LESS than two months before the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copengahen this December, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act 9729 or the Climate Change Act of 2009.

I wonder if it's the Copenhagen conference or the disaster brought by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng that triggered the speedy passage of the Act. Well, that's not important anymore. At least we now have something solid to start with. Our greenhouse gas emission maybe small, but we are one of countries in the world that will be most affected by global warming.

Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy

I got an e-copy of the new law last Wednesday, thanks to the Federation of Philippine Industries. I scanned all 18 pages and noted the following significant provisions:

- The Creation of the Climate Change Commission within 60 days after the Act was signed by President GMA (that's December 23, 2009 to be exact). The commission is an independent and autonomous body under the Office of the President, with the same status as that of a National Government agency. It shall be the sole policy-making body of the government on matters pertaining to climate change.

It shall be headed by no less than the President assisted by three (3) Commissioners, one of whom shall serve as the Vice Chairperson. There will also be an advisory body composed of representatives of several national agencies, LGU's, academe, business and NGO's. There shall also be a Panel of Technical Experts consisting of practitioners in disciplines that are related to climate change, including disaster risk reduction.

- Formulation of Framework Strategy and Program on Climate Change within six (6) months from the effectivity of the Act. The Framework shall serve as the basis for a program for climate change planning, research and development, extension, and monitoring of activities to protect vulnerable communities from the adverse effects of climate change.

- Formulation of the National Climate Change Action Plan in accordance with the Framework within one (1) year after the formulation of the latter.

- Formulation of the Local Climate Change Action Plan. - The LGUs shall be the frontline agencies in the formulation, planning and implementation of climate change action plans in their respective areas, consistent with the provisions of the Local Government Code, the Framework, and the National Climate Change Action Plan.

- The Department of Education (DepEd) was tasked to integrate climate change into the primary and secondary education curricula and/or subjects, such as, but not limited to, science, biology, sibika, history, including textbooks, primers and other educational materials, basic climate change principles and concepts. Note that other environmental laws, like RA 9003, also require this integration.

- Fifty million pesos (Php50,000,000.00) was appropriated as initial operating fund in addition to the unutilized fund of the Presidential Task Force on Climate Change and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Global Warming and Climate Change.

The Commission was given 90 days from the day the Act was approved, to formulate the Implementing Rules and Regulations.