Press Release
July 31, 2009

Healthful ecology, rhythm and harmony of nature
ANGARA IN SUPPORT OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION

Senator Edgardo J. Angara recommends structure for climate change commission and investments on climate sensitive sector during the bicameral proceeding on Senate Bill 2583 or the Climate Change Act of 2008 last Wednesday.

"The structure for any commission is important all the more in this bill that we should be keen because of its vital role to sustain development while fulfilling human needs and maintaining the quality of the natural environment for current and future generations," said Angara formerly Department of Agriculture Secretary.

The bill states that, the State adopts the principle of protecting the climate system for the benefit of humankind, on the basis of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and the precautionary principle to guide decision making in climate risk management. As a party to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention, the State adopts the ultimate objective of the Convention which is the stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system which should be achieved within a time frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.

Recognizing the potential dangerous consequences of climate change affecting the biophysical, environmental and socio-economic aspects of our daily lives Angara emphasized that there should be a regulatory body, a full time member that has a technical and scientific background that is committed in ensuring that the objectives are pursued and met.

Further more, it mandates the national government to provide financial and technical assistance to LGUs for the implementation of their local action plans against climate change.

"We should add a provision that it will be the responsibility of the national government to provide funds to LGUs otherwise this Act will be an "empty law" said Angara who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

The consolidated bill also asked government financial institutions (GFIs) to provide LGUs and private entrepreneurs with preferential financial loans for climate change-related initiatives.

Angara suggested Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to issue implementing guidelines for loan applications so as to compel government financial institutions (GFIs) such as the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Land Bank of the Philippines to extend the loans to LGUs.

"We must muster all efforts that will sustain this action and pursue not only the national goal to provide healthy ecology but a world wide effort to endow a sound environment for the future generation," said Angara.

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