Philippines Wins Migration and Climate Award in Global Migration Summit in Switzerland

Mr. Iliac Diaz of the Liter of Light Project receives one of the three Migrants4Climate Awards for 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland (Photo Credit: Global Forum on Migration and Development)

GENEVA 08 February 2023— The Philippines’ Liter for Light Project was one of the three Laureates of the Migrants4Climate (M4C) Award. The Awarding Ceremony on 23 January 2024 was one of the events of the 14th Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) Summit held in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Migrant4Climate Award recognizes advanced initiatives, which migrants and diaspora communities may lead or involved in, that have a demonstrated climate action impact at the local level. It is granted by the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), a cooperation platform for participating governments to work together on global climate change issues

Started during the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda in 2013, the said Project taught communities how to build solar lights using hand-built solar circuits and recycled materials. In a speech delivered during the same Ceremony, Liter for Light Project’s Illac Diaz said, “We knew we had something here. Something that could work, but something that also made each person realize that they had the power to make a difference.” Ultimately, the Project was able to assist more than a million people in 32 countries. Mr. Diaz said that the Award recognizes the Project’s work with the migrant and diaspora communities to take “real, tangible, and lasting action.”

Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-de Vega, head of the Philippine delegation to the 14th GFMD Summit, lauded Mr. Diaz’s Project. “The Migrant4Climate Award for the Philippines’ Liter for Light Project underscores the Filipinos’ resilience, natural tendency to lend a helping hand to others, and staunch support for migration advocacies,” she said. END