Senate approves LGU funding to combat climate change threats
By Amor Saludar
CEBU CITY September 16 (PIA) – The Senate recently approved the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) Bill in its third and final reading in order to address the threats of climate change to the health of the Filipinos and to strengthen the Climate Change Act of 2009.
Principally sponsored by Senate President Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and co-sponsored by Senators Loren Lagarda, Ralph G. Recto, Franklin M. Drilon and Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid, the PSF is a special fund designed to meet the needs of the local government units (LGUs) to combat the harmful effects of climate change in the country.
The PSF is specifically aimed to financially support LGUs in its adaptation of the National Strategic Framework on Climate Change.
Under the General Appropriations Act for the bill, an amount of P 1B shall be appropriated for the PSF of every LGUs in annual basis, to provide financial incentives in its adaptation of programs and projects based on climate change action plans for LGUs and communities.
The authors of the bill said that the fund also covers the improvement of the monitoring, controlling and prevention of diseases made worst by climate change; establishment of forecasting and early warning systems; and strengthening institutional development, for local governments, for preventive measures, planning, preparedness and management of impacts relating to climate change.
Section 20 of the said bill narrates its other uses such as the proposed measures for adaptation activities in the areas of water resources management, land management, agriculture and fisheries, health, infrastructure development, fragile ecosystems including mountainous ecosystems, and integrated coastal zone management.
Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, expressed that “the localities are at the frontline of the climate crisis. The proposed People's Survival Fund can be tapped by local governments in order to make their localities resilient to the worsening impacts of climate change."
Enrile noted also that the government involvement on climate change and disaster risk reduction should be given much emphasis in order to weigh the present status of the country so that innovation will be drawn.
“The sooner the People's Survival Fund is approved by the House and the sooner it is enacted into law, the earlier the government will be able to implement policies and reforms geared towards building a country that is not only climate-resilient but economically sound as well," Enrile further explained.
This PSF Board composed of the Secretary of the Department of Finance as chair, Vice chairperson of the Commission on Climate Change, Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority, Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, a representative from the academe and scientific community, a representative from the business sector, and from the NGOs, will manage and provide general strategic supervision of the fund. (FCR/AS/PIA-Cebu)