Strengthening local climate capacity through science-based assessment. Led by Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) met with San Francisco, Cebu Mayor Alfredo A. Arquillano Jr. and local government officials to assess the implementation and impact of the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) of the LGU.

CAMOTES ISLAND, CEBU – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) met with the Local Government of San Francisco, Cebu to further strengthen the municipality’s climate resilience initiatives and assess the implementation of its People’s Survival Fund (PSF)-supported project.

The engagement formed part of the Commission’s coordination mission in Cebu aimed at enhancing local capacities for climate action through integrated, risk-informed planning and whole-of-government collaboration.

A key activity during the visit was the initiation of the impact assessment of the PSF-funded project, “Building Resilience through Community-Based Ecological Farming (Build ReEF),” which supports water resource development and promotes sustainable agricultural practices in the municipality. The assessment will review implementation progress, institutional arrangements, and early outcomes in improving community adaptive capacity.

In the multistakeholder discussion, CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje emphasized the importance of assessing and evaluating projects to ensure sustainability and long-term impact. “Just because the project is done, does not mean that the support of the government is over,” he stressed.

Borje underscored that post-implementation evaluation is critical to determining whether adaptation measures are delivering measurable resilience outcomes, strengthening institutional capacity, and providing sustained benefits to communities. He added that continuous monitoring, technical guidance, and coordination between national and local governments are essential to ensure that climate initiatives remain responsive, effective, and aligned with broader development goals.

Reaffirming the same view, San Francisco Mayor Alfredo A. Arquillano, Jr., emphasized that the project’s completion should not be viewed as the end of engagement but as a stepping stone toward broader and more sustained climate action.

“The completion of Build ReEF is not the finish line,” Arquillano said. “It is a strong foundation that allows us to deepen our climate resilience initiatives and sustain gains made by our farming communities.”

Project planners, technical staff, and farmer-beneficiaries participated in the discussions, reinforcing a whole-of-society approach to climate resilience. The dialogue also provided a venue to identify operational challenges, sustainability measures, and opportunities for scaling up ecosystem-based and community-driven adaptation strategies.

As part of the engagement, the CCC handed over copies of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023–2050 to the local government of San Francisco to support the enhancement of its Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP) and ongoing adaptation initiatives. 

Developed under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the NAP serves as the Philippines’ blueprint for climate adaptation, guiding national and local governments in strengthening climate resilience through science-based and risk-informed strategies.

The Commission underscored that beyond compliance and reporting requirements, PSF-supported initiatives must contribute to long-term institutional strengthening, improved climate governance, and measurable resilience outcomes for vulnerable communities.
 
The engagement attests to the CCC's commitment to support local governments in strengthening climate governance and accelerating inclusive, science-based, and people-centered climate action.

For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.