PMCJ lauds San Fernando City LGU in La Union for declaring climate emergency, addressing the root cause of the climate crisis
- Media Communications
- Mar 20
- 2 min read
Quezon City, Philippines — The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) welcomes San Fernando City Mayor Hermenegildo "Dong" Gualberto’s declaration of a climate emergency through Executive Order No. 60-2024, committed to craft strategic measures in addressing the climate crisis.
"Mayor Dong placed San Fernando at the forefront of the country's fight for climate justice, as he resoundingly calls for the phasing out of fossil fuels while placing at the front and center the city’s adaptation and mobilization of resources to prepare the people for these impacts. The city adds to an increasing number of 19 LGUs which not only prioritize programs to address climate impacts but also decarbonize the energy consumption of these jurisdictions. The efforts of these LGUs should be a wake-up call for the Philippine government to declare a national climate emergency now," PMCJ National Coordinator Ian Rivera said.
San Fernando City’s declaration followed the municipality of Bauang’s last August 2024. The Koalisyon Isalbar ti Pintas ti La Union (KIPLU), being one of the instrumental local organizations in the ongoing fight for climate justice in the province, acknowledges this declaration.
“KIPLU has long been fighting for the environment and achieved modest but significant wins along the way. Aside from a city and a municipality that declared climate emergencies, the towns of Luna, San Gabriel, San Juan, and Aringay committed to banning coal projects in their jurisdictions,” Crisanto Palabay of KIPLU said.
According to one of his EOs, Mayor Gualberto recognizes that immediate local government interventions are necessary, as San Fernando is a coastal city vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis.
“Not only the LGU, but also the citizens of La Union know the urgency of addressing the climate crisis. Recently, the PMCJ, KIPLU, San Juan Resort Restaurant Hotel Association Inc. (SJRRHAS), and others, went against the La Union Electric Company (LUECO)’s power rate hike. These same local leaders and concerned constituents recognize how the problems affecting their lives and livelihood are interconnected to the climate crisis, as they are the same people who stand at the frontlines of every fight,” PMCJ Luzon Coordinator Erwin Puhawan said.
Mayor Gualberto’s EO also carefully laid-out the country’s climate commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“As we commend this significant achievement of San Fernando LGU, let us also challenge other subnational governments to declare a climate emergency and commit to tangible plans and actions for climate justice. This also serves as a wake-up call to the national government: The LGUs are doing their job to protect the lives and livelihood of their constituents, and also the planet. We must keep up,” Rivera ended. ###
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Sheila Abarra
Senior Media and Communications Officer
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice
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