‘Misappropriated’ climate fund a setback – Alvarez

MANILA, Philippines – The vice-chairman of the Climate Change Commission on Monday warned that using foreign loans or grants dedicated to climate change to plug the budget deficit could undermine the entire Philippine climate mitigation and adaptation strategy.

In a statement, former senator Heherson T. Alvarez said a portion of the P10.5 billion loan from the Agence Francaise de Developpment (AFD) should have been used for government initiatives to mitigate climate change.

“At the very least 20 percent of the loan should have been earmarked for its intended purpose, especially at this time when the country is beginning to experience another season of violent typhoons and storm surges,” he said.

The former senator, a staunch environmental advocate, declared that if he had been part of the decision process in the deployment of the French loan he would have recommended that a portion be used to modernize the facilities of the PAG-ASA weather bureau.

Alvarez disclosed that he was never informed by any official of the finance or budget departments about the loan totaling 150 million euros from AFD, an agency of the French government.

Alvarez said he learned about the loan directly from AFD officials in a meeting requested by the French agency last June 23 at the Shangri-la Hotel in Makati City.

The AFD was represented by Alexis Bonnel, deputy to the director of the Operational Department, and Ms. Isabelle Vincent, a manager in the Environment and Infrastructure Division.

During the meeting, Alvarez informed the AFD officials that Philippines had already completed a national framework strategy and is now engaged in the formulation of the national climate change action plans.

The meeting was intended to provide Alvarez an overview of the nature and functions of AFD as the main operator for French bilateral Official Development Assistance.

Also in attendance were Filipino consultants of the AFD which inaugurated its Manila office last year. The agency’s country director is Luc Le Cabellec. –abs-cbnNEWS.com