Philippine Initiatives to Address

Environmental Issues
One of the earliest notable recognition by the Philippine government of the importance of
sustainable development taking into consideration the environment was set out in the 1987
Constitution which stipulates that The State shall protect and advance the right of the
people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of
nature.
In 1991, the Philippines began to address the issue of climate change in its thrust to
achieve sustainable development with the formulation of the Philippine Strategy for
Sustainable Development. As a result, the country officially adopted the Philippine Agenda
21 which serves asthe nation's blueprint for sustainable development. During the same
year, government agencies and the Philippine Network on Climate Change were convened to
create the Inter-Agency Committee on Climate Change (IACCC) led by the Environmental
Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The
Committee aimed at harnessing and synergizing the various activities undertaken by the
national government and civil society in response to the crisis posed by growing problem on
climate change.
The Philippine commitment to address global environmental issues was further manifested
by its support to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) ratified on August 2, 1994 and the Kyoto Protocol, which was ratified on
November 20, 2003. As a signatory to the UNFCCC, the Philippines expressed adherence to
the principles of sustainable development and environmental preservation based on the
notion of equity and the unique capabilities of the participating countries. Article 3 of the
Convention states that states who have aligned themselves with the mandates set forth
should protect the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations of
humankind, on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated
responsibilities and respective capabilities. In 2000, the Philippines forwarded to the
UNFCCC its Initial National Communication which enumerated the accomplishments of the
country in meeting the objectives of the Convention. The report presented the gains made
in the fields of greenhouse gas abatement and inventory. Also noted were significant
achievements in strengthening institutions and processes in relation to the mitigation,
prevention and adaptation initiatives in the country. Further, in adherence to the Kyoto
Protocol, the Philippines adopted the Clean Development Mechanism.
Also, the Philippines passed and implemented national measures that advance the
international communitys agenda pertaining to environmental preservation. Some of the
major legislations enacted were R.A. 8749 (Clean Air Act of 1999) that moves for an
effective air quality management program that will mitigate the worsening problem of air
pollution in the country, R.A. 8435 (Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of
1997) that establishes that the Department of Agriculture together with other appropriate
agencies, should into account climate change, weather disturbances and annual productivity
cycles in order to forecast and formulate appropriate agricultural and fisheries
programs, R.A. 9003 (Solid Waste Management Act of 2000)that aimed at providing a
comprehensive solution to the countrys garbage problem and R.A. 9275 (Philippine Clean
Water Act of 2004)that moves for a comprehensive water quality management scheme.
In 2007, Administrative Order 171 was issued to create a Presidential Task Force on Climate
Change (PTFCC). The task force is mandated to address and mitigate the impact of climate
change in the Philippines, paying special attention to adaptation, mitigation and
technological solutions. In particular, the task force focuses on improving compliance to air
emission standards and acts to combat deforestation and environmental degradation.
More recently, R.A. 9729 (Climate Change Act of 2009) which aims to systematically
integrate the concept of climate change in the policy formulation and development plans of
all government agencies and units, to the end that the government will be prepared for the
impact of climate change was enacted also creating the Philippine Climate Change
Commission (PCCC).
The PCCC, an independent and autonomous body attached to the Office of the President,
shall be the sole policy making body of the government to coordinate, monitor and evaluate
the programs and action plans relating to climate change. The PCCC has drafted
the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change 2010-2022 which is committed
towards ensuring and strengthening the adaptation of our natural ecosystems and human
communities to climate change.