MANILA, Philippines, 17 March 2023 — The Climate Change Commission PH opens the call for the nomination and selection of new sectoral representatives for the People's Survival Fund (PSF) Board. The new sectoral representatives will be coming from the academic and scientific community, business sector, and non-government organization (NGO). The PSF Board manages and administers the People’s Survival Fund (PSF). The PSF was established to provide long-stream finance for climate change adaptation projects of local government units. The nominees must be: (a) a citizen and resident of the Philippines for at least two years immediately prior to their nomination; (b) at least seven (7) years of proven experience, exposure, and participation in research and development, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and other climate change-related activities; (c) at least three (3) years of experience in program/project development and evaluation; (d) has not been selected as a sectoral representative to the PSF Board, pursuant to Section 4 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Climate Change Act; and (e) a person with known probity, integrity, and good moral character. Selection will be based on the competence, experience, and integrity of the nominees. Upon selection, the representatives shall serve for a term of three (3) years starting from the date of the first PSF Board Meeting they attended, without reappointment. Representatives are also disqualified from accessing the Fund during their term, and a year after their tenure. The deadline of submission of nominations is on 19 April 2023 (Wednesday). The PSF Board is chaired by the Secretary of Finance with the Vice Chairperson of the CCC, Secretary of Budget and Management, Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority, Secretary of Interior and Local Government, Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women, and sectoral representatives from the academic and scientific community, the business sector, and NGOs, as members. Nominations and inquiries shall be sent through the CCC PSF Unit via psf@climate.gov.ph
Green Climate Fund Board approved the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ USD26.3M-proposal, “Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change (APA).” Photo credits: GCF MANILA, Philippines, 16 March 2023 — The “Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change (APA)” secured approval for a grant of US$26.3 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to increase the resilience of rural agriculture men and women in climate vulnerable areas and transform the country’s agriculture sector towards climate resilience. The APA project is a submission by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) as executing entities. “We welcome the decision of the GCF Board to approve the APA Project, which will be instrumental in building the capacity of our farming communities, as well as of the government and private sector, to understand and manage climate risks and adopt climate resilient agriculture practices,” said CCC Vice Chair and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje. Domestic resources amounting to US$12.98 million will be used to co-finance the project, putting the total project value at US$39.3 million. The project will cater to at least nine (9) provinces in five (5) regions (Regions II, V, X, and XII and Cordillera). The project will have three (3) main outcomes: Outcome 1: Increased institutional capacities for the development and provision of climate information and CRA services Outcome 2: Farmers (female/male) adopt CRA through CRA enterprises Outcome 3: Enabling Environment for mainstreaming and scaling up CRA At least 1.25 million poor farming household members (half of whom are women) are expected to directly benefit as farmers improve awareness of risks and risk reduction measures and incorporate climate-resilient and low emission technologies into agricultural practices. Over five million people living in the area will also benefit indirectly from enhanced information systems and strengthened institutional capacity that will create an enabling environment to promote the widespread adoption of CRA. “High impact, climate-resilient agriculture initiatives such as the APA, have potential to significantly contribute in the country’s socio-economic development, while enhancing adaptive capacities of our agricultural systems to climate change,” VCED Borje said. APA will be implemented this year until 2030 and is expected to reduce 1.86 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) over 20 years as a result of application of CRA practices and better land use. “We look forward to the implementation of the APA Project, which will certainly benefit Filipino farming communities living in vulnerable areas in the country. This is one critical project that can further enable our agriculture sector's transformation towards sustainability and resilience,” added CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne Herrera, who was former GCF Board Member. The project was approved by the GCF Board at its 35th Meeting in Songdo, Korea from 13 March 2023 and scheduled to end today, 16 March 2023. The Philippines is currently part of the GCF Board, represented by the Department of Finance (DOF). “We thank the DOF for pushing our national and global climate agenda forward through its representation and work in the GCF Board," VCED Borje said. For more information on Green Climate Fund, visit the CCC website at https://www.climate.gov.ph.
Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje (left) receives French Ambassador to the Philippines Michele Boccoz (right) to discuss development cooperation on climate action. MANILA, Philippines, 16 March 2023 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) and the Embassy of France in the Philippines expressed commitment to strengthen partnership and development cooperation on climate action. CCC Vice Chair and Executive Director (VCED) Robert E.A. Borje received French Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. Michele Boccoz, and exchanged priorities and strategies in implementing local climate action. “We express our gratitude to the government of France and the French Development Agency (AFD) for supporting the Philippines in implementing policy initiatives and sustainable solutions to address major climate and environmental challenges in the country,” said CCC VCED Borje. Among the priorities of CCC and French Embassy is the development and updating of risk-informed Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAPs) by local government units. Through AFD’s ongoing technical support, LGUs will be provided with capacity development and enhancement activities, as well as tools which are useful in the formulation and updating of LCCAPs. “AFD will continuously provide necessary assistance to the CCC in policy formulation and updating, as well as in enhancing local capacities on LCCAP development towards improved climate resilience,” Ambassador Boccoz assured. As of 2 March 2023, 1,399 (81.57%) out of 1,715 LGUs had submitted their LCCAPs to the CCC. Currently, the LCCAP Quality Assurance Mechanism is being developed based on guidelines set by CCC and DILG. Following the Philippines Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) by the World Bank Group, both officials explored other possible areas of collaboration aligned with the priorities specified in Chapter 15 of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, such as the updating of the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change (NFSCC) and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The NFSCC and the NDC are policies and frameworks which serve as basis of local climate action plans. Consistent with the pronouncements of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on strengthening cooperation with allied countries and development partners, the CCC institutionalized a contact group called “ENACT: Empowering Nurtured Alliance for Climate Action and Transformation.” ENACT will serve as a platform among CCC, embassies, and development partners to discuss, collaborate, and collectively implement investment-led transformative climate action.
BATAC, ILOCOS NORTE, 13 February 2023 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) met the farming community in Brgy. Rayuray, Batac, Ilocos Norte and discussed their observations on environment- and climate-related concerns in the area. CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director (VCED) Robert E.A. Borje and Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera visited the showcase area of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Barangay Rayuray, Batac, Ilocos Norte. According to PhilRice OIC Director Mary Ann Baradi, drought-resistant crops are tested in Barangay Rayuray in response to the water supply problem affecting agriculture in Ilocos Norte. In a short walkthrough at the site, the farmers explained how water shortage affected their agricultural productivity. Throughout the years, the community has become heavily reliant on groundwater extraction, which may eventually result in land subsidence. According to PhilRice, there were 330,749 metric tons of palay produced on the 63,909 hectares of land in the province of Ilocos Norte in 2022. “Nakadepende sa ulan ang supply ng tubig dito sa’min. Dahil sa pagbabago ng klima, paiba-iba rin ang panahon kung kailan malakas o mahina ang tubig, at dahil dito ay naaapektuhan ang aming mga pananim,” Barangay Captain Norberto Puyot said. PAGASA’s projection is that Ilocos Norte will have an increase in temperature and rainfall by 2036-2065, which will result in drier dry days and wetter wet days. “Sa pagbabago ng klima o climate change, hinaharap natin ang problema sa pag init o kawalan ng tubig, kung saan tayo ay mga biktima ng problemang hindi naman natin kasalanan. To our vulnerable communities, the CCC is here and united with you in the fight for climate justice,” said CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera. In his conversation with the farmers, VCED Borje stressed the importance of partnerships with various sectors to boost funding for agricultural programs toward climate-resilient food systems. “The CCC has farmers like you in mind. Kaya patuloy nating pinalalawig ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa local at probinsyal na pamahalaan, sa PhilRice, MMSU, maging ang People’s Survival Fund, upang matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga magsasaka na lubos na naaapektuhan ng nagbabagong klima. Dahil hindi lang po kabuhayan natin ang apektado – ang ating buhay at kinabukasan din ay nakataya,” VCED Borje emphasized. Some of the initiatives and programs that farmers themselves recognized as being necessary for implementation are: ● Solar-powered irrigation systems ● Rainwater catchment facilities ● Harvest calendar ● Drought-resistant crops ● Post-harvest marketing ● Information dissemination, and knowledge and capacity development Guided by President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr.’s pronouncements on climate justice, the CCC is prioritizing the strengthening of partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders for the benefit of the most vulnerable sectors. In 2022, it has formally institutionalized the following coordination mechanisms for the LGUs, development partners, civil society organizations and private sector: ACT Local (Accelerating Climate Action and Transformation for Local Communities; ENACT (Empowering Nurtured Alliance for Climate Action and Transformation; WE CAN (Working to Empower Climate Action Network; and CONNECT (Communicating Opportunities to Network, Navigate and Explore Climate Transformation). The CCC will continue to bolster its cooperation with the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), PhilRice, and the local government of Ilocos Norte to help formulate more appropriate plans of action toward climate-resilient agriculture in the region. “Makakaasa po kayo na narito ang CCC upang matulungan ang ating mga pamayanan na maging mas matatag sa mga hamon ng nagbabagong klima, upang lumago ang kabuhayan at magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan ang bawat Pilipino,” VCED Borje assured. The CCC also joined the 34th Regional Symposium on R&D Highlights which took place on 1-3 February 2023 at MMSU Campus. Part of the event was the Local Planners Forum where the CCC presented the development and enhancement of Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAPs) and access to the People’s Survival Fund (PSF).
MANILA, 10 February 2023 – The Climate Change Commission PH (CCC) kicked off the month-long series of #PlasticFreePilipinas activities in the Senate as part of its campaign against single-use plastics (SUPs). Hosted by Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, the launching of the photo exhibit titled “#PlasticFreeSaSenate” was attended by CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje and Commissioner Rachel Anne Herrera, along with representatives from environmental groups. The exhibit illustrates the severity of the plastic pollution crisis in the country. United with various environmental groups, the CCC pledged support for Senate Bill 246 authored by Senator Legarda, providing a new step towards a comprehensive and national ban on SUPs. The proposed measure will pave the way for the proper regulation and management of SUPs, providing penalties, levies and incentives for industries and consumers. “This measure will provide an ‘ambitious yet comprehensive’ approach to solving the problem of single-use plastics and supporting the development and use of more eco-friendly products and packaging. We will continue to lobby against single-use plastics and foster discussions on initiatives that advance real, demonstrable and lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis in the country,” Legarda said. “The issues on climate change necessarily include the production and use of plastics, especially single-use plastics. Considering its negative impacts on the environment and human health, everyone must understand what needs to be done to effectively reduce, and ultimately, to eliminate these plastics,” VCED Borje stressed. “The Commission supports the passage of a national regulation aimed at the phase-out and eventual ban of single-use plastics in the country which will also support the development and use of more eco-friendly packaging. This legislation, when implemented through a whole-of-nation approach, will give us a fighting chance to achieve the 1.5 survival limit as found by the scientific community,” Commissioner Herrera said. The #PlasticFreePilipinas campaign also included activities such as the documentary screening of “Ang Huling Plastic” and “The Story of Plastic”; a zero waste bazaar, and a legislative forum on waste-to-energy. These activities aim to amplify the call to ban SUPs, unmask single-use plastic production issues, false solutions, as well as highlight zero-waste businesses and mainstream zero-waste solutions. The event is organized by the Plastic Free Pilipinas Project collaborators, namely, EcoWaste Coalition, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Mother Earth Foundation, Greenpeace Philippines, and Ocean Conservancy, together with the Climate Change Commission, Oceana Philippines, and the Office of Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda.
