Philippines’ billions in climate funds face scrutiny over green credentials
Al Jazeera
Climate activists say Manila’s massive spending on climate-related initiatives is poorly allocated and inadequately accounted for.
Manila, the Philippines – After typhoon Doksuri battered the Philippines earlier this year, pastor Thaad Samson waded through waist-high waters while going door to door to check on his neighbours.
Seventeen towns in his home province of Bulacan were paralyzed by days of flooding after the typhoon hit the archipelago in July.
When the rains began, Samson’s parish was unfazed since it sits on land “as high as the tip of a cathedral”, but it wasn’t long before residents were crying out for help, Samson told Al Jazeera.
“The towns which didn’t used to experience flooding are now getting a taste of it,” Samson said.
Samson blames reclamation projects in the region for his community’s sudden vulnerability to extreme weather.
