UNITED TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE. Climate Change Commission Sec. Robert Borje (right) obliges to a photo opportunity with Bohol 1st District Cong. Edgar Chatto (center) and Negros Oriental 1st District Rep. Josie Limkaichong (left). Chatto and Limkaichong are the chair and vice chair, respectively, of the House Committee on Climate Change. Borje paid a courtesy call on the two House leaders to discuss the legislative agenda for climate change. Contributed photo
The head of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) Sec. Robert Borje met with the leaders of the House Committee on Climate Change to discuss the legislative agenda for the 19th Congress.
Based on reports from Congress, Borje met with House Committee on Climate Change chairman, Bohol 1st District Rep. Edgar Chatto and the panel’s vice chairman Negros Oriental 1st District Cong. Josie Limkaichong in a meeting on Aug. 10, 2022.
The focus of the discussion is the legislative direction for climate change in the 19th Congress.
In a telephone interview, Chatto said that the CCC chair raised the possibility of the refilling of pending climate change-related legislation.
“Magschedule mi ug climate change forum para ma set ang policy directions, in support for the declaration of climate emergency,” Chatto said in the interview.
It can be remembered that in the previous Congress, Chatto with former Antique representative now Sen. Loren Legarda, passed a measure declaring a climate emergency.
“Unya karon ang mga local governments nag declare ug climate emergency,” he said.
He added that the forum hopes to attract experts on climate change together with non-government organizations to help craft the climate change legislative agenda. The forum will also include the business sector and the academe.
The House of Representatives during the previous Congress, passed Resolution No. 1377, declaring a climate and environmental emergency.
The resolution calls for the mobilization of government agencies, instrumentalities, local government units, towards effective implementation of environmental, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction and management.
It is important to note that part of the development agenda of the administration of President Marcos Jr. is the mitigation of the effects of climate change.
Right after being sworn as the new president of the country, President Marcos Jr. vowed to prioritize climate change issues.
Thus, the work of the CCC with the help of the legislative branch of government is critical in the mitigation of the effects of climate change.
In a statement, Borje said that he is encouraged by the enthusiasm and the interest of Chatto and Limkaichong in the pursuit of the climate change legislative agenda in the Lower House.
“Enlightened and encouraged by the Chair and Vice Chair’s vision and commitment, the goal of an upper middle income, low carbon, climate resilient and smart PH can only be achieved through
a whole of government and society approach,” the CCC chairman said in a statement following his meeting with Chatto and Limkaichong.
Aside from Borje, other personalities present in the meeting were Climate Change Committee Sec Rommel Reyes, Chatto’s Manila chief of staff lawyer Jessica Schuck with CCC and House Climate Change Committee staff, reports say.