EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1964
December
TJF.iE
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT DECLARING CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND ENHANCING 
RESILIENCY AND ADAPTABILITY TO THE EFFECTS 
OF CLIMATE CHANGE
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Art. II, Sec. 16 of the 1987 Constitution provides that, "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."
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the global average 
temperature for January to October 2020 was around 1.2 degrees Celsius above the 
pre-industrial period. Further, the year 2020 will conclude a decade of exceptional 
global heat, retreating ice and record sea levels driven by greenhouse gases produced 
by human activities. The five hottest years on record have all come since 2015, and 
the WMO has stated that 2020 is set to be among the three hottest years in history. 
Resulting in record-smashing Antarctic heatwaves, melting glaciers, wave after wave 
of drought and wildfire and an unending string of megastorms since the 2015 Paris 
Agreement.
In October 2020, scientists registered the lowest Arctic sea ice extent ever, and 
multiple studies have shown how the Greenland ice sheets are melting at 
unprecedented rates. The melted ice from glaciers has raised global sea levels by 15 
centimeters in the last century according to United Nations experts, and they warn as 
many as a billion people could have their way of life threatened by rising seas as soon 
as 2050. In addition to the rising sea levels, ocean heat content for 2019 was the 
highest on record since data gathering began in 1960. Hurricanes and other cyclonic 
storms feed on warmer ocean water and while some may insist it is difficult to attribute 
a single weather event to global warming, the long-term trends are undeniable.
Each of the last five Atlantic hurricane seasons have seen above-average storm 
activity. For 2020 alone, the record 30 storms caused scientists to run out of Greek 
alphabet letters to name each storm. The COVID-19 pandemic has also added another 
layer of risk to evacuation, recovery and reiief operations related to high-impact events.
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Locally for example, although over 180 000 people were pre-emptively evacuated 
ahead of Tropical Cyclone Vongfong (Ambo) in mid-May, the need for social distancing 
measures meant that residents could not be transported in large numbers and 
evacuation centres could only be used at half capacity.
Thus, climate change has become a pressing concern worldwide. It generally 
refers to the long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns which 
results in more extreme weather events and associated disasters, from hurricanes to 
drought to flood, to wildfires. Some of the long-term effects of climate change include: 
loss of sea ice, accelerated sea level rise and longer, more intense heat waves. Studies 
have shown that climate change can be caused by human activity such as burning fossil 
fuels like natural gas, oil, and coal.
According to the Global Peace Index (2019), the Philippines is the most 
susceptible country to hazards brought about by climate change. The study found that 
47% of the country's population is in areas highly exposed to climate hazards such as 
earthquakes, tsunami, floods, tropical cyclones and drought. The Philippines was 
followed by Japan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and 
Pakistan.
Extreme weather conditions have devastated and may continue to devastate 
parts of the country which shall radically impact and affect the country's food 
production and supply, water availability, public health, infrastructure and economy. 
Thus, a need for resiliency and adaptability to the effects of climate change is 
imperative and the declaration for an environment and climate emergency is necessary 
for the protection and preservation of the environment. This bill seeks to address the 
issue by acknowledging and deciaring the pressing climate change emergency and 
ensuring that concerned departments and agencies and the private sector all work 
together through a whole-of-nation approach to help solve the global challenge of 
climate change, in the interests of securing a liveable and healthy future for our 
community, all species and for future generations.
‘ /l.
IMEE R. MARCOS


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1964
December 21
DATE
TIME¥MDEX
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT DECLARING CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND ENHANCING 
RESILIENCY AND ADAPTABILITY TO THE EFFECTS 
OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Climate Change
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Emergency Declaration Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. -The State shall protect and advance the right of
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the people to a balanced and healthful ecology. The State also acknowledges that
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extreme weather conditions have devastated and may continue to devastate parts of
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the country which shall radically impact and affect the country's food production and
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supply, water availability, public health. Infrastructure and economy. Thus, a need for
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resiliency and adaptability to the effects of ciimate change is imperative and the
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declaration for an environment and climate emergency is necessary for the protection
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and preservation of the environment.
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Sec. 3. Roles of Departments and Agencies. - Government departments and
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agencies shall immediately and efficiently cooperate in taking practicable measures to
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preserve and protect the environment, as follows:
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a. Climate Change Commission (CCC). - To coordinate, monitor, and evaluate
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programs and action plans related to climate change, in accordance with the
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National Climate Change Action Plan;


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b. National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) - 
Monitor the integration of climate change resilience and adaptation In the 
national development plans and create an enabling environment that shall 
promote multi-stakeholder participation of concerned departments, 
agencies, local government units, organizations, and other stakeholders;
c. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services 
Administration (PAGASA) - Conduct studies and research on the current 
trend of weather and typhoons that affect the country and worldwide;
d. Department of Education (DepEd) - Integrate Climate Change education 
under the Science Curriculum of Grades 2 to Senior High School level. In both 
private and public educational institutions to raise and increase the 
awareness of children In the Impact and effects of climate change;
e. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - Develop, 
formulate, and recommend climate change strategies, programs, and 
policies;
f. Department of Interior and Local Government. (DILG) - Coordinate with local 
government units to address vulnerability and impacts of climate change in 
regions, provinces, cities, and municipalities;
g. Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - Conduct studies in 
determining the vulnerability to climate change Impacts and adaptation 
assessments and facilitate the formulation of policy in technical assistance 
for implementation and monitoring;
h. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) - Ensure that employers 
promote a healthy and safe environment for the employees which are 
sustainable and environment-friendly; and
I. Department of Information and Technology (DICT) - Provide cost-free 
means for public information dissemination on climate change, vulnerabilities 
and risks, relevant laws and protocols specifically those which need 
immediate dissemination.


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Provided that, such other departments and agencies may be called upon by the
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Office of President to take part In the efforts in environment preservation and
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protection.
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Sec. 4. Multi-Sectoral Appmach. - Private entities, in coordination with the
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national government and local government units, shall also take part In the preservation
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and protection of the environment by ensuring that their business practices are not
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detrimental and hazardous to the environment.
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Concerned government agencies and LGUs shall allocate adequate funds from
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their annual appropriations for the formulation, development and implementation, of
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their respective climate change programs and plans, in accordance to R.A. No. 9729
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otherwise known as the " Climate Change Act of2009."
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Sec. 5. Climate Change Emergency Summit - There shall be a climate change
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emergency summit to be held on the second week of September every year. The
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Summit shall be spearheaded by the Climate Change Commission and shall be
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participated by all the stakeholders mentioned in Section 3 hereof. The Summit shall
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aim to collaborate all the efforts of the concerned agencies in environment preservation
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and protection
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Sec. 6. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. - There is hereby created a
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Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor the Implementation of this Act.
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The Oversight Committee shall be composed of five (5) Senators and five (5)
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Representatives to be appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House
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of Representatives, respectively. The Oversight Committee shall be co-chalred by a
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Senator and a Representative to be designated by the Senate President and the
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Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. All concerned departments and
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agencies shall annually submit to Congress a report of the current status of the country,
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the implementation of this Act, and provide for recommendations, if any.
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Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
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other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
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repealed or modified accordingly.


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Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is deciared
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unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall
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remain in force and effect.
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Sec. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
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the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of
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general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,