Senator Camille Villar, the youngest member of the 20th Congress, led the inaugural hearing of the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, signaling a bold and urgent push to address the Philippines’ escalating environmental and climate challenges.

As committee chair, Villar laid out her legislative priorities, focusing on climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and tackling plastic pollution driven by the country’s “sachet economy.” She called for unified action from both government and private sectors to confront the worsening effects of climate change.

“Flooding has become not just a natural hazard, but a governance challenge that tests our capacity for urban planning, disaster preparedness, and environmental law enforcement,” Villar said. She stressed the need for full implementation of key laws such as the Solid Waste Management Act and the Extended Producer Responsibility Law, which she authored during her tenure as Las Piñas representative.

Villar also highlighted the urgency of protecting endangered species and ecosystems, warning that biodiversity loss threatens the nation’s long-term sustainability. “Protecting wildlife means protecting ecosystems, and protecting ecosystems means securing our own future,” she emphasized.

The senator committed to reviewing and updating environmental laws, many of which are over two decades old, to reflect the realities of stronger typhoons, heavier flooding, and rising sea levels. “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children,” she said, setting a forward-looking tone for the committee’s work.

The hearing featured briefings from Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla, Climate Change Commission Secretary Robert Borje, and officials from key agencies including NAMRIA, NRDC, MWSS, CCC, and PCSD. The committee is expected to hold follow-up hearings to assess law implementation, strengthen environmental governance, and craft more responsive policy reforms.