National Inquiry on the Impact of Climate Change
on the Human Rights of the Filipino People
28 March 2018
PRESS RELEASE
PHL at the forefront of seeking climate justice with CHR’s landmark inquiry on the
effects of climate change to human rights
QUEZON CITY—The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) held the first public hearing
probing the alleged responsibility of major fossil-fuel companies or so-called “carbon majors”
to climate change and how this impacts the human rights of Filipinos.
A first in the world, this is considered a landmark inquiry casting the issue of Climate Change
within the human rights framework. In his opening remarks, CHR Chaiperson Jose Luis Martin
“Chito” Gascon said that it is no wonder that the Philippines is at the forefront of seeking to
address the climate issue given that Filipinos is among those who have suffered most from it.
“Among those who are suffering the most from the effects of climate change is the Philippines.
Nowhere has it been more dramatically demonstrated than in November of 2013, when our
country was visited by Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda,” Chairperson Gascon said.
Impact of climate change on vulnerable sectors
Petitioners comprising of victims of calamities and human rights groups testified during the
hearing to share stories and give accounts of how climate change has impacted their lives and
livelihood.
Rica Diamzon Cahilig, a 20-year-old student belonging to the Ayta Ambala indigenous group
in Bataan, shared with grief how the impact of climate change has depleted the forest, which
they consider as their home and primary source of basic needs like food, water, and medicine.
“Nasira na ang gubat na tinuturing naming tahanan at pinagkukunan ng tubig, pagkain, at
maging medisina”, she lamented.
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