WHEREAS, climate change is scientifically recognized as an alarming global problem.

It is attributed
directly to global warming caused by human activities like the burning of fossil fuels such as oil and
coal used by industrialization activities of countries worldwide. These human activities include
worldwide deforestation, increasing industrial activity, motor vehicle emission, waste management
practices and intensive agriculture, specifically, the slash and burn farming method;
WHEREAS, the changing climate has adverse impacts on natural, economic, and social systems
which affect our national and local aspirations to eradicate poverty and attain sustainable
development for the present and future generations;
WHEREAS, the Philippines, being an archipelagic country, is highly vulnerable to climate risks and
weather disturbances such as tropical cyclones and prolonged droughts resulting to social and
ecological devastation, and economic loss;
WHEREAS, the Philippines, as a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC), adopts the ultimate objective of the Convention which is the stabilization of
greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous
anthropogenic interference with the climate system which should be achieved within a time frame
sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is
not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.
WHEREAS, as a party to the Hyogo Framework for Action, the Government likewise adopts the
strategic goals in order to build national and local resilience to climate change-related disasters;
WHEREAS, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the initial part of its
5th Assessment Report last 27 September 2013 and the opening part of the Summary for Policy-
Makers captured perfectly what is happening in the world right now, to wit:
Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes
are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the
amounts of snow and ice have diminished, sea level has risen, and the concentrations of
greenhouse gases have increased.
WHEREAS, policy makers and scientists here and abroad emphasize the need to institutionalize
climate change mitigation and adaptation measures to address climate risks expeditiously; the
government has adopted the Philippine Agenda (PA) 21 and the Millennium Development Goal for
environmental sustainability; and on October 23, 2009, the government adopted the Climate Change
Act of 2009;
WHEREAS, Section 14 thereof of Republic Act No. 9729 otherwise known as Climate Change Act of
2009 deals with “Local Climate Change Action Plan,” to wit: The Local Government Units shall be
the frontline agencies in the formulation, planning and implementation of climate change action plans
in their respective areas, consistent with the provisions of the Local Government Code, the
Framework, and the National Climate Change Action Plan;
WHEREAS, there is a need to consolidate the efforts of individuals, institutions and the local
government of the City of General Santos to address urgent life threatening risks of global warming
and climate change to all vulnerable communities; especially when reports from the Regional Office
12 of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau has identified barangays Baluan, Buayan, Bula,
Calumpang, Siguel, Lagao and Sinawal as high-risk to flooding while barangays City Heights,
Apopong, Labangal, Dadiangas North and Dadiangas West are flood-prone, and these areas are
also exposed to other climate change-related risks and hazards which need to be further studied and
specified with the corresponding need to prepare the residents of these barangays for their eventual
happening;
WHEREAS, while the City has already passed Ordinance No. 03, Series of 2011, which created the
General Santos City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (GSCDRRMO), the longer-
term threats such as sea-level rise impacting the city’s coastlines along Sarangani Bay, ocean
acidification which affects the over-all fish catch of the city, erosion of the city’s food security due to
erratic weather patterns that affects agricultural production, among others, and all these discernible
effects attributable to the onset of the adverse impacts of climate change needs to be anticipated so
that the City can better able to absorb whatever adverse impacts it may have on its long-term
economic growth and ability to meet the needs of its residents;
WHEREAS, from these anticipated impacts, there is an emerging imperative to institutionalize
measures, policies, plans and programs for climate change adaptation and mitigation to be
considered in the plans and programs of the GSCDRRMO and other offices and units of the City
Government to ensure climate-proof development of the City;
NOW, THEREFORE, on motion of City Councilor Elizabeth B. Bagonoc, duly seconded by City
Councilors, Rosalita T. Nuñez, Shandee Theresa O. Llido-Pestaño, Brix T. Tan, Marius Orlando A.
Oco, be it –
RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to enact this Ordinance:
ORDINANCE NO.18
Series of 2013
AN ORDINANCE MAINSTREAMING AND INTEGRATING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION
AND MITIGATION INTO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF GENERAL SANTOS CITY’S POLICY
FORMULATION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
————————————————————————————————
Hon. Elizabeth B. Bagonoc – Author
Hon. Ramon R. Melliza, Hon. Eduardo D. Leyson IV, Hon. Richard L. Atendido,
Hon. Marius Orlando A. Oco, Hon. Vivencio E. Dinopol, Hon. Rosalita T. Nuñez,
Hon. Brix T. Tan, Hon. Shandee Theresa O. Llido-Pestaño,
Hon. Lourdes F. Casabuena – Co-Authors
———————————————————————————————–
Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlungsod, City of General Santos, that:
Section 1. Short Title. This Ordinance shall be known as THE CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION
AND MITIGATION ORDINANCE OF GENERAL SANTOS CITY FOR 2013.
Section 2. Declaration of Policy.
A. The City of General Santos recognizes the vulnerability of the country and its local communities to
potential dangerous consequences of climate change such as rising sea levels, changing
landscapes, increasing frequency and severity of droughts, floods and storms, climate-related
illnesses and diseases, damage to ecosystems, biodiversity loss that affect the country’s
environment, culture, and economy. Hence, the city shall cooperate with the national agencies and
local communities in the resolution of climate change issues, including disaster risk reduction.
B. The City Government shall strive to:
1) Systematically integrate the concept of climate change in various phases of
policy formulation, development plans, poverty reduction strategies and other
development tools and techniques by all agencies and instrumentalities of the
city government.
2) Enjoin the participation of different stakeholders from the local governments and agencies,
businesses, non-government organizations (NGOs), local communities and the public to prevent and
reduce the adverse impacts of climate change and, at the same time, maximize the benefits of
climate change and to enter into LGU collaboration in addressing the issue on climate change in
terms of watershed management and river basin stabilization;
3) Strengthen, integrate, consolidate and institutionalize local government initiatives to achieve
coordination in the implementation of plans and programs to address climate change in the context
of sustainable development;
4) Promote the integration of the topics on Environmental Management and Climate Change in the
basic education curriculum of schools operating within the City in cooperation with the appropriate
authorities such as the Department of Education and private education institutions; and
5) Empower and capacitate the community by making available the access to and use of knowledge,
information, training and education, and technology in addressing the issue of climate change.
C. As a concrete and initial step towards the above, it is hereby made a policy of the city to establish
a General Santos City Climate Change Action Plan (GSCCCAP) to promote climate-proofing
development through genuine multi- sectoral participation, particularly in: 1) the formulation of the
Annual Investment Plan (AIP) of the city; 2) the formulation of the strategic framework and program
of the city on climate change; 3) the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of local
development plans, programs, fiscal policies, and budgets; 4) promote environmentally sustainable
practices in accordance with the city’s low-emission development strategy; and 5) implementation of
Climate Change Act of 2009 and its amendatory law, which created the Peoples’ Survival Fund.
Section 3. Definition of Terms. The definition of terms under Section 3 of Republic Act 9729 or the
Climate Change Act of 2009 is hereby adopted. However, the following terms when used in this
ordinance shall mean as follows unless the context requires otherwise:
A. “Adaptation” refers to the adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or
expected climatic effects;
B. “Anthropogenic” refers to human activities or those produced by human beings.
C. “Climate Change” refers to a change in climate that can be identified by changes in the mean
and/or variability of its properties and that persists for an extended period typically decades or
longer, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity.
D. “Climate Risk” refers to the product of climate and related hazards working over the vulnerability
of human and natural ecosystems.
E. “Disaster” refers to a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving
widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts which exceed the
ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
F. “Disaster risk reduction” refers to the concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through
systematic efforts to analyze and manage the causal factors of disasters, including through reduced
exposure to hazards, lessened vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and
the environment, and improved preparedness for adverse events.
G. “Global Warming” refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s near surface air
and oceans that is associated with the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere.
H. “Greenhouse effect” refers to the process by which the absorption of infrared radiation by the
atmosphere warms the Earth.
I. “Greenhouse gases (GHG)” refers to constituents of the atmosphere that contribute to the
greenhouse effect including, but not limited to, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,
hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride.
J. “Mainstreaming” refers to the integration of policies and measures that address climate change
into development planning and sectoral decision making.
K. “Mitigation” in the context of climate change, refers to human intervention to address
anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of all GHG, including ozone depleting
substances and their substitutes.
L. “Sea level rise” refers to an increase in sea level which may be influenced by factors like global
warming through expansion of sea water as the oceans warm and melting of ice over land and local
factors such as land subsidence.
