Staunch environmentalist and climate change advocate Senator Loren B. Legarda proposed the creation of a volunteer group to be trained to alert communities during the first sign of natural calamities such as earthquakes, rising sea levels and heavy rainfall. In an interview conducted during the most listened Public Affairs Program “Pulso” over DYRD-AM with anchorman Kagawad Batchoy Alba, Senator Loren Legarda thru phone-patch on Wednesday was asked about what the senator calls “green army”. Senator Legarda explains the organization of “green army” as early warning brigade of manpower to become environment and community leaders. The so called “green army” according to the lady senator, are dedicated young men and women, passionate and dynamic volunteers to fight climate change and deal with it’s cruel consequences like extreme weather events. Legarda further said, green army shall compose of Kagawads, barangay officials and youth volunteers trained to lead evacuation efforts esp. in disaster prone areas. And that they will also conduct rescue and relief operations in affected localities, serving as the disaster response arm of local governments. Legarda also called for the creation of green jobs, beginning with providing daily wages for the quick clean up of affected areas and the de-clogging of waterways. “Many of the solutions to climate change are, surprisingly, nothing sophisticated. They are simple, doable and highly implementable. We only need to muster enough political will in bringing the issue to the fore,” said Loren who chairs the Senate Committee on Climate Change.
