DAVAO CITY, 12 March 2020 — In response to the city’s request to discuss urban development challenges and to formulate strategic plans on climate action and peace-building, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) led by Secretary Emmanuel M. De Guzman and Commissioner Rachel Herrera met with Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte and the city planning and Peace 911 project teams on Tuesday.

During the meeting, De Guzman committed to strengthen support to Davao City’s planning office in enhancing its local climate change action plan (LCCAP) and in developing a community-based adaptation project for possible funding by the People’s Survival Fund (PSF), an annual adaptation facility of one billion pesos in the national budget to support local government units (LGUs) in implementing climate change adaptation measures in vulnerable communities.

The CCC and the City of Davao will jointly explore the potential of nature-based solutions to climate risks and impacts in the communities under Mayor Inday Sara’s counter-insurgency program “Peace 911” — a grassroots development initiative that aims to enhance the delivery of government services and infrastructure support in far-flung villages. The project is  centered in the city’s Paquibato District in compliance with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Executive Order 70, institutionalizing a Whole of Nation Approach in attaining Inclusive Sustainable Peace.

Projected climate change impacts such as prolonged drought, severe rainfall, and sea level rise are seen to inhibit economic development and weaken the capacity of LGUs to promote peace and order in conflict-affected areas. Moreover, since the majority of the population in the Davao region depends on agriculture for livelihood, access to PSF would benefit and empower LGUs to increase the resilience of their people as well as to drive economic and social development. 

During the meeting, the CCC also emphasized that climate action, aside from reducing disaster risk, also encompasses food security, water security, environmental and ecological stability, climate friendly industries and services, and sustainable energy, among other priority areas of intervention. “Ensuring that the city’s action plans are informed by the latest science and sensitive to prevailing and future risks is important to build the resilience of Davao’s communities to the impacts of climate change,” De Guzman said. ##