M. “Vulnerability” refers to the degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with,
adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes. Vulnerability is a
function of the character, magnitude, and rate of climate change and variation to which a system is
exposed, its sensitivity, and its adaptive capacity.
Section 4. The Powers and Functions of City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).
The herein functions and powers of CENRO under Republic Act 7160 are hereby adopted except
that of promoting small scale mining and utilization of mineral resources particularly mining of gold
and copper and others because it is the policy of the city to prohibit the same and as such, CENRO
is hereby designated as the lead agency in the implementation of this ordinance.
Section 5. Additional Powers and Functions of City Environment and Natural Resources Office
(CENRO) – The CENRO shall now have additional powers and functions:
A. Facilitate the formulation of the General Santos City Climate Change Action Plan referred to in
Sec. 2.C above, which while enumerating the elements above-mentioned, shall also include, the
following, inter alia :
a. Vulnerability Audit which includes a city-wide assessment of the city impact of climate change,
identification of the most vulnerable communities/areas including ecosystems; and the assessment
and management of risk;
b. a City Climate Change Adaptation Action Agenda which includes the identification of priority
initiatives for climate change adaptation along the following concerns: food security, infrastructure
development, water sufficiency, environmental sustainability, etc;
c. Climate-Proofing of Existing Barangay Development Plans which includes activities to strengthen
the capacity and capability of implementing offices/agencies, barangays and communities of the City
for local adaptation planning, implementation and monitoring of climate change initiatives in
vulnerable communities and areas. This will include community-based training and public
information on the incorporation of climate change adaptation plans in the existing disaster risk
reduction and management plans and development plans of the barangays;
B. Establish a data bank with updates on the hazard profile of all barangay in the city and to analyze
data on man-made disasters for public safety studies which can be done by universities and colleges
with funding support from the city;
C. Cause the integration and mainstreaming of a low-emissions development strategy anchored on
a clear transition plan for renewable energy utilization to synchronize the City’s energy grid to enable
it to take advantage of the benefits of the Renewable Energy Act (Republic Act 9513) including but
not limited to net metering, green energy options and whenever feasible, the piloting of a socialized
feed-in tariff;
D. Undertake pilot initiatives with the assistance of the City’s financial sector to develop risk transfer
instruments to enable the generation of financial resources for climate change adaptation and
mitigation efforts, including compensation for long-term loss and damage from climate change;
E. Perform such other functions as may be directed by the City Mayor.
Section 6. Creation of the City Climate Change Council. A Council is hereby created, which shall be
called the City Climate Change Council (CCCC).
A. The CCCC shall be multi-sectoral and composed of the following:
a. City Mayor as Chairperson;
b. Representative from the academe as Vice-Chairperson;
c. Chairperson of the Committee on Climate Change Adaptation of the Sangguniang
Panlungsod ;
d. City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO);
e. City Planning and Development Office (CPDO)
f. City Agriculture Office (CAO);
g. City Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO);
h. City Engineer’s Office (CEO);
i. City Health Office (CHO);
j. City Legal Office;
k. City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Office (CEMCDO);
l. President of the League of Barangays in the City;
m. Representative from the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs);
n. Representative from the Indigenous Peoples;
o. Representative from the Office of the Muslim Filipinos;
p. Representative from the business sector;
q. Representative from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)- PAGASA;
r. Representative from the Regional Office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR);
s. Representative from the Philippine National Police;
t. Chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources of the
Sangguniang Panlungsod ;
u. Waste Management Office;
v. City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO);
w. City Veterinarian Office;
x. Representative from the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK);
y. City Public Information Office (CPIO).
B. Appointment of the Representatives from the Private Sector. -The members from the churches,
civil society organizations, non-government organizations/people’s organizations, academe, and
business sector shall be selected by the concerned sector in separate meetings of the respective
sectors called by the Mayor for the purpose within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this
ordinance and the names of the representatives to be submitted to the Mayor.
In case where such membership is not filled up by any interested and qualified applicant, the other
members of the CCCC shall recommend to the Mayor nominees to the CCCC membership.
C. Term of Office of Sectoral Representatives. -The members of the CCCC coming from the
identified sectors shall serve for a term of three (3) years without prejudice to reappointment.
