Legarda reiterates call: Earth Day must be every day

In the face of a worsening climate crisis, Senator Loren Legarda underscored the need for daily action—beyond ceremonial observance—as the true spirit of Earth Day.

“Earth Day should not be observed only once a year. It must be a daily reminder of our shared responsibility to protect and preserve our environment,” Legarda stressed, urging Filipinos to embrace sustainable living and support clean energy policies.

Aligning with this year’s Earth Day theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” the Senator called for nationwide action to accelerate the energy transition.

“The energy transition cannot be left to industry alone. Our energy transition must include every Filipino. When a household installs a solar panel, participates in net-metering, or when a business chooses the green energy option, it is not merely adopting a new technology—it is asserting its right to clean air, lower costs, and a livable future. Community microgrids bring not just power to homes but economic gains to businesses, lower bills for everyone, and stronger resilience during crises,” she said.

Legarda, author and co-sponsor of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA 9513) and principal author and co-sponsor of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (RA 11285), highlighted how energy choices directly impact public health.

“Cleaner energy means fewer emissions—and fewer lives lost to asthma, heart disease, and maternal complications linked to pollution. It means protecting women and children, who are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation,” she noted.

Beyond legislative work, Legarda appealed to the public to adopt simple but impactful habits:

“This Earth Day, I call on every Filipino to take part—at home, in the barangay, at work. Plant trees. Turn off what you don’t need. Choose LED lights. Explore solar technologies and local microgrids. Demand clean energy choices from providers and support policies that bring us closer to a decentralized, democratized energy future. Our shift to cleaner energy is more than a change in infrastructure—it reflects a deeper shift in values.”

Throughout her public service, Legarda has championed major environmental laws, including the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003), the Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729), and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (RA 10121)—forming the backbone of the country’s climate resilience and environmental protection strategy. (30)