Formulating a National Environmentally Sustainable Transport Program for the Philippines.
In an effort to further strengthen the policy on climate change, President Arroyo signed Administrative Order No. 254 on January 30, 2009. AO No. 254 was issued to supplement Executive Order No. 774 dated December 26, 2008. The latter reorganized the Philippine Task Force on Climate Change and mandated the Department of Transportation and Communication to lead a Task Group on Fossil Fuel (“TGFF”) for reformation of the transportation sector.
Under the Administrative Order, the functions of the TGFF were expounded. It shall act as the body primarily responsible for the effective coordination by various agencies of the government, international organizations, and the private sector pertaining to the formulation of the National Environmentally Sustainable Transport (“EST”) Strategy. Principally, the TGFF is tasked to reform the transport sector to reduce the consumption of fossil fuel. This is in line with the principle advocated nowadays that “Those who have less in wheels must have more in road”. For this purpose, the group shall establish a system which shall favor non-motorized locomotion and collective transportation system such as walking, bicycling, and the man-powered mini-train.
Pursuant to its principal function, the TGFF shall, among others, immediately transform roads using the abovestated principle; review the conformity of existing laws and regulations with established EST standards and provisions; identify, classify and prioritize programs toward realizing EST; identify and establish institutional and technical infrastructure requirement for the implementation of National EST Strategy; and coordinate and consult with Local Government Units, other government agencies, and the private sector for facilitation of the National EST Strategy. Through its program, the TGFF expects to bring down by fifty percent (50%) the consumption of fossil fuels within two (2) years from the issuance of EO 774.
The enactment of the Order is in line with the Philippines’ ratification of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (“UNFCCC”) and the Kyoto Protocol on August 2, 1994 and November 20, 2003, respectively. The UNFCCC is an international environmental treaty produced at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, informally known as the Earth Summit. It is aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas (“GHG”) concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. The Kyoto Protocol, on the other hand, has set binding targets and committed thirty-seven (37) industrialized countries and the European community into reducing GHG emissions. These international agreements direct parties to report on the steps they are taking or envisage undertaking to implement the Convention. The Philippines submitted its first national declaration on May 19, 2000.