by Robert E. Roperos

Butuan City (19 November) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recently signed Memorandum Circular 186 enjoining officials and employees in all departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned and controlled corporations to actively participate in the observance of "Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week" from November 19-25, 2009.

In the circular signed by the president, it was stated that in pursuant to Proclamation No. 1667, dated November 18, 2008, the period November 19 to 25, 2008 and every year thereafter has been declared as the "Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week".

The said proclamation aims to create awareness on global warming and climate change by pursuing broad and intensive information and educational campaign to inform the general public the awesome and terrifying consequences of this phenomenon and to secure the collective cooperation of the Filipino citizens, as well as the collective action of private and public sectors at all levels in finding solutions to this concern.

The week-long celebration will be spearheaded by Presidential Adviser on Global Warming and Climate Change (OPACC), in cooperation with the Presidential Task Force on Climate change (PTFCC).

Among the highlights of the activity include the convening of a national organizing committee for the observance of the week-long celebration. This will be headed by OPACC in cooperation with PTFCC.

Members of the PTFCC who are designated as committee members are: DENR, DOE, DA, DOST, DOTC, DepEd, DILG, DPWH, DOH, DFA, NEDA, PIA, PAGASA, CHED, TESDA, NWRB, LMP, and LCP, including other relevant government agencies, especially media organizations with OPS-PIA (government TV stations: NBN-4, RPN-9, IBC-13, Radyo ng Bayan) with the support of the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).

Also, holding of the Friday Climate Change Briefing with President Arroyo as a "Media Summit on Climate Change," developed into a national telethon over government TV stations, for a National Action Agenda on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.

With these developments, the president enjoins the concerned agencies and organizations for the active participation in all activities and events for the week, and to conduct separate climate change activities such as fora, lectures, film showing, tree planting, painting, poetry and poster contests and other similar activities in respective government agencies throughout the week, with the special participation of the Cabinet Cluster on Education composed of DepEd, CHED, and TESDA, as well as the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).