This time, GMA names herself climate czar

President Arroyo has named herself chair of the Presidential Task Force on Climate Change (PTCC), which she reorganized to make it more effective in implementing measures to mitigate the effects of global warming in the country.

Mrs. Arroyo issued Executive Order 774, dated Dec. 26, 2008 but announced at Malacañang only on Wednesday. Last week, she named herself the anti-narcotics czar to curb drug abuse and trafficking in the country.

In her EO, she said 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 in per capita terms than those of industrialized nations, our country’s recent growth and development have been accompanied by a rise in damaging emissions from fossil fuels,” the President said.

“We should try to help push the mind-set from the present traditional paradigms of economics to the new mindset of conservatism, protection and restoration,” she said.

She directed all Cabinet officials to be members of the PTCC and their respective offices should be examples of protecting the environment, starting with proper solid waste management, “the most basic form of environment responsibility.”

Mrs. Arroyo said her staff would clear her schedule on Fridays and devote five hours to concerns and initiatives on environmental security.

She formed 14 task groups, including the Task Group on Solid Waste Management that would implement various measures, such as the reduction of solid waste generation by 50 percent in the next six months.

The Task Group on Watershed Protection will, among others, immediately identify and protect water resources and watersheds, and tap the academic and scientific community to conduct an inventory of the country’s flora and fauna.

The Task Group on Rainwater Conservation will be in charge of putting up rainwater collection systems.

The Task Group on Water Recycling will work on the effective use, recovery and reuse of water.

The Task Group on Atmospheric Activities will be in charge of, among other things, improving the facilities of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Administration.

The Task Group on Outdoor and Rooftop Structures would ensure that all billboards and outdoor advertisements be shut off by 9 p.m.

The Task Group on Information would be in charge of raising awareness on the threats the country is facing with regards to climate change.

The Task Group on Foreign Affairs will seek cooperation with other island-nations in exploring legal and meta-legal approaches on how to hold high carbon dioxide-emitting countries accountable for climate change.