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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2935

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO
AND JOCELYN P. TULFO

AN ACT DECLARING A CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND
ENHANCING RESILIENCY AND ADAPTABILITY TO THE EFFECTS OF
CLIMATE CHANGE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Due to its geographic location and socioeconomic conditions, the Philippines
is among the most disaster-prone and climate-vulnerable countries in the world. Each
year, the country experiences an average of 20 tropical cyclones, several of which
intensify into destructive super typhoons. It is also home to 24 active volcanoes!, some
of which have caused catastrophic eruptions and major earthquakes. These natural
hazards are further exacerbated by climate change, which continues to alter
temperature patterns and trigger more frequent and severe weather events.?

During the recent Tropical Storm “Crising” and the Southwest Monsoon
(Habagat), the Office of Civil Defense reported that approximately 1.9 million
individuals across the country were affected. Around 25,000 families were forced to
evacuate to government-run shelters, while another 21,000 families sought refuge
outside of government-run facilities

In light of these recurring and intensifying disasters, it is the policy of the State
to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in
accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. There shall also be a policy on the
devastating impacts of extreme weather events which have significantly disrupted
food production and supply chains, reduced water availability, threatened public
health, and damaged vital structure and the national economy.

“Volcanoes of the Philippines”, PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF VOLCANOLOGY AND SEISMOLOGY,
https:/ / www. phivolcs. dost gov.ph/index.php/volcano-hazard /volcanoes-of-the-philippines.

2 “Climate Change in the Philippines”, PHILIPPINE ATMOSPHERIC, GEOPHYSICAL, AND
ASTRONOMICAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION,

hittps:/ /bagong. pagasa.dost.gov.ph/ information /climate-change-in-the-philippines.

3 Dumalag, Gabryelle, “Habagat Crising affect 1.9M Filipinos - OCD”, INQUIRER.NET, 23 Jul 2025,
hittps:/ /newsinfo.inquirer.net/2086016/habagat-crising-affect-1-9m-filipinos-ocd.


This bill seeks to declare a state of climate emergency and to institutionalize
comprehensive measures to strengthen the country’s resilience and adaptive capacity.
It aims to ensure the protection and preservation of lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems
by fostering a more pro-active, science-based, and community-centered approach to
disaster and climate risk governance.

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

Yr

RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO JoceLyyy TYLFO
tative Representatioe
2s District of Quezon City ACT-CIS Partylist


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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2959

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO
AND JOCELYN P. TULFO

AN ACT DECLARING A 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:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Climate Change
Resilience Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and
advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology. The State also
acknowledges that extreme weather conditions have devastated and may continue to
devastate parts of the country which have radically affected food production and
supply, water availability, public health, infrastructure, and economy.

Further, demographics, settlements and communities, energy and industry,
environment and waste, and transportation are elements that can influence change in
climate and can be influenced by climate change policies. Thus, enhancing resilience
and adaptation 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 people's lives, livelihoods, and the environment.

SEC. 3. Declaration of a Climate Change Emergency. - It is hereby declared
that the country is in the state of climate emergency and the government
acknowledges that global warming exists. The declaration stresses the need for the
government to devise measures to stop human-caused global warming, to limit its
effects, and to mobilize funds for climate mitigation efforts.

SEC. 4. Climate Change Resiliency and Adaptability to the Effects of Climate
Change. - There is hereby created a Climate Change Resiliency and Adaptability

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Program, hereinafter referred to as the “Program”, that shall develop and implement
solutions to adapt and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change. The Program
shall have the following components:

(a) Open sharing of data amongst the stakeholders. - All data sets related to climate
change and disaster efforts generated by the national government agencies,
local government units (LGUs), civil society organizations (CSOs),
academe, and the private sector shall be shared through a digital platform
that is readily accessible to all stakeholders;

(b) Probabilistic Climate Risk Assessments (PCRA). - PCRA shall consider all
possible scenarios, likelihood and inherent uncertainties, associated
impacts of climate change, and the climate change projections in extremes
in consultation with collective strengthening for community awareness on
natural disasters agencies. The PCRA shall generate the needed localized
baseline information on climate risk faced by vulnerable communities and
their support system for potential climate-related hazards;

(©) Multi-level national educational plan on climate resilience. ~ There shall be a
knowledge and competency building education agenda on climate change
from primary to tertiary levels of the education system, including the
country’s research and development program, producing citizens with
progressive conceptual and operational knowledge and skills to build
resilient communities, sectors, and nation.

Children and youth shall be provided with climate education and green
skills, necessary for their adaptation to and preparation for the effects of
climate change: Provided, That they shall be included in all climate-related
decision-making: Provided, further, That the youth shall be included in all
national, regional, and international climate negotiations and decisions;

(@) Link between health and climate change. - The link between health and climate
change will promote, account for, and monitor the health co-benefits from
climate interventions which shall be reflected in decision-making at all
levels of governance.

