PGMA signs Climate Change implementing rules
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed today the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act
9729, otherwise known as the Philippine Climate Change Act of 2009.
The law was enacted to institutionalize government efforts to prepare the country for the worst effects of climate
change.
On hand in the signing ceremony in Malacanang this morning were Presidential Adviser on Climate Change
Heherson Alvarez and Environment Secretary Eleazar Quinto.
President Arroyo signed RA 9729 into law on Oct. 23 last year.
The first of its kind in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), RA 9729 formulates a strategy of
climate change mitigation and adaptation for implementation from the national to provincial, city/town, and down
to barangay level.
The law created the Climate Change Commission, headed by the President herself, the sole policy making
body of the government tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate the programs and action plans on climate
change.
The IRR outlines the powers and functions of the Commission and all duties and responsibilities of all
concerned agencies, including local government units (LGUs).
Among these powers and functions is the formulation of an action plan for implementation down to the
barangay level, with emphasis on risk management and reduction.
The Philippines, being vulnerable to climate change, called for deep and early cuts in greenhouse gas
emissions particularly, directing the appeal to highly industrialized countries during the 15th Conference of
Parties (COP-15) in Copenhagen in December last year.
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PGMA focused on 3E’s until end of term
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In the remaining five months of her term, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will keep her attention focused on
the economy, education, and environment (3Es).
Her goal, the president told Joe Taruc in an interview on radio station DZRH this morning, is to uplift the lives of
Filipinos and earn First World status for the country in 20 years.
The President said that her tax reforms, unpopular as they may be, has enabled the government to raise funds,
which was invested on human and physical infrastructure. It is these funds that made it possible for the
government to build vital road networks, air and sea ports, and provide education and other social services, all
designed to create a healthy and globally competitive workforce.
She said she doesn’t mind seeing her popularity rating go down as long as the country’s credit rating improves.
As a result of the high credit rating, she said, creditors have lowered interest rates they charge the Philippines to
5.6 percent. In contrast, Indonesia, one of the top 20 economies of the world, has to pay a 6 percent interest rate.
The President said income generated from the value-added tax and internal investments went into investments
that enabled the country attain growth even at the height of the global economic crisis last year.
According to her, the economy has grown significantly since 2001, the year she assumed the presidency. All
these years, she pointed out, large and middle-size corporations such as Ayala, San Miguel Corporation (SMC),
Gokongwei, Jollibee, and SM have expanded their operations.
She said her administration has created a strong middle class, which is responsible for the increase in the
demand for consumer goods.
The stock market, she also said, has doubled under her administration and the top 1,000 corporations upped
their income from P100 billion to P700 billion.
Her administration, she added, has laid out 50,000 kilometers of road networks compared to the 34,000
kilometers built by the past three administrations. And the figure is apart from 18,000 kilometers of farm-to-
market roads.
Aside from roads, the President said the roll-on roll-off ferry (RO-RO) network has been established connecting
Luzon and Mindanao, thus lowering the cost of transporting goods and people.
During the global crisis, the government, through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), has
distributed cash assistance to 1,000,000 families. It has also created short-term jobs, given out food and
education subsidies, built potable water projects and extended electrification even to the farthest barangays. It
has also established Tindahan Natin and Botika ng Bayan, which offer low priced commodities and medicines.
Health insurance coverage under Philhealth were also provided for 82 million Filipinos, compared to the 29
million in 2001.
The President said the government has invested heavily in education. It conducts English-proficiency and skills
trainings under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
To create more jobs, the President said government promoted and invested in labor intensive industries such
as information and communications technology (ICT), tourism, and housing construction.
With more than P500 billion invested in hospitality trade, the number of tourist arrivals a year has tripled.
The administration also provided low cost housing to 300,000 families and relocated 90,000 families from
railways, riverbanks, and other danger areas. rail lines and water tributaries.
From a virtual unknown, the President said, the business process outsourcing (BPO) became a $7 billion
industry now employing 500,000 from the 2,000 recorded in 2001.
The President said the next administration will inherit a strong foundation and should continue the necessary
programs for the continuing benefit of the people.
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