Philippines fails to get UN funds vs climate change–Legarda

CLARK FREEPORT—For three years now, the Philippines has been missing its chances to avail itself of aid from the United Nations to fund climate change adaptation programs because President Aquino has yet to appoint a national implementing entity (NIE) that will seek accreditation from the UN, Sen. Loren Legarda said here.

Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on climate change, spoke at a forum that her office and Spain’s development agency, AECID, have funded to support the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s initiatives at increasing the capabilities of local governments to cope with the impact of climate change.

“It is important to appoint an NIE so the Philippines, which is vulnerable to disasters, can access grants from the [UN] and other institutions for disaster response preparedness and climate change adaptation,” she said.

“The need for this has been discussed in budget hearings in the last three years,” she said.

She said the P1.7-trillion general appropriations fund in 2012 was not enough, raising the need to seek grants. The Philippines, she said, was qualified to access the adaptation fund (AF) raised and managed by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The AF was approved by the UN in 2007 and began to be accessed in 2010, UN reports showed.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile cited the need to appoint an NIE during past budget hearings while undersecretaries in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources had written memorandums on it.

“I will reiterate the matter to President Aquino. I will press him. The President has to issue an executive order appointing an NIE for this vulnerable country,” Legarda said.

She said she was not aware of any impediment to the appointment of an NIE. Latest information received by her office showed that the UNFCCC has around $100 million available for grants. The Philippines has not submitted any proposal though, she said.

“We regret that we can’t use the available funds to assist local governments,” she said.

In the forum, Legarda announced that the Green Climate Fund, also from the UN, would be available in January 2013.

She said the Senate has submitted a bicameral report to Mr. Aquino endorsing a law that will make available P1 billion for a People’s Survival Fund to be used for actions against climate change.   Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon