Representatives from the national government agencies, local government units, academic and scientific institutions, civil society organizations, private sector, and development sector convene for the multi-stakeholder consultation for the National Adaptation Plan

MANILA, 26 August 2023 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) concluded its second National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on Tuesday, reaffirming the commitment to formulate a comprehensive and effective NAP through the invaluable contributions of diverse stakeholders.

One of the key deliverables of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the completion of the National Adaptation Plan requires a whole-of-society and whole-of-world approach, consistent with the pronouncement of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his second State of the Nation Address in building a climate-smart and climate-resilient country.

The consultation engaged various stakeholders from the national and local government, academic and scientific institutions, civil society, private sector, and development sector to share relevant experience and expertise to the NAP development process.

In his keynote speech, CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje underscored the importance of crafting a science-based, evidence-based and needs-based NAP, to strengthen the adaptive capacities of all Filipinos, particularly those in the most vulnerable sectors of society.

“It's not only important that we have our experience and expertise at the table, it is also vital to make this plan genuine, needs-based, and a product of multi-stakeholder collaboration. Consultation is important because we need to make sure that the process reflects the different components of our society,” Borje said.

The consultation’s agenda included presentations on the National Adaptation Plan development, climate risk assessment, and adaptation priorities. Breakout sessions delved into adaptation priorities and key enablers, covering critical sectors such as food security, agriculture, water resources, governance, stakeholder engagement, technology, financing, and capacity building.

Noting the important role of convergence, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Carlos Primo David stated, “The NAP includes priority programs for funding, but more importantly, in identifying convergence projects among government agencies that solve sectoral cross cutting issues intensified by climate change.”

Lloyd Cameron, Economic and Climate Counsellor of the British Embassy Manila, also emphasized the importance of the consultations, stating that “stakeholder consultation is a way of advancing our adaptation and mitigation agenda by ensuring that the perspectives and needs of all sectors are taken into account.”

“We hope that the inputs we receive from you today will not only significantly help us to develop a fit-for-purpose climate risk management for the country, but will also highlight the importance of collective action and a shared commitment to building the Filipinos’ resilience and adapting mechanism to climate change,” said CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera.

The series of multi-stakeholder consultations are organized with the support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office and the British Embassy Manila. The first consultation took place virtually on 8 August 2023, bringing together representatives from various organizations to engage in discussions and contribute valuable insights on the NAP.

The NAP, which will serve as a long-term support mechanism for capacity and technologies, aims to reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change by building the adaptive capacity and resilience of communities, and to facilitate the coherent integration of climate change adaptation into relevant new and existing policies, programs and activities.

The NAP endeavors to mainstream adaptation across as many sectors as possible and at different levels (national, subnational, regional, and local), incorporating both medium- and long-term strategies, and strengthening policies and frameworks.

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