Scope and Limitations

Luntiang Bayan surveyed all national candidates for President, Vice-President, and the first thirty senatorial candidates and first thirty partylists which were leading in the latest polls (SWS, Pulse Asia surveys).

Only the first thirty candidates for senators and partylists were considered for the Luntiang Bayan survey as they have statistically higher chances of being elected.

Methodology

Luntiang Bayan surveyed the candidates through online research using the candidates’ websites, the online Library of Congress and Senate, online newspaper reports and social media.

Candidates were scored for each agenda (see seven-point agenda) based on their statements/ pronouncements (1 point); actual track record (2 points); and were given special points for consistency (3 points).

Luntiang Bayan is convened by Earth Island Institute Philippines, Nilad, Miriam College-Environmental Studies Institute (MC-ESI), Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Save Philippine Seas (SPS), Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, Ecowaste Coalition, PIGLAS, Save Freedom Island Movement, Pull Out COALition, Save Laguna Lake Movement, UP Green League, Miriam Environmental Planning Organization – MEPOrg, Minggan – UP Manila, Minggan – UP Diliman.

Luntiang Bayan is an initiative that seeks to evaluate how green the electoral platform are of those running for office. Posted below are materials from our press briefing last APRIL 21 at the Miriam P.E.A.C.E. Center.

For the party-list race, the leading groups with consistent pro- environment record are Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Butil, and ACT Teachers. For the senatorial candidates, the top four ‘green’ bets are Migz Zubiri, Neri Colmenares, Kiko Pangilinan, and Ralph Recto.

Chiz is greenest VP. Senator Chiz Escudero scored highest among the vice presidentiables. He is followed by his fellow senator, Gringo Honasan. Escudero and Honasan scored high on animal welfare and climate change adaptation. Escudero scored the highest on environment justice because of his statements on the dumping of Canadian trash, the rehabilitation efforts in Yolanda-affected areas, and support for farmers who are suffering from the El Nino weather phenomenon.

Like Poe, Rep. Leni Robredo is only serving her first term in Congress which partly explains why she had fewer legislative proposals compared to other vice presidential candidates. But Robredo topped the category on food security, reflecting her advocacy work in the agricultural sector.

Miriam Santiago is the most consistent ‘green’ candidate. Senator Miriam Santiago is the most consistent candidate in terms of environment advocacy. She topped all categories of the 7-point agenda because of her pro-environment legislative output and public statements that raise attention about the need to reverse the rapid deterioration of our fragile ecosystem.

Meanwhile, other presidential and vice presidential candidates have a mixed record in promoting environmental protection. Most of them claim to be in favor of the environment but they either fail to back their statements with concrete actions or they lack a comprehensive grasp of the environmental issues facing the country.

Among the presidentiables, Duterte placed second mainly because of several ordinances passed by Davao City banning large-scale mining and aerial spraying in plantations. But Duterte was given a negative rating on animal welfare because of his adverse position regarding the Animal Welfare Act.

Senator Grace Poe didn’t receive a negative rating but her score is good enough to land her on third place behind Santiago and Duterte. Perhaps she had fewer output to demonstrate her ‘green’ commitment since she only became a senator three years ago.

The low ranking of Senator Mar Roxas, who is the candidate of the ruling party, is reflective of his support to various ‘dirty’ programs of the incumbent government such as the building of coal plants and expansion of destructive mining operations.