DAVAO CITY – Mayor Sara Duterte confirmed her commitment to sustainable development and environmental preservation by establishing the Davao City Climate Change Commission (DCCC) through an executive order, which was signed on September 21.
Mayor Sara emphasized the need to establish a local organization to carry out the Local Climate Change Action Plan when signing the EO (LCCAP).
She said extreme weather events, rising temperatures, sea-level rise, heavy rainfall, and drought are all contributing to the Philippines' deepening climate emergency.
“Davao City is no exception,” Mayor Sara said, citing that the city also has flash floods, landslides and drought.
Mayor Sara expressed confidence that the municipal government's LCCAP 2019-2023, which was recommended by the City Planning and Development Office and authorized by the city council, will be completely implemented now that the DCCC is in place.
The five-year LCCAP aims to pursue and protect the city's development benefits and sustainability efforts and initiatives by building disaster-resilient and climate-change adaptable communities.
The DCCC is composed of the city mayor as the chairperson, city administrator as co-chairperson, and the head of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office as vice-chairperson.
The members include the local government unit’s Planning and Development Office; Disaster Risk Management and Reduction Office; Health Office; Engineer’s Office; Agriculturist’s Office; Veterinarian’s Office; Transport and Traffic Management Office; Department of Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau; and Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability; as well as two representatives from the academe.
All offices involved are mandated to name a permanent representative.
The EO 47 said the committee, however, may designate City Government of Davao employees and/or identify qualified personnel, representatives from the academe, private sector and other stakeholders.
The DCCC is mandated to oversee the implementation of the identified plans, programs, and activities under the thematic areas in the LCCAP; formulate a Strategic Framework on Climate Change to serve as the basis for a program for climate change planning, research and development, extension, and monitoring of activities on climate change; coordinate and synchronize climate change programs in the city; and recommend legislation, policies, strategies, programs on and appropriations for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
The special body is also tasked to conduct Greenhouse Gas Inventory and formulate strategies for mitigating GHG emissions, anthropogenic sources and enhance removal by sinks; oversee the popularization of climate change, local vulnerabilities and risks, relevant laws and protocols, and adaptation and mitigation measures through campaigns and information dissemination; create and publish the efforts, initiatives, and accomplishments of the city in mitigating climate change; and perform such other functions as may be necessary for the effective implementation of this Executive Order.
CENRO shall serve as the DCCC’s secretariat, which will handle all administrative and/or secretarial-related activities.
Meanwhile, a Technical Working Group will also be created to assist the committee in the discharge of its function whose composition shall be determined by the members of the Committee.
A budget shall be allocated from available and appropriate resources to fund the operations and activities of the committee, including meetings, seminars, training, capacity-building, and other administrative costs, subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules.