The Climate Change Commission has received 13 proposals from local government units on ways to mitigate the effects of climate change but expressed fear its P1-billion allocation for the purpose under the People’s Survival Fund may not be adequate to meet the requirements.
“We issued the call for proposals last October 28, and even before the call for proposals, we already have received about 13 proposals from the local government; and looking at their proposal, in terms of the amount that they are requesting, it will go beyond the P1-billion allocation,” said CCC acting deputy executive director Joceline Goco during a press briefing in Malacañang.
“So while in the process, we really have to increase the amount of P1 billion, but we have to prove first and to see what are the different proposals that will be submitted, and we’re looking at that this proposal should be a real proposal on climate change adaptation and not just a proposal to, for example, develop an infrastructure by the local government,” Goco said.
The PSF is a fund created through Republic Act 10174 signed by President Benigno Aquino III in 2012. At least P1 billion should be allotted as the PSF annually.
Last month, the DoF asked LGUs to submit their proposals on climate change mitigation projects which will have to undergo the process of evaluation.
Meanwhile, religious organizations and civil society groups on Wednesday called on the government for a strong and fair global climate agreement ahead of the international climate talks to start on Nov. 30.
At a news conference, Gerry Rances, national chairperson of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, announced their one-week activity for climate justice from Nov. 23 to Nov. 30 throughout the country, “which are all part of mobilizations across the world.”
At least 20,000 people would hold the “March for Climate Justice Pilipinas” on Nov. 28 at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.
“World governments, including ours, through their recent pledges are condemning again the faith of humanity in the face of climate change. A 3 to 4 degree world to us Filipinos is death,” Rances told reporters. “This is a fight for our survival and future. Either we change the system and seek climate justice, or face our death.” With Rio Araja