By Tracy Cabrera
A DAY before departing for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC COP28)in Expo City, Dubai, Climate Change Commissioner Albert Dela Cruz Sr. was given recognition by Clean Air Philippines as Clean Air Act Philippine Champion 2023 for his untiring initiative to reduce carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the promotion of non-mechanized vehicles such as electric tricycles (e-trikes) and green transition of the Philippine National Railways (PNR).
According to Clean Air Philippines Movement (CAPMI) chairman Dr. Michael Raymond ‘Mike’ Aragon, Dela Cruz has been a moving force behind their advocacy to protect the environment by lessening anthropogenic activities such as the use of transportation that commonly are powered by gasoline and diesel derived from fossil fuels.
“We give recognition to Comm. Dela Cruz and his personal commitment for clean and safe air for all Filipinos to breathe and his unrelenting quest to bring about better protection and preservation of our environment and natural resources in order to help address the climate crisis we are now experiencing,” Dr. Aragon cited.
“As our Clean Air Champion, (Dela Cruz) represents the hopes of our people in their aspiration for a better and cleaner quality of life through good governance and righteousness that minimizes, if not eliminate, the moral degradation in public service that contributes to the physical destruction of our only home—the planet Earth,” he added.
For his part, Commissioner Dela Cruz reaffirmed his commitment to push for immediate climate action to address the challenges posed by the adverse impacts of climate change and global warming on the day-to-day lives of not only our fellow Filipinos but of all peoples around the globe.
“It is a moral imperative that we commit ourselves to action because we are the protectors of our world. We do this to ensure a better future for future generations who inherit the earth from our hands,” he concluded.
