File photo: Senate President Franklin Drilon.
MANILA, Philippines — On April 22, 2016, the Aquino administration signed the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
The Philippines then promised to reduce its carbon emission to 70% until 2030 with the help of the international community.
178 nations signed the agreement but so far, only 19 countries have ratified and approved their respective laws limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
The Philippines’ version has not yet been ratified to this day.
For his part, President Rodrigo Duterte believes that the international agreement is only a roadblock to national progress such as in the Philippines.
But for Senate President Franklin Drilon, the President serves as the architect of the country’s foreign policy and so, his position on the issue must be respected.
“The President is the architect of our foreign policy. He is the principal actor in so far as foreign policy is concerned,” Sen. Drilon said.
We respect the position of the President.
Sen. Drilon says it is the job of the Senate to ratify or approve an agreement but if the Chief Executive refuses to endorse the legislation to the Senate, then they should respect his decision.
“The role of the Senate is treaty ratification. If President Duterte as a matter of policy decided that we will not ratify the agreement then that is the prerogative that he has as chief executive,” Sen. Drilon added.
Drilon adds that the issue is similar to the Enhance Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA in the past.
“Then President Aquino took the position that EDCA is not a treaty which requires concurrence and therefore did not send it to the Senate. The Supreme Court sustains the President and said indeed it was not a treaty which requires the concurrence by the Senate.”
(BRYAN DE PAZ/UNTV NEWS & RESCUE)
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