Legal Mandate
In response to the urgency for action on climate change, the Philippines passed Republic Act 9729, also known as the Climate Change Act of 2009, anchored on the constitutional provision which states that “it is the policy of the State to afford full protection and the advancement of the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology… to fulfill human needs while maintaining the quality of the natural environment for current and future generations.” RA 9729 provides, among others the following:
• Establishment of a Climate Change Commission, an independent and autonomous body that has the same status as that of a national government agency. The CCC is under the Office of the President and is the “sole policy-making body of the government which shall be tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate the programs and action plans of the government relating to climate change pursuant to the provisions of this Act.” (Section 4).
• The Commission shall be composed of the President of the Republic of the Philippines who shall serve as the Chairman, and three (3) Commissioners to be appointed by the President, one of whom shall serve as the Vice Chairperson of the Commission. (Section 5)
• The LGUs as frontline agencies in the formulation, planning and implementation of climate change action plans in their respective areas, shall formulate their Local Climate Change Action Plan, consistent with the provisions of the Local Government Code, the Framework, and the National Climate Change Action Plan. (Section 14)
• Inter-local government unit collaboration shall be maximized in the conduct of climate- related activities. (Section 14)
