Climate Change Act, 2009 (Philippines)

The Climate Change Act creates the Climate Change Commission as an autonomous body which shall have the same status as a government agency. It is the lead policy making body tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate the programs and action plans of the government in order to ensure the mainstreaming of climate change into the national, sectoral and local development plans and programs pursuant to the provisions of this Act. The Act also provides the structure for the commission, the qualifications for its officials, and its powers and functions. The Act also mandates the formulation of a Framework Strategy on Climate Change which shall serve as the basis for climate change planning, research and development, extension, monitoring of activities, and climate financing, to protect vulnerable and marginalized communities from the adverse effects of climate change. It likewise mandates the formulation of a National Climate Change Action Plan in accordance with the Framework. It directs Local Government Units to be the frontline agencies in the formulation, planning and implementation of climate change action plans in their respective areas. It also defines the roles of various government agencies in the effective implementation of the framework strategy and program on climate change. A Joint Congressional Oversight Committee is further created to monitor the implementation of the Act.