Arroyo's climate change body 'ridiculous'
MANILA -- An anti-pollution advocate branded as "ridiculous and confused" President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's order reorganizing the Presidential Task Force on Climate Change (PTFCC) and appointing herself as its head.
Greenpeace Southeast Asia climate and energy campaigner Amalie Obusan said Executive Order (EO) 774, which seeks to step up environmental protection, "may seem sincere and creditable, (but) the EO is itself ridiculous and confused."
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Doubts
Obusan, in a statement, said Greenpeace believes that EO 774 cast serious doubt on the task force's effectiveness and called on Arroyo to instead implement "real and tangible climate change solutions."
"The reorganized task force, now headed by the President, basically mandates all government agencies and local governments to comply with laws and responsibilities that the said agencies should already be doing in the first place," she said.
"The President is already head of the government. To appoint herself as chairperson of a body which mandates government agencies to fulfill what are already their responsibilities -- and to put aside budget for that purpose -- is absurd," she added.
Tasks
Obusan said EO 774 tasks government agencies to follow the Solid Waste Management Act, which by law should really be implemented.
It also tasked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to survey, map, and protect watershed areas, which is already one of the agency's responsibilities.
She said the EO mandates that waterways and riverbanks should be cleared of obstructions, but this is already stated in the Clean Water Act.
The order also calls for a compliance audit of the Fisheries Code, which is one of the tasks of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Obusan said the directive for the Department of Energy (DOE) to head the Task Group on Renewable Energy and swiftly implement the Renewable Energy Law is already a function of the DOE.
She added that EO 774 attempts to make PTFCC a body that comprehensively addresses as many climate mitigation and adaptation strategies as possible, including the promotion of traditional medicine.
"It betrays the government's lack of seriousness in getting down to business on the real causes of climate change," Obusan said.
"Climate change is the greatest environmental threat the world faces today, any climate change task force should focus on wide-reaching and lasting solutions, beginning with phasing out coal and nuclear plants and initiating a massive shift to renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies," she added.
Arroyo, in issuing EO 774, said the government should help push the mindset from the present traditional paradigms on economics to the new mindset of conservation, protection, and restoration (CPR).
She organized the task groups on solid waste management, watershed protection, rainwater conservation, water recycling, atmospheric activities, fossil fuels, information, fisheries, agriculture, education, renewable energy, CPR economics, and outdoor and rooftop structures.
She also ordered Cabinet members, who will be part of the task force, to practice proper solid waste management and environmental responsibility.
President Arroyo or presidential adviser on climate change Heherson Alvarez Jr. will visit government offices every Friday to ensure compliance with CPR.
She said the Presidential Management Staff shall clear her schedule on Fridays and devote five hours to concerns and initiatives for environmental security. (JMR/Sunnex)
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