D. Vacancy of Office of the Sectoral Representatives. -In cases of vacancy, the appointed
successors shall serve only the unexpired portion of the term of his/her predecessor. The nomination
procedures for, and the qualification of, these successors shall be the same as in the above
preceding Subsections.
E. Organization. -The Mayor shall convene the identified members of the CCCC within sixty (60)
days from the effectivity of this Ordinance.
F. Meetings.- The CCCC shall hold meetings at least once in every quarter of the calendar year. The
CCCC may likewise hold special meetings, provided that, notice is properly given to all the members
at least seventy-two (72) hours before the scheduled meeting.
G. Quorum.- Quorum shall be constituted by the presence of at least a simple majority (50% plus 1)
of the total number of the members of the Committee.
Section 7. Powers and Functions of the City Climate Change Council.
A. Recommend legislation, policies, strategies, programs on and appropriations for, climate change
adaptation and mitigation and other related activities in the City;
B. Coordinate with the different national agencies, including the City Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council, and other public and private entities to address the City’s vulnerability to
climate change impacts and propose measures for the long-term adaptation of the City to these
impacts, including the consideration of the piloting of risk transfer instruments and other mechanisms
to address long-term loss and damage from climate change;
C. Formulate the mechanism of integrating in the basic education curriculum the topics on
Environmental Management and Climate Change;
D. Formulate strategies and actions on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other
anthropogenic causes of climate change in the City piloting in the process a low-emission
development strategy applicable to mid-size urban areas and a viable renewable energy program;
and
E. Facilitate the development of specific climate change adaptation proposals with relevant
technology transfer elements, through the Climate Change Section within the Office of the City
Mayor that can be submitted for funding to the Peoples’ Survival Fund created by Republic Act
10174, and other bilateral financing instruments as well as the Climate Technology Center and
Network of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;
Section 8. Source of Fund. -The Funding requirement of this program shall be chargeable against
the 20% Development Fund and the 5% Calamity Fund and other sources of funds available in the
city appropriated for the purpose.
Section 9. Incentives and Awards System.
1. The City shall establish and institutionalize an incentive and awards system to encourage the
implementation of plans and programs by Barangays, non-government organizations (NGOs) and
people’s organizations (POs) to address climate change in the context of sustainable development;
2. The incentives shall come in the form of financial and technical assistance for projects that adapt
to, and mitigate the impacts of, climate change and contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions.
3. There shall be an annual awards for best practices by category: Barangays, NGOs and POs.
Section 10. Membership in Local Councils. – Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (CCAM) is
an integral part of local planning for regular programs of the city, and to ensure the integration of
Climate Change in the local development plans and development processes, the Chairperson of the
Committee on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation shall become ex officio member of the
following: (a) City Development Council, (b) City Urban Poor Development Council, (c) Small and
Medium Enterprise Development Council, (d) City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council
(CDRRMC), and other councils that have a concern to the Climate Change Adaptation and
Mitigation efforts of the city.
Section 11. Mandatory Publication and Information Dissemination. – This Ordinance shall be
published for three (3) consecutive weeks in three local newspapers which have been in general
circulation in the city for at least one year chosen by raffle and copies of which shall also be
furnished to all Barangay Captains who shall cause their Purok federation presidents to disseminate
the same to all Purok presidents who shall in turn disseminate the information to the residents. All
sectors are enjoined to help in disseminating information about this ordinance.
Section 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the
approval of this Ordinance, the Council shall, upon consultation with the different local government
units, government agencies, private sector, NGOs and civil society, promulgate the implementing
rules and regulations of this Ordinance: Provided, That failure to issue rules and regulations shall not
in any manner affect the executory nature of the provisions of this Ordinance.
Section 13. Separability. – If for any reason any section or provision of this Ordinance is declared as
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby.
Section 14. Repealing Clause. – All ordinances, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts
thereof which are inconsistent with this ordinance are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 15. Effectivity. – This Ordinance shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the completion of its
publication.
Enacted by the 17th Sangguniang Panlungsod, City of General Santos, on its 21st Regular Session
held on December 03, 2013.

CERTIFIED CORRECT:
ATTY. ROSENDO A. ROQUE
Secretary to the Sanggunian
ATTESTED BY:
RAMON R. MELLIZA
City Councilor and Presiding Officer
Approved by His Honor, the City Mayor on___________, 2013.
RONNEL C. RIVERA
City Mayor