Press Release - Transcript of Sen. Pia Cayetano's Pampanga media interview

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Q: Ano po ang laman ng mensahe niyo sa mayors mamaya?

Sen. Pia S. Cayetano (PSC): Well, on theme naman ako kasi ang theme nila is sustainable cities through creating smart cities. And naging Chairman ako ng Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation, and Futures Thinking for 5 years.

So I will just be sharing some of my insights and practical advice on really how to create sustainable communities. Kasi gusto ko sana na maramdaman naman nila kung ano yung soul ng theme na yun, sustainable cities. It's very fun, they can be very creative. Hindi naman one-size-fits-all. Ishe-share ko rin sa kanila para lalo silang ganahan to create sustainable cities and communities.

Q: Key insights from Taguig as being a smart city?

PSC: Well, sa Taguig, actually, ang dami. But one would be talagang mag-invest ka to create a network of safe pathways. What does that mean? Kasi Taguig is very urban, diba? Ang kilala ng tao ay yung urban side of Taguig. Pero actually, ang laki ng sakop ng Taguig, hanggang sa Laguna Lake. Ang ganda-ganda niya. Kailangan nade-develop din yun as a recreational destination because alam niyo naman ang kahalagahan ng mental health, bata, matanda, lahat may napupuntahan. Relax-relax. So we have pathways na pang walkway lang, tapos meron kaming hiwalay na pang-bike lang, saka pa yung kotse. So ganun ang klase ng investment doon na long-term, para yung mga gustong mamasyal, may stroller na dala, yung matatanda, hindi nila kailangan makipagsabayan sa bisikleta, at lalong hindi makipagsabayan sa kotse.

And one last example is also yung sustainable management ng basura. Meron tayong mga materials recovery facility (MRF), na hindi naman ganun kabago ang technology diyan. But kailangan matuto from every household to segregate trash. Kasi saan ba napupunta yan? Hindi naman nagdi-disappear. Nandyan lang yan. So we have to be mindful and have programs. Because kasama sa sustainable development, isa sa mga goals yung responsible consumption ng ating mga pang-araw-araw na ginagamit.

Philippine Natural Gas Development Act

Q: How will the proposed Philippine Natural Gas Development Act address energy security?

PSC: