Source: Manila Bulletin                        Date: 05 October, 2011

Legislators from the Philippines recently visited Ulaanbaatar to participate in the Global Peace Leadership Conference sponsored by the Mongolian government. The delegations included Representatives Josie Joson, Gina de Venecia, Aliah Dimaporo, and Bernadette Herrera-Dy.“The Philippines and Mongolia are two countries in stark contrast with each other in terms of language, culture, population, demography and others,” said Joson.  However, despite our countries’ differences, we are both burdened by damages caused to our environment by rapid industrialization.The representatives shared the common experiences as large exporters of natural resources.  Both are struggling to balance their need for development and economic growth with preserving the environment and their homelands. The delegation recommended a “Green Wall” of trees in southern Mongolian to combat desertification. Massive reforestation was the only practical solution to defend against climate change, said de Venecia.Herrera-Dy spoke on behalf of international dispute resolution, and shared her experiences managing mining activities in her district. She addressed the issue of peace directly to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).Read more.“I refer in particular to contested portions of the Spratlys, an island group believed to hold rich oil and natural gas reserves,” said Herrera-Dy. By engaging ASEAN directly, there will be mutual benefits from Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia.Jonson said that her and her colleagues were in a uniform stance to promote peace and gender equality, in addition to the fight against corruption, poverty, and the destruction of Asia's natural environment.