Climate Change Commission to forge pact with DILG

MANILA, Philippines – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) is set to forge an agreement with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to put in place aggressive adaptation measures to protect communities from strong typhoons this rainy season.

“The battle plan to address and confront the challenges of global warming and climate change in the Philippines, being highly vulnerable to climate-related hazards, is a two-pronged approach,” CCC vice chairman Secretary Heherson Alvarez said.

He explained that the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change (NFSCC) recognizes the need for the country to take up mitigation efforts, and highlights the need for adaptation measures since it is a critical aspect in the fight against climate change.

Alvarez said the Commission is expected to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the DILG and the provincial government of Albay, through its Center for Initiatives and Research in Climate Change Adaptation, by the end of the month.

The other party to the planned MOU will be the United Nations, through its resident coordinator Jacqueline Badcock, who is also the UN Development Program resident representative.

“The Philippine archipelago, with population of over 90 million people, now faces threats from more intense tropical cyclones, drastic changes in rainfall patterns, sea level rise, and increasing temperatures,” Alvarez said.

He said adaptation must be translated to all levels of governance alongside coordinated national efforts towards an incorporated ecosystem-based administration in order to enable sectors to become climate-resilient.

“As our adaptation blueprint, the Albay experience will be replicated in all provinces. It exemplifies the effectiveness of local governance for addressing adaptation and disaster risk reduction needs brought on by natural hazards and climate change,” Alvarez said.

Albay is locally and internationally recognized for its leadership in addressing the challenges of climate change and disaster risk reduction.

Alvarez reported that the Philippines has called for “deep and early cuts” in greenhouse gas emissions by industrialized nations as part of the mitigation strategy.

He added that the Philippine government is seeking financial assistance in the global negotiations to help domestic adaptation efforts against climate change.

A call to action

Meanwhile, civil society groups called on President Aquino to protect the poor by making climate change adaptation a national priority in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Mr. Aquino concurrently serves as the CCC chairman.

“While we are optimistic that his strong pro-poor agenda will be reflected in his climate change policy agenda, we hope to hear him say this in his SONA,” said Aksyon Klima Pilipinas coordinator Rowena Bolinas.

The President never mentioned climate change in his inaugural address, nor was it a core issue in his campaign.

Bolinas’ group noted that about two-thirds or 61 percent of the country’s poor directly depend on sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and forestry that are gravely affected by climate change.

About three million or 25 percent of the labor force employed in these sectors are women.

Aksyon Klima likewise called for the adequate allocation of public funds for adaptation measures. It believes that the Philippines needs at least P22 billion per year for these measures.

The group also urged Mr. Aquino to provide leadership in the Commission, especially in the amendment of the Climate Change Act’s implementing rules and regulations, which does not provide for an institutionalized and multi-sectoral consultative mechanism and lacks clear guidelines on operationalizing the CCC office. –Rhodina Villanueva (The Philippine Star)