Imee Marcos says climate change body in danger of abolition, overhaul

Sen. Imee Marcos in one of the Senate hybrid hearings on September 21, 2021. Screengrab/Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) may be in danger of being abolished or overhauled due to its supposed lack of sense of urgency in implementing projects, Senator Imee Marcos said Wednesday.

During the hearing of a Senate finance subcommittee, Marcos asked CCC officials for recommendations so that the government body will become a “more activist and vigorous commission.”

“Ikatlong taon na akong naghihear ng budget sa inyo. Parang wala namang sense of urgency or even importance. Kailangan mangampanya din kayo. Hindi kayo pwedeng nananahimik at nagsesweldo lang tayo sa gobyerno,” she said.

(I have been holding hearings for your budget for three years. It seems you don’t have a sense of urgency or importance. You have to boost your campaign. You cannot be silent and we just give salaries to the government.)

“Strike three na po ito. This is already my third budget [hearing for CCC]. Nothing’s moving. Eh diba recommendation for abolition na ‘yan or definitely a big overhaul? Wala kasing nangyayari eh, diba?” she added.

(This is strike three already. This is already my third budget hearing for you. Nothing’s moving. Isn’t this a recommendation for the abolition or a big overhaul already? Nothing is happening, right?)

In response, CCC Secretary Emmanuel de Guzman said they take note of Marcos’ observations but assured that they continue to deliver what is mandated by law, including the nationally determined contribution (NDC). The NDCs are tools to communicate the country’s actions on climate adaptation and mitigation post-2020.

“The NDC process itself is so bloody… We have done our job. It has been submitted to the President,” De Guzman said.

Marcos, however, said she would contest the claim of de Guzman on the CCC’s performance, noting that the mandate of the commission is “enormous.”

“Sana naman in the next budget may pagbabago na tayo, may kaunting accomplishment, ito pa rin eh, tatlong taon na (I hope in the next budget hearing, something will change and there will be accomplishment. It is the same after three years)… I think we need to recommend radical change. This is simply not good enough,” said the senator.

“I am not threatening you but if they (senators) say, under your watch which are the agencies that can be abolished? Paano kayo ijajustify nyan (How will I justify you)?… If they give me a hard time and ask me why does that commission have to exist, I’ll be hard put to answer,” she added.

According to the CCC website, the commission is the government’s lead policy-making body tasked to coordinate, monitor, and evaluate government programs and ensure mainstreaming of climate change in national, local, and sectoral development plans.

Marcos noted that amid the pandemic, the government is in a period of rightsizing where redundant roles and agencies are being axed.

“I am not threatening you but I am telling you that we are coming to that point, so kailangan siguro na mas mayroong tayong maipakita na performance na may accomplishment (maybe we will need to present an accomplishment of your performance),” she said.

De Guzman assured Marcos that the CCC will submit to her the justifications for the agency and their recommendations to the points raised by the senator.

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