Senator Loren Legarda's speech emphasizes the critical importance of rice as a staple food for Filipinos and the severe impacts of climate change on rice production. She cites studies projecting up to a 75% decline in rice yield by 2100 without climate adaptation efforts and highlights the potential of agroforestry to improve farmer incomes and environmental quality. Legarda urges immediate action to address climate issues to prevent future food shortages, particularly rice.

1. SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA
SPEECH
Session Hall
December 18, 2013

2. Filipinos are rice-loving citizens.
Rice is our staple food.

3. Our rice production is
greatly affected
by the warming
climate.

4. A 4-degree Celsius global
temperature would cause
floodingin many
coastal cities, there will be
extreme heat waves,
water scarcity,
stronger tropical
cyclones, and loss of
biodiversity.
- World Bank

5. Extreme weather events caused by the
warming climate threatens all aspects of
our life including our staple food.

6. A 2009 study by the Asian Development Bank
showed that rice yield in the Philippines can decline
by 75% in 2100 with the absence of climate
adaptation programs.

8. • Improves forest goods and
services and increases
productivity
• Improves soil quality and
enhances the conservation of
other biomes
• Through agroforestry,
farmers’ incomes are
augmented, since cash crops
are planted simultaneously
with forest trees.
• Improves the quality of
water and air

9. FOOD WASTE
Each Filipino wastes an average of two
tablespoons of cooked rice daily.
FEED THE HUNGRY
This wastage could feed about 2.6
million Filipinos for one year.

11. The Hudhud Chants
of the Ifugao,
declared by UNESCO as
one of the 19
Masterpieces of Oral and
Intangible Heritage of
Humanity, are performed
in four occasions—the
harvesting and
weeding of rice,
during funeral wakes, and
in bone-washing rituals.

13. We need to take aggressive and
immediate action to adapt to the
changing climate or prepare ourselves
for meals with no rice at all.

14. THANK YOU