Press statement of Senator Loren Legarda

ON MEGADISASTERS

The report of the United Nations declaring that rampant growth of urban slums in the Philippines and other parts of the world have sharply increased the risk from "megadisasters" shows the close link between poverty , disaster risk reduction and climate change catastrophes.

That is why poverty alleviation should be among the strategies that should be undertaken by our government in preventing extreme weather conditions and reducing disaster damage and casualties.

We can readily see that the poor are most vulnerable to natural disasters like floods and typhoons as they are forced to build their fragile homes on the banks of creeks and rivers, on mountain slopes and over swamps that are prone to devastating landslides and raging floods.

As the UN-designated "champion" for disaster risk reduction in the Asia-Pacific region, it is my advocacy as well as my duty to call our government's attention to this problem and take all the necessary measures especially as the rainy season has already started.

On Aung Sun Suu Kyi

I join the international clamor for the freedom of Nobel Peace Laureate and opposition leader Aung Sun Suu Kyi of Burma. As a member of the Philippine Senate, I appeal to the Burmese (Myanmar) government to release Suu Kyi who has already spent 13 years under house arrest for reasons of justice, humanitarianism and democracy.

While I respect the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other countries, I consider the Suu Kyi predicament as a case of human rights and the rights of the people for democracy. The Myanmar military government has previously declared a "road to democracy." Let it follow this road and thus earn the respect of the decent opinions of mankind.

ON NO-EL

Much now depends on the resolve and determination of the Commission on Elections so that the country can hold elections in 2010. The great majority of our people see the elections a year from now as their only chance to liberate themselves peacefully from what they believe to be an illegitimate, corrupt and unaccountable administration. If no elections take place, they will have no other recourse.

So I appeal to the election commissioners, headed by Chairman Jose Melo, to strengthen their resolve and to make self-sacrifices in their time and efforts to ensure that elections take place.

They are duty-bound to enforce the law on the automation of elections on which the people depend for an accurate counting of the votes. But if this is not possible then they must assure fair and honest elections even though by manual counting.

We should preserve democracy at all costs.