December 2nd, 2024
House Ways and Means Chair Joey Sarte Salceda urged the Climate Change Commission and the Department of Finance to “keep the country’s right to affordable energy at the heart of our decarbonization efforts,” as proposals are being discussed to push high-emitting industries like the power sector and manufacturing to decarbonize.
Salceda, the first Asian co-chair of the United Nations’ Green Climate Fund (GCF), made the statement as the House Committee on Ways and Means was discussing the tax provisions of the Unnumbered Substitute Bill to House Bills No. 7705 and 10633, entitled “AN ACT PROMOTING INVESTMENTS IN LOW CARBON ECONOMY, ESTABLISHING FOR THIS PURPOSE A CARBON EMISSION PRICING FRAMEWORK AND IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISM TO ACHIEVE LOW CARBON AND RESILIENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,” authored by Reps. Chatto, Magsino, et al.
Salceda cited Article 3 of the Paris Agreement, which states that climate obligations between developing and developed countries shall be “on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities” and Article 4, which states “that economic and social development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities of the developing country Parties.”
“These two combined give us the right to affordable energy,” Salceda said in the hearing.
“Our meeting these obligations are contingent on rich countries taking the lead.” Salceda added.
Salceda expressed his position that efforts to decarbonize the Philippine economy should not come at the expense of development and of Filipino consumers, who he says may have to pay as much as P18 per kilowatt hour of electricity if the country were to completely decarbonize. Salceda also expressed concerns about tax incentives and government funds being spent on decarbonization efforts without counterpart climate financing from developed countries.
“Ni singkong duling, dapat walang bayaran ang mga Pinoy, dahil tayo ang biktima.Kaya bawat decarbonization, dapat binabayaran ka. ‘Yun ang entire Paris Agreement,” Salceda said.
“Walang sinasabi doon na magsarili ka,” Salceda added, emphasizing Paris Agreement provisions that developed countries must take the leading role in decarbonization.
“Kung gusto nila tayong gumawa para sa kanila (referring to developed countries), bayaran nila tayo,” Salceda emphasized.
Salceda also paid tribute to Filipinos “who took a leading role in climate negotiations,” saying that the UN Green Climate Fund was fought for by Ambassador Bernarditas Muller and the principle of loss and damage, which created the Loss and Damage Fund hosted by the Philippines was fought for by CCC-tapped expert Baby Supetran.