Representatives from the DENR, DOE, DOTr, DOLE, and PSA attended the series of writeshops in preparation of the Philippines' first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR).

MANILA, 29 November 2024 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC), in collaboration with the Capacity Building Initiatives on Transparency - Global Support Programme (CBIT-GSP), conducted a series of writeshops in preparation of the Philippines' first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR). 

These activities are critical steps in fulfilling the country's commitment to the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) under the Paris Agreement, in line with Decision 18/CMA 1, which requires developing countries to submit their first BTR by December 31, 2024.

The first event focused on capacity building for key stakeholders involved in the preparation of the BTR. Participants from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Energy (DOE), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) attended the training, which was facilitated by the inter-agency BTR Technical Working Group (TWG), established by the CCC. The training, led by Mr. Jaypalsinh Chauhan from CBIT-GSP, provided comprehensive guidance on the ETF and the BTR process.

Key topics included the requirement for annual GHG inventories starting from the first year of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) implementation; the need to submit Common Reporting Tables (CRTs) for the NDC reference year, along with annual CRTs for implementation years; and flexibility provisions for developing countries, including approaches to  address data gaps.

Building on the initial workshop, the CCC held a follow-up writeshop to finalize the narrative of the first BTR. Representatives from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), DOE, DENR, DOTr, and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) contributed additional data on the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory and NDC implementation.

The writeshop focused on reviewing and enhancing the accuracy and completeness of the preliminary draft of the BTR. Participants provided inputs on CTF Table 5, which outlines progress on NDC policies and measures, as well as support needs in finance, technology, and capacity-building. Sectoral overview inputs will be submitted to the CCC by December 2, 2024.

In underscoring the importance of these capacity-building initiatives, CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje emphasized the alignment with national policy priorities.

“This training is crucial for strengthening the institutional capacities of our key agencies to fulfill the requirements under the Enhanced Transparency Framework. The Biennial Transparency Report will serve as a concrete demonstration of our progress in implementing the NDC and responding to the climate crisis. This is our commitment to build a transparent and accountable framework for climate action,” Borje said.

The CCC, through its BTR TWG, will continue to coordinate efforts to ensure the timely and accurate submission of the Philippines' first BTR, demonstrating the country's commitment to international climate transparency obligations.

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