5 4) had already saturated Luzon’s soil late last year. A local Mayor explained, “the problem is, our rescuers here are unable to go out and help”9 because they themselves needed help. Before farmers could even recover from Lawin’s ravage, another super typhoon (Nina) hit the country before the year ended. For Filipinos, this is what the new normal is shaping up to look like. When they are not facing super typhoons, farmers and fisherfolks in Alabat Island in Quezon province and Verde Island in Batangas deal with wilting coconut and vegetables and dwindling fish catch because “mas mainit na ang tag-init at mas mainit na ang dagat” (summers and seas are hotter).10 Finally, a study found children voluntarily working even under harsh conditions to help their families recover from poverty that was exacerbated by super typhoon Haiyan in 2013.11 Haiyan killed more than 6,300 people and displaced four (4) million others, worsening poverty in the central Philippines.12 Accordingly, the petitioners, made up of farmers, workers, concerned Filipino citizens and local non-profit organizations, do not have the luxury of time and resources while respondents debate procedural and technical issues. It should trouble the Honorable Commission that despite the hardship and injustice faced by the people on the frontlines of climate change, the respondents appear to be using traditional court tactics to delay the proceedings, by raising unwarranted procedural and technical issues. The respondent Carbon Majors should not be allowed to worship at the altar of technicalities. Nevertheless, the petitioners’ Consolidated Reply rebuts these arguments presented in the companies’ responses. The petitioners will not accept silence from the other respondents and will continue to press for answers. Those that have chosen to ignore or avoid this national public inquiry may face reputational risks and, ultimately, lose the opportunity to be a part of the solution—an opportunity that this Honorable Commission is kindly affording to these companies. 9 supra., note 8. See recorded interviews of farmers from Alabat and Verde Islands, Exhibits “A” and “B” of the Petition. 11 Available at www.alnap.org/pool/files/b1df71bc-9204-4a41-afeb-7ca36fba6a6c-(1).pdf, last accessed on 08 February 2017. 12 Child Protection and Education Cluster Joint Needs Assessment - Philippines (2014), available at http://www.alnap.org/pool/files/b1df71bc-9204-4a41-afeb-7ca36fba6a6c(1).pdf, last accessed on 08 February 2017. 10