Republic of the Philippines, pci WLw
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City, Metro Marila DATE:

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by
HON. ELENITA MILAGROS “EILEEN” ERMITA-BUHAIN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill is in furtherance of the provision of the Constitution, to wit:

“The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to
a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm
and harmony of nature. (Section 16, Article II).”

The Philippines is an archipelago consisting of around 7,100 islands and has
one of the world’s longest coastlines roughly the equivalent of the earth’s
circumference (34,000 Kilometers). Our country, as experts say, is a “climate
hotspot, vulnerable to some of the worst manifestations of climate change”. That it
will not be spared of the adverse impacts of sea-level rise and extreme climate
events that are expected to happen in a warmer world.

Accelerated sea level rise is one of the most certain outcomes of global
warming and the Philippines should seriously consider the potential effects and
possible responses to accelerated sea level rise. The physical effects of sea level rise
include inundation (submergence) of low-lying wetland and dryland areas, erosion,
salt water intrusion, increased risk of flooding, and storm damage. As a
consequence, these physical changes may cause substantial socio-economic losses
of coastal structures, both natural and man-made, and dislocation of the population
and change of livelihood.

‘As a developing country, with very little access to vital resources, it has a low
ability to adapt and a lower ability to cope with disasters brought about by climate
change impacts. Yet, even with the emerging trends of climate variability, many
provinces in the Philippines are still not aware of their vulnerability, much less be
able to prepare to cope with its impacts.



This bill aims to develop national and local adaptation strategies to improve
the ability of coastal inhabitants to cope with the impact of climate change. The
challenge now is to create integrated and holistic strategies to ensure everyone's
security when facing the challenges that climate change will bring.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ELENITA MILAGROS “EILEEN” ERMITA-BUHAIN



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2969

HOUSE BILL NO.~

Introduced by
HON. ELENITA MILAGROS “EILEEN” ERMITA-BUHAIN

AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH A COASTAL CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PROGRAM
FOR COASTAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (CLGUs) BY PROVIDING
THEM FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known and cited as the “Coastal
Climate Change Adaptation Program of 2016".

SEC. 2. Establishment of Coastal Climate Change Adaptation Program. -
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall establish a
Coastal Climate Change Adaptation Program to ensure a well-developed and
effective strategy formulation by:

1, Providing assistance to coastal local government units (CLGUs) to
voluntarily develop their coastal climate change adaptation programs
to address climate change issues within their areas of responsibilities
and prepare for and reduce the negative consequences that may result
from climate change; and

2. Providing financial and technical assistance and training to enable
CLGUs to implement plans developed pursuant to this Act.

SEC. 3. Climate Change Adaptation Grant Guidelines. - The Secretary of
the DILG shall, in consultation with CLGUs, the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) and other sectors such as the academe/research,
private and financial institutions and non-government organizations, issue



guidelines for the implementation of the grant program under this Act. Pursuant
to such guidelines, the Secretary may make grant to any CLGUs for the purpose
of developing climate change adaptation plans.

SEC. 4. Contents of the Plan. - A plan developed with a grant under this
section shall include the following:

1. Identification of public facilities and public services, working
waterfronts, coastal resources of national significance, coastal waters,
energy facilities, or other land and water uses located in the coastal
zone that are likely to be impacted by climate change;

2. Adaptive management strategies for land use to respond or adapt to
changing environmental conditions, including strategies to protect
biodiversity, protect water quality, and establish habitat buffer zones,
and migration corridors;

3. Requirements to initiate and maintain long-term monitoring of
environmental change to assess coastal zone adaptation and to adjust
when necessary adaptive management strategies and new planning
guidelines;

4. Develop a multi-hazard mitigation and protection plan for natural
coastal hazards, with priority on the maximum reduction in threat to
life, structures, and economic production.

5. Other information considered necessary by the Secretary to identify
the full range of climate change impacts affecting coastal communities.

SEC. 5. Prioritization. - In awarding grants, as provided in this Act, the
Secretary of the DILG, upon its own determination, shall give priority to CLGUs
who are most prone to climate change disasters.

SEC. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the effective
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act of the DILG on the year following the approval of this Act and in every year
thereafter.


SEC. 7. Report. - Within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, the
DENR shall submit an accomplishment report of the grant program to the
appropriate committees in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, ordinances, rules and
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this
Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,