should vote for public office: ban single-use plastics and institutionalize reuse and zero waste solutions; end fossil fuels and promote climate justice; protect the rights of small fisherfolks, waste workers and consumers; champion real solutions and reject false fixes like waste to energy incineration and nuclear energy; and protect and rehabilitate the country\u2019s terrestrial, coastal and marine resources. \u201cThis isn’t just policy\u2014it\u2019s a fight for breathable air, edible fish, and a liveable future,” stressed Wes Lipana, Marine Litter Management Officer of Ecowaste Coalition. \u201cOur communities are drowning in plastic, our coastlines are eroding, and our children are growing up in a world where clean water and safe food are no longer guaranteed. Our environment is in a state of emergency, and that demands leadership. Voters must demand bold environmental leadership and scrutinize candidate track records, not slogans,\u201c Lipana added.<\/p>\n\n

Since 2004, the Green Electoral Initiative has exposed candidates\u2019 environmental commitments or lack thereof. The methodology involves a survey sent to candidates running for national office, asking them to disclose their positions on issues such as climate, biodiversity, waste management and pollution.<\/p>\n\n

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Note to the editors:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n