by LISA GAPAC, The Visayan Daily Star

Bacolod City, November 26, 2010 - The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, a national non-government organization, yesterday  called on  local government units in Negros Occidental to support and urge Congress to immediately pass  House Bill 3528, creating the People’s Survival Fund authored by Rep.  Lorenzo Tañada III (Quezon, 4th District).

ICSC policy advocacy coordinator Shyo Sayajon yesterday said this bill is the local climate adaptation of strengthening and defending local community against the devastating effects of climate change.

Sayahon said the bill seeks to establish funding intended for vulnerable communities and LGUs struggling to adapt the rapid climate change since the damage is rampant in the community.

By Karen Boncocan for INQUIRER.net

November 26, 2010,MANILA, Philippines -- Community campaign Depensa! called on the government Thursday to prioritize the protection of Filipinos against climate change.

Nueva Ecija, a place highly vulnerable to typhoons, became Depensa!'s second destination after its Surigao stint to promote support for the protection of the poor sector from climate change impacts.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Erin Tañada who filed a bill that sought to establish a People’s Survival Fund (PSF), joined forces with over 200 students, local government officials, and farmer and women-leaders from various advocacy groups during the event started by international non-profit organization Oxfam and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (iCSC).

MindaNews, Friday, 19 November 2010, SURIGAO CITY – Climate Change finance took center stage during today’s launching of the Depensa! Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCA-DRR) campaign here.

Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III said that a new law has to be passed in order to fund climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the grassroots communities.

The Climate Change Act of 2009 or RA 9729 as it is written is not enough. It does carry finance provisions and without finance, sometimes the best initiatives go for naught, Tañada, the fourth district representative of Quezon province, said.

He had filed House Bill 3228 or the law creating the Peoples Survival Fund. Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile also filed a counterpart bill in the Senate.

(S.B. 2558 and H.B.3528) 

What is R.A. 9729 or Climate Change Act of 2009?

RA 9729 is the law enacted last October 23, 2009, after the Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng caused Php 38-billion worth of damage, whose main objective is “MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE CHANGE INTO GOVERNMENT POLICY FORMULATIONS, ESTABLISHING THE FRAMEWORK STRATEGY AND PROGRAM ON CLIMATE CHANGE, CREATING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”.  

What is a National Framework Strategy on Climate Change(NFSCC)?

Formulated by the Climate Change Commission (CCC), the NFSCC is the country’s overall strategy in dealing with climate change problem. The Framework shall serve as the basis for a program for climate change planning,research and development, extension, and monitoring of activities to protect vulnerable communities from the adverse effects of climate change.The Framework shall be formulated based on climate change vulnerabilities, specific adaptationneeds, and mitigation potential, and in accordance with the international agreements. It was signed by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last April 28, 2010.