The Climate Change Commission (CCC) convenes stakeholders and development partners during the first organizational meeting of the Gender and Climate Change Advisory Group.

MANILA — In a decisive move to ensure that climate action benefits all Filipinos equitably, the Climate Change Commission (CCC), in partnership with national agencies and development partners, has formally launched the organizational phase for the implementation of the Philippines' Nationally Determined Contribution Gender Action Plan (NDC-GAP) 2024–2030. This milestone was marked by the inaugural meeting of the Gender and Climate Change Advisory Group (GCAG), a multi-sectoral body tasked with steering the Plan into concrete action.
 
The GCAG is co-chaired by CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera, Undersecretary Analiza Rebuelta-Teh of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Deputy Executive Director Anita E. Baleda of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). The meeting convened a broad coalition of core agencies, including the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of Transportation (DOTr), alongside partner agencies such as the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev). Providing critical support for this endeavor are development partners, including the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with technical assistance led by the Miriam College - Women and Gender Institute (MC-WAGI).
 
The GCAG meeting successfully forged a unified implementation strategy for the six-year plan, clarified member roles and responsibilities, and identified immediate priority actions to sustain momentum across all government levels. Officials underscored the profound importance of this coordinated action. "The implementation of the NDC GAP marks an important step for the Philippines. It moves us from mere recognition that climate change is not gender neutral, to concrete action, by putting gender and social inclusion squarely into how we plan, implement, monitor, and improve our climate actions,” highlighted by Commissioner Herrera.
 
The operationalization of the NDC-GAP through the GCAG ensures that our climate policies and investments actively work to reduce systemic inequalities and empower the most vulnerable sectors of our society. Echoing this sentiment, PCW Deputy Executive Director Baleda stated, “[...] Our work must extend beyond dialogue. This platform should catalyze concrete, institutionalized actions that strengthen gender-responsive climate governance across agencies and sectors. The PCW remains steadfast in its commitment to provide policy guidance and advisory support in advancing inclusive climate action.”
 
Providing a sectoral perspective, Undersecretary Rebuelta-Teh defined the GCAG formation as a strategic move that will concretely impact NDC actions. "We are equally vigilant in tracking the implementation plan for the Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Uses (AFOLU) sector, which is another critical component of our NDC."

In closing, Mr. Gautier Singh-Kohler, Deputy Country Director for the Philippines at the Agence Française de Développement, reaffirmed AFD’s full support for the initiative while reiterating that the work should not create an undue administrative burden. Instead, he underscored the importance of harmonizing and strengthening existing accountability systems, with particular emphasis on fostering greater convergence between adaptation and mitigation streams. He concluded that the initiative is "not only a platform for accountability, but also a strategic platform where gender can be mainstreamed and pushed towards all the different streams of government work."
 
Looking ahead, the GCAG will prioritize the finalization of its membership composition and operational guidelines, complete a comprehensive stakeholder mapping exercise, and initiate capacity-building sessions for designated GAD Focal Points across all member agencies. These foundational activities will pave the way for the development of gender-responsive policy guidance and the establishment of robust monitoring tools to track progress and financing for gender and climate action at both the national and local levels.

“The NDC GAP will only be as effective as the relationships and trust we build across institutions. The GCAG is a space for that—to surface challenges early, align policies and tools, and learn from each other as we move forward. We look forward to working closely with all of you as we collectively advance the implementation of the NDC GAP from 2024 to 2030,” CCC Commissioner Herrera said.

This will ensure that the NDC-GAP delivers on its commitment to support President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. administration’s vision of an inclusive and climate-resilient future for the Philippines.