Debates reflect society’s lack of environmental concern

In less than a month, we, Filipinos, will elect a new set of leaders for our country. The debate series administered by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), “PiliPinas Debates,” is deemed as one of the major avenues for the candidates to publicly engage in a formal discussion of certain issues of national concern such as the environment. Unfortunately, the latter was barely given regard.

It can be observed that during the first PiliPinas Debate on February 21, nothing in relation to our environmental concerns was mentioned. The lack of which was compensated in the second presidential debate where the issue on climate change was raised through the question of Amy Pamintuan to Mayor Rodrigo Duterte which was “Paano natin matutupad ang ating commitment sa UN habang tumataas naman ang dependence natin sa coal para sa ating energy security?”