Pasaway! ‎ Loren is annoyed that only a third of LGUs have climate change ‎plans

March 7, 2016

Senator Loren Legarda is urging local government units (LGUs) to comply with the law and submit their local climate change action plans (LCCAP) to the Climate Change Commission (CCC).

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change and principal author of Republic Act No. 9729 or the Climate Change Act, is upset that as of July 2015, only 584 out or 36 percent of 1,634 cities and municipalities inn the country have LCCAP.

“All LGUs should follow the law and have their own local climate action plans. We can no longer delay climate action. For a vulnerable nation like the Philippines, delayed action means loss of lives, livelihood, ecosystems and biodiversity,” said Legarda in a statement.

RA 9729 dictates that “LGUS shall be the frontline agencies in the formulation, planning and implementation of climate change action plans in their respective areas, consistent with the provisions of the Local Government Code, the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change, and the National Climate Change Action Plan.”

She explained that LGUs must determine how their community is affected by climate change. Is it a coastal community that may be affected by sea level rise or declining fish catch because of coral bleaching? Is it a farming community greatly affected by El Niño or too much rainfall? Is it an urban area prone to flooding?

“The location of the community, the direct impact of climate change, and the risks posed by extreme weather events are crucial in crafting a climate change adaptation plan,” said Legarda.

Source: Politics.com.ph