Floods force Tagle to scrap walk for climate change

MANILA, Philippines - Flooded streets and continuous heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm Mario forced Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle to call off the “Walk for Climate Change” from the Manila Cathedral to Baclaran Church yesterday morning.

Tagle, in his homily yesterday morning, said he did not know if the flood and rain were coincidence or providence since the weather seemed to want them to have first-hand experience on the effects of climate change.

He said many of the students who were supposed to join the activity did not show up when classes were suspended yesterday.

Tagle reminded Catholics that taking care of the environment “is not an extracurricular activity (but) it is a part of our Christian responsibility,” adding that the campaign to address the effects of climate change should be supported by deeds. 

He said that there are different levels wherein people could do their share in caring for the environment.

Barangay communities can put up their own material recovery facility wherein families would be encouraged to segregate recyclable materials and give them to the barangay. The barangay, in turn, would sell them and use the money to finance community-related projects, Tagle said.

As for local and national government officials, the archbishop said “they should consider questions such as what kind of development their projects would promote and who would benefit from it.”