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Creation of Climate Change Commission approved
30 December 2008 08:41:23 AM
Writer: Abigail Modino Macabeo

Pursuant to the House of Representatives' agenda to promote environmental protection, the House Committees on Government Reorganization and Appropriation jointly approved a proposal to create a climate change framework program and establish a Climate Change Commission.

The committee report of the substitute bill, which is a consolidation of House Bills No. 400, 1775, 3291, 4051 and 4853, is now being finalized by the two committees.

Rep. Roilo S. Golez (2nd District, Paranaque City) author of HB 400 said the measure aims to address ever growing and urgent concerns on the impact of climate change, not only on the country but on other nations as well, ensuring that the world will still be fit for human habitation in the future.

Rep. Carmelo Lazatin (1st District, Pampanga), author of HB No. 1775, for his part said climate change presents very serious global risks and demands an urgent global response.

Rep. Ignacio T. Arroyo (5th District, Negros Occidental), author of HB No. 4051, said doing something concrete about climate change should include the passage of the solons' proposal. "Global warming, the gradual worldwide rise in surface temperature is no longer a hypothetical threat to mankind but now a clear and observable fact."

Rep. Orlando B. Fua (Lone District, Siquijor) author of HB 3291 said the Philippines being an archipelagic country with many small islands is especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change, rising sea levels, and other extreme events.

"Sea level rise will exacerbate inundation, storm surges, erosion and other coastal hazards thus threatening vital infrastructure settlements and facilities that support livelihood of island communities," Fua said.

Rep. Rex Gatchalian (1st District, Valenzuela), author of HB 4853, said the creation of a national framework program on climate change shall establish mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and institutionalize the country’s commitments to international efforts to address the problem on climate change.

The consolidated measure seeks to require the Climate Change Commission and local government units (LGUs) to formulate and implement a national climate action plan based on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and other international agreements on climate change.
The substitute bill likewise provides for a Climate Change Fund that shall provide financial assistance to priority adaptation and mitigation projects identified by the Commission and allow LGUs availment of the fund.