By Joyce Pangco Pa?ares, Christine Herrera

PRESIDENT Arroyo has assumed the chairmanship of the task force on climate change, replacing Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes.

There was no official explanation for the President?s takeover. But Palace sources said Mrs. Arroyo did not want a repeat of the clash between Reyes and presidential adviser Heherson Alvarez over the climate change conference in Poland last month where Reyes allegedly meddled in the preparations for the conference.

In Executive Order 774 which re-organized the task force, Mrs. Arroyo ordered Alvarez to oversee the implementation of efforts to address the climate change problem.

Alvarez will report to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita every 72 hours or every three days on the progress of the measures outlined in the order and that the former senator will visit government offices every Friday ?to help implement proper solid waste management.?

In the order, Mrs. Arroyo told the Presidential Management Staff to clear her schedule every Friday so that she can devote five hours ?to concerns and initiatives for environmental security.?

Mrs. Arroyo will begin her first ?green? Friday today with a briefing on the government?s solid waste management program at the Office of the President?s Engineering Extension Office in Nagtahan. She will also inspect Malaca?ang?s materials recovery facility.

As part of the measures to counteract climate change, several government departments were given orders, among them, the Environment Department, which has been tasked to reduce solid waste generation by 50 percent within the next six months.

Mrs. Arroyo earmarked P2 billion for a massive reforestation project for forest lands and protected areas.

The President also ordered the National Power Corp. to release funds provided under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act for the protection of watersheds and water resources.

In Bataan, House energy committee chairman Rep. Juan Miguel ?Mikey? Arroyo and Rep. Mark Cojuangco, author of a bill to reactivate Bataan nuclear power plant, declared the plant ?good as new.? The Bataan nuclear plant was mothballed 20 years ago after it was found to be shot through with defects.

The lawmakers and some 30 residents conducted an hour-long inspection of the plant after which they declared that the nuclear reactor, steam engine, generators, and turbines look new because the government has been spending P50 million a year to maintain them.

Last year, some P65 million was allocated to maintain the plant, and another P100 million for this year, according to engineer Jesus Trinidad, Napocor operations manager.