• President Aquino leaves for France, Italy and Vatican City
• Philippines must institutionalize climate change fight, Says Ambassador Lazaro
• President Aquino declares December 1 a special holiday in Cainta, Rizal
• President Aquino declares December 2 a special holiday in Pasay City

President Aquino’s first stop will be in Paris, France, where he will be joining fellow world leaders at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

“Sa Conference of the Parties o COP21, ibabahagi natin sa ibang mga bansa ang ating karanasan sa pagharap at pagbangon sa matitinding kalamidad,” President Aquino said in a statement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.

“Sa Climate Vulnerable Forum naman po, magsisilbi tayong kinatawan ng mga bansang pangunahing naaapektuhan ng dumadalas at lumalakas na bugso ng kalamidad na dulot ng pagbabago sa klima,” the Chief Executive said.

The President said the COP21 is the best opportunity to tackle issues related to climate change.

“Noon nga pong 2009, nagkaroon ng pagsisikap sa Copenhagen, Denmark na itaguyod ang makatarungang obligasyon ng mga bansa sa pagbabawas ng kanilang greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

“Nabigo pong makabuo ng consensus sa naturang kumperensya. Magandang pagkakataon po ang mga pagtitipon sa Paris upang muling humakbang at idiin ang halaga ng pagkakaisa ukol sa climate change,” he said.

COP21 aims to reach a legally binding and universal agreement on climate change.

“Kaisa natin sa prinsipyong ito si Pangulong Francois Hollande ng France. Noong bumisita siya sa bansa nitong Pebrero, katuwang natin siya sa paglulunsad ng Manila Call to Action on Climate Change,” the President said.

President Aquino said he would be extending his sympathy to the people of France following the recent violent attacks across Paris.

“Sa pagtungo naman natin sa France, ipapaabot natin ang ating pakikidalamhati sa kanilang mamamayan sa karumal-dumal na pangyayari sa kanilang bansa kamakailan lang. Nakikiisa po tayo sa kanila sa pagkondena sa ganitong karahasan na dulot ng pansariling interes ng masasamang elemento,” he said.

While in France, President Aquino said he would also be meeting with various businessmen of companies to discuss trade and investment opportunities in the Philippines.

“Taas-noo nating ipagmamalaki ang mas maaliwalas nang pagnenegosyo sa ating bansa. Sa paghikayat natin sa kanilang mamuhunan at magpalawak ng negosyo dito sa Pilipinas, mas dumadami ang nalilikhang pagkakataon para sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.

From Paris, President Aquino and his delegation will proceed to Rome, Italy. He will meet with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

“Lalagda po tayo doon ng mga kasunduang lalong magpapabuti sa kabuhayan ng ating mamamayan,” he said.
The President is also scheduled to meet with the Filipinos living and working there.

“Kakamustahin natin sila; aalamin ang kanilang mga pangangailangan, upang agaran din itong matugunan,” he said.
President Aquino’s last stop in Europe is the Vatican City.

While in Vatican City, the President will witness the blessing of a mosaic sculpture of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. He will also have an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis.

“Dadalaw rin po tayo kay Papa Francisco, upang ipaabot ang ating mga panalangin para sa bansa at sa ating mga kababayan, na alam nating malapit sa kanyang puso,” he said.

“Gaya ng lagi, lulubusin po natin ang pagkakataon para masagad ang benepisyo ng biyaheng ito para sa mga Pilipino. Ihahayag natin sa mundo ang transpormasyong nagaganap sa ating bansa, at ang kakayahan nating makipagtulungan upang matupad ang ating kolektibong hangarin,” he added.

President Aquino is expected to be back from his three-state European trip on December 5. PND (co)

“Well naumpisahan niya. I think yung principles nailagay niya sa lugar. Institutions are now… regulations and the principles for climate change and environment are already formed,” Ambassador Ma. Theresa Lazaro said in an interview with Radio TV Malacanang on Friday.

Lazaro said some of the regulations are undergoing processes in the legislature and they must be institutionalized by the incoming administration.

“Ito ang mahalaga sa mga ginawa ng Pangulong Aquino. Nailagay na sa lugar… and I mean maski ano pang debate ay kailangang kailangan natin itong ilagay sa tamang lugar in terms of legislation and then the executive branch should implement it,” she said.

The 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21), to be attended by the President on November 30, is important for the Philippines since the country is at the top of the risk index in terms of the effects of climate change.

Lazaro said that because the Philippines is one of the vulnerable countries, it’s economic growth could easily be wiped out by calamities or disasters, putting the country in the continuous cycle of rebuilding.

“That’s why very important ang presence ni President Aquino, of course ang ating delegasyon, pero that also signifies kung gaano tayo kaimportante,” Lazaro said.

“This is a multilateral negotiation… sana ay malaman din ng ibang bayan that their countries will be really suffering kung hindi ihihinto ang mga the usual environmental degradation na ginagawa.”

She said that the Philippines made a commitment that by 2030, it would reduce the green house gas emissions by 70 percent with the help of the global community.

This emission cut is ambitious compared with other countries, with some committing only 30 or 40 percent reduction.

“I hope we can achieve this and kung anuman ang mangyari dito sa negotiations na ito, dito sa COP21, malakas ang impact nito sa buong mundo particularly sa atin. It will really help us,” according to Lazaro.

The Philippine embassy in France is glad that President Aquino is coming as it shows the country’s commitment to addressing the impacts of climate change, she said.

The 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will take place in Paris from November 30 to December 11, 2015.

The event will bring together world leaders to hammer out an agreement aimed at stabilizing the climate and avoiding the worst impacts of climate change. PND (as)

The declaration was made through Proclamation No. 1167, which President Aquino signed on November 24.

The Municipality of Cainta, Rizal, is marking the celebration of its “Sumbingtik Festival” on Tuesday, December 1.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the Municipality of Cainta, Rizal be given full opportunity to participate in and celebrate the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the proclamation stated. PND (co)

President Aquino signed Proclamation No. 1168 on November 24.

“The City of Pasay marks the celebration of its 152nd Foundation Day on Wednesday, 2 December 2015,” the President said in issuing the proclamation.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Pasay be given a full opportunity to participate in and celebrate the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the Chief Executive added. PND (co)