MANILA, Philippines – Lawmakers are doing the right thing in reviewing the government’s Climate Change Commission (CCC), an environmental think-tank said Wednesday.

The move to assess the reported chaos within the commission should be done immediately, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (iCSC) said in a press statement. 

Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao partylist Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. have filed House Resolution No. 514, urging Congress to convene the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to investigate complaints leveled at the commission.

"The move to form the Congressional Oversight Committee on Climate Change is urgent. Unless fundamental problems besetting the commission are resolved, the implementation of the country's climate plans will continue to be hampered," said iCSC official Ignacio Sayajon III.

His group, which is working on sustainable energy solutions and a fair climate policy, is behind Makati City’s eJeepneys project through its Climate-Friendly Cities initiative.

According to Sayajon, the commission’s policies and programs all depend on the decisions of one person, whom he did not identify.

“The unilateralism prevailing in the commission has resulted in confusion and in some cases, policy malfeasance," he added.

The CCC is headed by former Senator and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Heherson Alvarez 

“We have entered the season of likely climate-induced disasters as evidenced by typhoon Juan and the resulting destruction especially in Northern Luzon. While President Aquino is very happy with the way the effective implementation of disaster preparations, he still has to put the Climate Change Commission in order,” Rodriguez said. 

“The Commission needs to craft plans based not on one man's whims but on the input of the entire Commission together with government agencies, civil society and communities. We have to move quickly and solidly as one team," he added. 

“More than plans, Congress needs to establish on long-term, predictable, community-biased funds for adaptation. Vulnerable Filipino communities, especially women in agriculture, deserve no less."