Climate Change Commission performing its functions – Alvarez

MANILA, Philippines – Contrary to claims made by critics that it has not accomplished anything, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) said it has “always been ahead of its mandate despite some budgetary setbacks.”

CCC Secretary Heherson Alvarez said that in fact, the commission “is ready to do battle with climate change, nearly completing the country’s ‘mantle of protection’ against the onslaught of devastating climate disasters.”

“The complaint of certain quarters in the Senate that the Commission has not accomplished anything stems from lack of information and understanding of our functions. This eight-month-old body has been doing very well and we are doing our job with dynamism and competence,” he stressed.

Alvarez said the commission is very much in a position to access adaptation funds in the international arena, and all other available funds under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

During his formal meeting with UNFCCC executive secretary Christiana Figueres at the August negotiations in Bonn, Germany, Alvarez said the Philippine delegation sought access to the Adaptation Fund of the Kyoto Protocol, now amounting to about $150 million, and to the new $100-billion fund being organized by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for adaptation.

“We delivered our mandates always ahead of deadline. These are timetables that the Senate itself assigned to us when they crafted that law and so far, we are moving ahead of schedule, we are discharging our functions well. This deserves commendation from the Senate and not brickbat criticisms on an eight month-old Commission that the Executive has brought to life. In due time, this will be one of the most potent institutions versus climate change,” Alvarez said in a statement.

He also belied reports that the Commission is not consulting fisherfolk, farmers and other sectors affected by climate change.

“At least 28 extensive formal and informal consultations with all these sectors were done in the crafting of the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change over a period of four months,” he said.

This reportedly involved more than 800 delegates representing 324 national, regional and sectoral non-government organizations (NGOs), civil society organization (CSOs), national government agencies, private and religious sectors, and the academe.

“The National Action Plan on Climate Change, which is due in April 2011 according to the law, is now in progress and the commission may be able to deliver this before the year ends or four months ahead of schedule,” Alvarez added. –Rhodina Villanueva (The Philippine Star)