Ozamiz city: Senator
Loren Legarda said she looks forward to Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to the country,
noting that the Pope has been very vocal about the need for man to act against
environmental degradation and climate change.
She also expressed hope that the
Pope’s visit will breathe new life into the ongoing peace process in Mindanao.
Legarda said she looks forward to
the statements of Pope Francis about climate change and how it affects the
poorest and most vulnerable sectors of society.
The Pope’s visit to the
Philippines, especially in Tacloban which was greatly devastated by Super
Typhoon Haiyan, signifies not only his concern for Filipinos and the survivors
of the typhoon but also his stance on climate change and humanity’s role in
protecting the environment, Legarda stressed.
The senator said that Pope Francis
has been calling upon humanity to be the “protectors of the environment.”
Moreover, the Pope is expected to
issue an encyclical on climate change after his visit to the Philippines.
Protecting and preserving our
environment is a moral responsibility for everyone, said Legarda, and the
impact of nature’s forces on vulnerable communities must be reduced to prevent
disasters and alleviate poverty.
Meanwhile, Legarda added she is
also optimistic that the Pope’s visit will help advance the attainment of peace
and stability in the country, especially in Mindanao.
Legarda has been incredibly supportive
of the government’s programs for the Bangsamoro people. She said that the
ongoing peace talks, accompanied by a genuine dialogue between the government
and the MILF, is a significant step in gaining the trust and faith of the
Bangsamoro people and of the whole nation in the government's efforts for peace
and reconciliation.
She added that the issues of
cultural and religious biases and prejudices, human rights violations,
corruption, land conflict and poverty—the root causes of conflict in
Mindanao—must be addressed to finally put an end to this longstanding conflict.