The right to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment shall also
be recognized: Provided, That policies and processes to safeguard this right
shall be adopted: Provided, further, That to strengthen the science of health
and climate change, it is necessary to close knowledge gaps and build
capacity to reach on the health impacts of climate change and health co-
benefits of climate actions;

(©) Critical services. - Increasing investment in climate change adaptation and
resilience in critical services, such as water, sanitation and hygiene systems,

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1 health, and education, shall be supported in order to protect the children,
2 communities, and the most vulnerable from the worst impacts of climate
3 change; and
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5 (f) Ecosystem protection strategies. - The following ecosystem protection
6 strategies shall be pursued:
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8 (1) Insurance and financing. - Assistance from the insurance and financing
9 industries shall be made to help mitigate the impacts of climate change,
10 ensure food security, and assist in a post-catastrophe scenario in order
oy for the insured populace to rebuild and re-establish their lives and
12 livelihoods while greatly increasing their resilience to disasters;
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14 (2) Innovations and information technology. - Innovations in information and
15 communication technology and digital transformation are essential in
16 the open sharing data and conduct of PCRA. These shall also provide
17 valuable input into climate change negotiations and decision-making;
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19 (3) Green-grey solutions or infrastructures. - These are solutions which offer
20 the best protection against calamities and shall be pursued to help
21 mitigate the effects of climate change. Green-grey infrastructure is the
22 conversion and restoration of natural systems combined with
23 conventional approaches;
24
2s (4) Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). - These are actions where we use the forces
26 of nature itself to achieve economic resilience like food and water
27 security, for reduced physical risks including flood control, coastal
28 protection and ecosystem and health, and reduced carbon emissions
29 through sequestration and avoided emissions which are necessary to
30 promote ecosystem resilience;
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32 (6) Urban green spaces. - The usage and expansion of urban green spaces
33 shall be encouraged to address urban heat island effect, promote more
34 sustainable cities, improve resilience to climate change, mitigate its
35 impacts, and increase its co-benefits to health and environment; and
36
37 (6) Vulnerability assessment. - LGUs shall be assisted by the relevant national
38 government agencies in the conduct of vulnerability assessment
39 including its Local Climate Change Action Plan.
40
41 SEC. 5. Roles of Department Agencies. - Government agencies shall

42 immediately and efficiently coordinate and lead in taking practicable measures to
43 _ preserve and protect the environment, as follows:


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(a) The Climate Change Commission (CCC) shall coordinate, monitor, and
evaluate programs and action plans related to climate change based on the
National Climate Change Action Plan;

(b) The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC) shall 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, LGUs, organizations, and other
stakeholders;

(©) The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical, and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA) shall conduct research and development on the
science of climate and changing weather patterns worldwide, and provide
and disseminate climate projections and weather forecasts;

(d)The Department of Education (DepEd) shall integrate climate change
education under the Science Curriculum from Grade 2 to Senior High
School level, in both private and public educational institutions, to raise and
increase the awareness of children about the impacts and effects of climate
change;

(c) The Commissioner on Higher Education (CHED) shall integrate climate
change education under the General Science subjects of the secondary and
tertiary levels, in both private and public educational institutions, to raise
and increase the awareness of children and youth about the impacts and
effects of climate change;

() The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall
develop, formulate, and recommend climate change strategies, programs,
and policies especially on physical vulnerability;

(g) The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall
coordinate with LGUs to address vulnerability and impacts of climate
change in regions, provinces, cities, and municipalities;

(h) The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) shall conduct research
and development on the effects of climate change and pathways to climate
disasters, including determining vulnerability and assessing climate risks
of natural ecosystem; develop technologies to enhance climate change
adaptation; facilitate the formulation of climate change policies on science,
technology, and innovations (STI) and related technical assistance; and
monitor and assess the impacts of provided technical assistance and/or
intervention;


(i) The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall ensure that
employers promote a healthy and safe environment for the employees
which is sustainable and environment-friendly;

() The Department of Information and Technology (DICT) shall provide cost-
free means for public information dissemination on climate change,
vulnerabilities, risks, relevant laws, and protocols specifically those which
need immediate dissemination;

(k) The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) shall provide the
feasibility studies and the determination of how climate change policies will
help in the economic development of the country;

()) The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall institutionalize a comprehensive
program to strengthen the resilience of the country’s food system;

(m)The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall
represent the stakeholders that are affected by climate change and extreme
weather conditions as indicated in Section 2 of this Act and ensure their
adaptive social protection;

(n) The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) shall design,

P: ighways ( ign

plan, implement, and inspect public works and infrastructures, which are
resilient and adaptive to climate change; and

(0) Other departments and agencies may be called upon by the Office of the
President, incumbent upon their mandate, to provide relevant information
relative to their sectors. This includes the following agencies:

(1) Philippines Space Agency (PhilSA);

(2) National Youth Commission (NYC);

(3) Philippine Commission on Women (PWC);

(4) Philippine Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP);
(©) National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC); and
(6) National Council for Indigenous People (NCIP).

Provided, That other departments and agencies may be called upon by the
Office of the President to take part in the efforts in environmental
preservation and protection.

SEC. 6. Multi-Sectoral Approach. ~ Concerned government agencies and LGUs
shall allocate adequate funds from their annual appropriations for the formulation,
development, and implementation of their respective climate change programs and
plans, in accordance with Republic Act No. 9279, otherwise known as the “Climate
Change Act of 2009”.


SEC. 7. Corporate Social Responsibility of Private Entities. - Projects
undertaken by private entities under this Act shall be considered as part of their
Corporate Social Responsibility Program.

SEC. 8. Climate Change Resiliency and Adaptability Summit. - There shall be
a Climate Change Resiliency and Adaptability Summit to be held on the second week
of September every year. The Summit shall be spearheaded by the CCC and shall be
participated in by all stakeholders mentioned in Section 5 hereof. The Summit shall
aim to collaborate all the efforts of the concerned agencies in environment
preservation and protection.

SEC. 9, Reportorial Requirement. - All agencies mentioned in Section 5 of this
Act shall submit an annual report on the current status of the country’s resiliency and
adaptability to climate change, the implementation of this Act, and their
recommendations, if any, to the Congress of the Philippines, through the Committee
on Climate Change of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change of the Senate of the
Philippines, on or before the scheduled Climate Change Resiliency and Adaptability
Summit.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations,
and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. - If any portion of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, any provision not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,