Arroyo takes role of climate change czar

MANILA, Philippines – After taking the role of an anti-drug czar, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has also named herself the country's climate change czar. President Arroyo said this was part of the reorganization of the Presidential Task Force on Climate Change, which was previously headed by Heherson Alvarez Jr., the presidential adviser on climate change. In issuing Executive Order 774, President Arroyo said the government should help push the mind-set from the present traditional paradigms to economics to the new mindset of conservation, protection and restoration (CPR). “Climate change will have catastrophic effects if immediate and sufficient action to curb industrial emissions and forest loss is not taken... While our country's emissions remain much lower than those of industrialized nations, our country's recent growth and development have been accompanied by a rise in damaging emissions from fossil fuels,” she said. As her first action, President Arroyo ordered all sectors to cooperate with one another towards the fulfillment of the goals of sustainable development. She also ordered Cabinet members who will be members of the task force to practice proper solid waste management and environmental responsibility. She also scheduled weekly visits to various government offices to ensure compliance to CPR. President Arroyo also 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 said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall head the Task Group on Solid Waste Management, which shall reduce solid waste generation by 50 percent within the next six months. She said all local government units are enjoined to fully implement the law on solid waste management. - GMANews.TV