QuestionsQuestions (BFAD BUREAU CIRCULAR NO. 23, S. 1999)
The People’s Survival Fund is established as a special fund in the National Treasury to finance adaptation programs and projects based on the National Strategic Framework.
RA 10174 amends RA 9729 (Climate Change Act of 2009). The amended policy emphasizes the right to a healthful ecology, climate justice/common but differentiated responsibilities, the Precautionary Principle, disaster risk reduction integration, and a gender-sensitive, pro-children and pro-poor perspective.
“Climate Risk” is the product of climate-related hazards working over the vulnerability of human and natural ecosystems. “Vulnerability” is the degree to which a system is susceptible or unable to cope with adverse climate change effects, depending on exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity.
The CCC is an independent and autonomous body with the same status as a national government agency, attached to the Office of the President. It is the lead policy-making body tasked to coordinate, monitor, and evaluate government programs and ensure mainstreaming of climate change into national, sectoral, and local development plans.
The CCC shall be organized within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of the Act.
The CCC is composed of the President (Chairperson) and three (3) Commissioners appointed by the President, one as Vice Chairperson. At least one Commissioner must be female, and no two Commissioners may come from the same sector.
Commissioners serve six (6) years and may be reappointed, but no person may serve more than two (2) consecutive terms. They may be removed before the end of the term for cause or incapacity with due process, and no temporary/acting designation is allowed.
The advisory board includes numerous cabinet secretaries and heads of key agencies, plus sectoral and stakeholder representatives (academe, business, NGOs). At least one sectoral representative must come from the disaster risk reduction community to reflect the law’s integration of DRRM with climate action.
The CCC convenes every first or last Monday of every third month, or as often as necessary. Resolutions/decisions require approval by the majority of the three (3) Commissioners.
The CCC must coordinate and establish a close partnership with the NDRRMC to increase efficiency and effectiveness in reducing people’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters.
The CCC must formulate the National Strategic Framework within six (6) months from the Act’s effectivity.
It must include (but is not limited to) national priorities, impact/vulnerability/adaptation assessments, policy formulation, compliance with international commitments, research and development, database development and management, academic programs/capability building/mainstreaming, advocacy and information dissemination, monitoring and evaluation, and gender mainstreaming.
Examples include: DepED (integrate climate change into curricula), DILG and Local Government Academy (capacity-building for LGUs), DENR (climate change information system/network), DFA (review international agreements), PIA (disseminate info), DOF (coordinate fiscal policies and climate finance reporting), DBM (prioritize and allocate budget), DOST/PAGASA (climate scenarios and data analysis), and financial institutions (preferential packages for climate projects).
Government financial institutions (except BSP) must, notwithstanding provisions in their charters, provide preferential financial packages for climate change-related projects; BSP coordination is required for implementing guidelines.
The PSF Board is lodged under the CCC. It includes, among others, the Secretary of the Department of Finance (Chair), the Vice Chairperson of the CCC, DBM Secretary, NEDA Director-General, DILG Secretary, PCW Chairperson, and representatives from academe/scientific community, business sector, and NGOs.
The board representatives from the academe/scientific community, business, and NGOs are disqualified from accessing the fund during their term set by the Commission, and for one year after their tenure has ended.
It promulgates policies for fiduciary character, provides strategic guidance and funding windows, develops social/financial/environmental safeguards, identifies additional sources, issues final approval of projects, adopts conflict-of-interest rules, and ensures independent third-party evaluation and auditing with transparency and accountability.
The CCC’s Climate Change Office evaluates and reviews proposals and, with endorsement of the majority of Commissioners, recommends approval to the PSF Board. The CCC is not a project implementor; the PSF Board issues final approval.
The Commission must develop criteria considering, among others: level of risk and vulnerability, participation of affected communities, poverty reduction potential, cost effectiveness, co-benefits beyond LGU territory, gender-differentiated vulnerabilities, and availability of a climate change adaptation action plan.
The PSF shall not be used for personal services or other operational expenses of the Commission, shall not revert to the general fund (including the portion appropriated in the GAA that forms part of the fund), and requires semi-annual physical/narrative and financial reporting to Congress and DBM.