French President Francois Hollande’s trip to the Philippines last week on a historic two-day state visit was marked by his vibrant call to action on the global climate-change issue.
This is the first visit to the Philippines by an incumbent French president.
He was feted at a simple and elegant state dinner held last Thursday at Malacañan Palace’s Rizal Ceremonial Hall where he was greeted by President Benigno Aquino III.
Among those in attendance were high-ranking government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and French businessmen eager to invest in the Philippines.
It was my privilege to be present on that occasion, where both presidents launched the Manila Call to Action on Climate Change. “We call for action,” they said, “…and not simply watch history unfold.”
They asked the international community “to conclude a universal, equitable, and ambitious climate deal, in line with the scientific recommendations set out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to preserve our planet as a livable place for future generations.”
The Philippines is one of the countries hardest-hit by the negative effects of climate change, such as out-of-season typhoons. As President Aquino pointed out in his speech at the state dinner, the usual seasonal schedules have changed over the past years.
“The rainy season in the Philippines,” he said, “typically lasts from June to November. However, tropical storm Washi in 2011, Typhoon Bopha in 2012 and Typhoon Hagupit in 2014 all made landfall in December.”
Typhoons that hit during the regular season, such as Nari and Haiyan in 2013, he said, were of “increasing magnitude.”
Both heads of state also made a joint declaration, agreeing “to expand and strengthen bilateral relations and elevate the bilateral relationship to an enhanced partnership between the Philippines and France,” with regard to issues related to “the maintenance of peace and international security and to common objectives to promote inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.”
Also among the areas of cooperation are health, higher education and research, tourism, renewable energy, urban transportation and infrastructure, and natural resources management.
France and the Philippines will be urging other nations to adopt a workable climate change agreement at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) to be held in Paris at the end of this year.
The Manila Call to Action on Climate Change, Presidents Aquino and Hollande said, take into account “the needs and concerns of the most vulnerable countries.”
The French government will therefore extend to the Philippines, through the French Development Agency, a loan of at least 50 million euros “to contribute to the implementation of prevention and reconstruction action in response to natural disasters resulting from the effects of climate change or from other causes.”
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1947. France was the first country to recognize the late President Corazon Aquino upon her election to that position.
We thank President Hollande for his visit to the country and the various initiatives he launched for bilateral cooperation, and congratulate President Aquino on the harmonious and smooth relations he has consistently conducted with other countries to place the Philippines on a firm footing internationally.
We also congratulate them both for their advocacy on climate change, a pressing concern that not only affects certain areas but the entire planet, and not only our generation, but future ones as well.
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PAINTER Rosscapili honors nature in an upcoming exhibit entitled “A Painting Lovely as a Tree” with works inspired by Joyce Kilmers’ famous poem “Trees.”
His recent art retreats in Langkawi and Ubud inspired him to continue a series on trees that he worked on from 1993 to 2006. His new collection comprises abstract trees executed with his signature bold calligraphic strokes.
In his show on March 5 to 27 at ArtPrints Alley, LRI Design Plaza, Bel-Air, Makati City, Rosscapili will be showing 15 canvases of unexhibited works from 2003 to 2006.
For details call 836-8799 or email: theartprintsalley@oneworkshop.ph.