Manila, December 9 2011 — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) hosted the Climate Change Adaptation Forum was held on December 9, 2011 at Discovery Suites, Ortigas, Pasig where project partners under the MDG-F 1656 programme presented their responses under the MDGF projects three major components.
Climate-induced disasters and increasing air, water and land pollution are pressures straining 5 main sectors in the Philippines namely the 1) coastal, marine and fishery sector, 2) health, 3) agriculture, 4) water, 5) forestry and biodiversity (CHAWF). Around 40 institutions from local governments, the academe and the community, in partnership with United Nations agencies, implemented the MDGIF to strengthen the Philippines’ institutional capacity to adapt to climate change.
First Component. Mainstreaming climate change adaptation in development plans and processes
Climate change adaptation (CCA) was mainstreamed in planning and development plans of participating national government agencies by enhancing existing frameworks and systems such as the Environment and Natural Resource (ENR) Framework Plan of the Environmental Management Bureau where CCA and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies were integrated in the forestry, biodiversity, coastal and marine sectors management. The Environmental Impact Assessment was also improved to ensure that future projects that require environmental impact certifications are climate resilient and will not add to the factors that cause climate change. The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) enhanced its water permitting process and required water companies to submit climate change impact mitigation studies and strategies before the issuance or renewal of the permits.
Vulnerability assessment tools related to the sectors were also developed and piloted in several agencies to identify the weaknesses of the departments and several knowledge products were made for the Environmental Management Bureau and the Department of Agriculture to replicate the project and build their staffs’ knowledge.
Second Component. Capacity building and competency development
Capacity assessment tools such as the evidence-based self assessment approach were developed under ADAPTAYO, to determine the technical and functional capacities of the provincial local government units, national government agencies and civil society organizations. This tool helped identify the gaps between the current capacities of the institutions and the capacity they want to reach. The stakeholders were able to strategize towards capacity building. Training modules were made and stakeholders underwent coaching, mentoring activities and visited local and Asian municipalities with good practices on areas such as crop diversification and coastal management under the leadership of the Development Academy of the Philippines.
PATLEPAM led the enhancement of selected tertiary education system and institutions. CCA and DRR capacities of educators were evaluated and selected universities and colleges were trained to raise their level of awareness on these topics. Good practices on CCA in the academic systems were documented and integrated in selected syllabi of college courses related to CHAWF such as coastal/marine courses, nursing, agricultural engineering and fisheries.
Third Component. The 3rd is the development and application of coping mechanisms and demonstration projects under the Climate Change Commission
The Commission on Climate Change highlighted the promotion of a bill that provides the funds, such as the People’s Survival Fund, for climate change early adaptation activities and the integration of CCA/DRR in local development plans such as land use and development plans.
