SENATOR Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao batted for the creation of an agency to create long-term strategies addressing climate change.

He said a climate change agency is better than creating an administrative department for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The senator emphasized that the recent typhoon that ravaged Mindanao and Palawan are tangible evidence of a changing climatic pattern.

“I grew up in Mindanao and we never really experienced strong typhoons. Biyaya para sa aming mga taga-Mindanao ang tubig. Ngayon lang talaga namin nararanasan ang mga ganitong kalalakas na mga bagyo,” Pacquiao said.

“Dati madalas lang ang ulan sa amin pero natutuwa kami kasi nakakapag-ipon kami ng tubig para sa aming inumin. Kaya maganda ang magtanim sa Mindanao dahil maliban sa masustansiya ang aming mga lupa ay maganda pa ang klima. Ngayon lang talaga namin nararanasan ang mga ganitong mga bagyo,” he added.

Pacquiao said that the NDRRMC is competent in responding to disasters, not in developing long-term disaster adaption strategies.