Republic Act No. 12019

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title

This Act shall be known and referred to as "The Loss and Damage Fund Board Act".

Section 2. Declaration of Policy

It is the policy of the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.

As a party to the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, the State lauds the creation of a fund for responding to loss and damage (Fund) under the Decision 2/CMA.4 of the Conference of Parties serving as the meeting of Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) and during the 27th Conference of Parties (COP) to the UNFCC under Decision 2/CP.27 of the COP, and its operationalization during the 28th COP under COP Decision 1/CP.28 and CMA Decision 5/CMA.5. The State resolutely welcomes the Fund's establishment to finance and assist the most vulnerable developing countries response and recovery from losses and damages caused by climate change.

To advance climate and disaster risk resilience, the State shall take a whole-of-government approach in creating and implementing effective policy frameworks and mobilizing broad and innovative sources of climate financing to address loss and damage.

To accelerate access to critical climate finance and investments for future-proofing the economy and ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth for all Filipinos, the State supports the hosting of the governing Board of the Fund in the Philippines. Towards this end, the State recognizes the need to grant juridical personality and legal capacity to the Board to enable it to discharge its roles and functions.

Section 3. Juridical Personality and Legal Capacity of the Board

The Board, as the governing body of the Fund, shall have juridical personality with full legal capacity to:

(a) Contract;

(b) Acquire and dispose of immovable and movable property;

(c) Institute legal proceedings;

(d) Negotiate, conclude, and enter into a hosting arrangement with the World Bank as interim trustee and host of the Fund's secretariat; and

(e) Undertake activities as necessary for discharging its roles and functions.

Section 4. Privileges, Immunities, and Exemptions

The Board shall enjoy the status, immunities, privileges, and exemptions granted under relevant treaties, international agreements, and agreements that may be entered into between the Government of the Philippines and the Board.

Section 5. Separability Clause

If any portion or provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

Section 6. Repealing Clause

All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, administrative orders, and rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

Section 7. Effectivity

This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

(SGD.) FRANCIS "CHIZ" G. ESCUDERO President of the Senate	(SGD.) FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act was passed by the Senate of the Philippines as Senate Bill No. 2780 on August 19, 2024 and adopted by the House of Representatives as an amendment to House Bill No. 10722 on August 21, 2024.

(SGD.) RENATO N. BANTUG, JR. Secretary of the Senate	(SGD.) REGINALD S. VELASCO Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: AUG 28 2024

(SGD.) FERDINAND ROMUALDEZ MARCOS JR. President of the Philippines