New law in the Philippines assigns LG to lead grassroots action on climate change
23 October 2009, Manila, Philippines
On 23 October 2009, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed a new law that places local government (LG) at the forefront of Philippine grassroots-based efforts to address climate change.
Under the new law - the Climate Change Act of 2009 – LG “shall be the frontline agencies in the formulation, planning and implementation of climate change action plans in their respective areas.” The law also states that “Municipal and city governments shall consider climate change adaptation as one of their regular functions. Provincial governments shall provide technical assistance, enforcement and information management in support of municipal and city climate change action plans.” Furthermore, collaboration between LGs shall be maximized in the conduct of climate-related activities.
In addition to this, the law highlights LGs’ role in the campaign against climate change as it calls for integrating disaster risk reduction (DRR), which is implemented at the local level, into measures to address this scourge. DRR is the concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyze and manage factors that cause disasters.
On the other hand, the national government will extend technical and financial assistance to LGs so these can prepare their respective climate change action plans.
This law’s principal author, Senator Loren Legarda, believes in institutionalizing LGU action on climate change, noting communities nationwide are at risk for sea level rise, increasingly violent weather disturbances, flooding, drought, biodiversity destruction and other ills from this scourge. Among 200 countries worldwide, she pointed out the Philippines is the 12th most vulnerable to storms, floods and earthquakes.
Further information on the new law can be found in "LGUs to lead grassroots action on climate change" by Catherine J. Teves.