Press Release
July 20, 2011

Sen. Bongbong Marcos seeks to incorporate the study
of Climate Change in Tertiary education curricula

Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos has filed a bill seeking to include the study of climate change as part of the curricula for all courses in the tertiary education level to create awareness on the alarming impact and challenges of climate extremities.

Marcos explained that Senate Bill 2885 or the proposed Climate Change Education Act of 2011, which he authored, will mandate the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) to include a three (3) unit subject for the study of climate change as part of the curricula for all college courses in order to provide tertiary level students sufficient grounding on said subject.

"The inclusion of the study on climate change in the curricula for tertiary education is a monumental step towards a long but winnable battle to prevent or forestall climate change to mitigate its effects on humankind and to prepare the Filipino people to adapt to climate change," Marcos said

While Republic Act No. 9729, otherwise known as the "Climate Change Act of 2009 mandates the integration of climate change education into the primary and secondary education curricula, Marcos emphasized that there is a need to give additional emphasis and focus on the subject in all tertiary education courses by incorporating the study of climate change.

"Climate change is a man-made phenomenon and its fast advancement toward disastrous circumstances can be prevented or forestalled by men. It is therefore of paramount importance that proper education on climate change be given to the present generation as awareness of the extent of the problem and its serious and real threats to our existence would undoubtedly be an effective tool in addressing this global challenge," he continued.

Marcos added that climate change is not a mere environment issue but more of a humanitarian concern. Remedial measures to address the problem are not just the obligation of governments and international organizations or NGO's but also an obligation of every person in the present generation and in generations yet to come under the principle of inter-generational responsibilities.

The senator said that according to the United Nations Secretary General, climate change is the major, overriding environmental issue of our time and the single greatest challenge facing environmental regulators. It is a growing crisis with economic, health and safety, food production, security and other dimensions.

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