In order to more fully implement its mandate and functions, the Climate Change Commission has embarked on a series of consultations in order to revise the Climate Change Act (RA 9729) Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). In its desire to be participative, inclusive and transparent, and also to comply with Sec. 22 of RA 9729, the Commission, through an IRR Revisions Committee, has called for four consultations so far with various government agencies, civil society groups, non-government organizations, academe and the private sector.

The first consultation was held on August 22 at the New Horizon Hotel (EDSA corner Boni Avenue) and had as participants representatives from the Department of Health (DOH), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The second consultation was held on September 2 at the MESLA, Malacañang Compound, and was participated in by representatives of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Education (Dep Ed), Department of Energy (DOE), National Youth Council (NYC), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of National Defense (DND).

The third consultation was held on September 9 at the New Horizon Hotel and was participated in by representatives of the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG), Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), UP Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI), Institute of Social Order (ISO), De La Salle University, Sibol ng Agham at Teknolohiya (SIBAT), Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), Tebtebba Foundation, Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment (SEARICE), Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC), Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG) and Christian Aid.

The fourth consultation was held on September 30 at the Hotel Kimberly (Malate, Manila), and we had as participants representatives from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), the Insurance Commission, Philippine Postal Savings Bank, Quedancor, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), National Development Corporation (NDC) and the People’s Credit and Finance Corporation (PCFC).

After the consultations, we will gather all the recommendations and suggestions that came out and undergo a Writeshop to come up with the draft Revised IRR of RA 9729. The Writeshop is scheduled to be held on October 13-14. The resulting draft Revised IRR will then once again be sent out to the different agencies and CSOs who participated in the consultations for any final comments, and after the designated period, the IRR Revisions Committee will finalize the draft Revised IRR. It will then be presented by the Committee Chairman, Commissioner Naderev Saño, to the Commission for final approval. Final approval from the Commission is expected to occur within the month of October.

We thank the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) for supporting the first 3 Consultations and the Writeshop.