FRONTRUNNERS in the 2025 senatorial race were silent on pressing environmental issues despite the climate crisis’s growing impact on the economy, according to a coalition of “green” groups.

In a statement, the coalition said 88% or 56 of 64 senatorial bets did not respond to its pre-election survey that sought to capture candidates’ position on crucial environmental issues facing the country.

“When climate justice is absent from platforms, it shows a dangerous disregard for the crises deepening hunger, worsening health, and driving poverty,” Lea B. Guerrero, country director at Greenpeace Philippines, said in the statement.

“We need leaders who will stand with people, hold polluters accountable and put climate at the top of the agenda,” she added.

The candidates who responded to the survey were Leodegerio “Ka Leody” De Guzman, Renecio “Luke” S. Espiritu, Jr., Teodoro “Teddy” A. Casiño, Jocelyn S. Andamo, Modesto “Mody” T. Floranda, David Delano D’Angelo, Norman C. Marquez and Arnel Bondilles Escobal.

But Greenpeace cited “previous positive efforts and track records” by nonrespondents like former Senators Francis Pancratius “Kiko” N. Pangilinan, who is cited for the Sagip Saka Act and legislative efforts to address single-use plastics, and Gringo N. Honasan for authoring the Clean Air Act and Solid Waste Management Act. 

The Sagip Saka Act empowered local governments to buy rice, vegetable and poultry for their feeding and relief programs directly from farmers’ groups without the need for bidding.

“While Filipinos grapple with climate disasters, plastic pollution and biodiversity collapse, our politicians cling and aspire to power through dynastic politics, smear campaigns and empty theatrics,” said Von Hernandez, Global Coordinator of the Break Free from Plastic movement.

Greenpeace said the state of the Philippine environment is “regressing,” citing the push for nuclear energy and waste-to-energy facilities.

It also cited the proliferation of single-use plastics, which the government had planned to tax, and attempts to open municipal fishing waters to commercial fishing interests.

The group urged policymakers to support a proposed ban on single-use plastics and institutionalize reuse and zero-waste solutions.

They should also reject “false fixes” like waste-to-energy incineration and nuclear energy, and push measures that would protect and rehabilitate the country’s terrestrial, coastal and marine resources, it added.

“Our communities are drowning in plastic, our coastlines are eroding, and our children are growing up in a world where clean water and safe food are no longer guaranteed,” said Wes Lipana, marine litter management officer at Ecowaste Coalition.

“Our environment is in a state of emergency, and that demands leadership,” he said. “Voters must demand bold environmental leadership and scrutinize candidate track records, not slogans.”

A World Bank report in 2022 showed that climate change could cut the Philippines’ gross domestic product by as much as 13.6% by 2040.

It said “adapting to the risks of climate change, including extreme events and slow-onset problems, is critical for the Philippines.” “It cannot wholly eliminate the costs of climate change, but it can greatly reduce them.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza