President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants concerned agencies to focus on high-risk regions in the country in the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and conduct an aggressive information dissemination campaign to raise public awareness on the adaptation plan, as well as the risks posed by the changing climate.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) met with the President and other concerned agencies at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday to discuss the key outcomes of the COP28 and present the draft Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan (NDCIP) 2023-2030 and the Philippine National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023-2050.
“It’s a big, big (task). This covers three decades and the entire country. It’s a completely different situation when it comes to climate change. Anyway, I think that’s the approach that we should take. We have to try and work our way down through the system—the economic system—so that we can address the specific situations, the specific conditions (of each area),” he said during the meeting.
He said all efforts under the NDCIP and NAP must be for the interest of the Philippines, especially those in high-risk areas.
“The best that we can do is number one, be very specific on what is necessary for the Philippines. If we take care of the Philippines, we can bet with confidence that we are doing our part. So, asikasuhin muna natin ‘yung Pilipinas, kung what is good for us. So, the communities that are high risk, ano kailangan nila. Let’s focus on that,” the President said.
In addition, he pointed out, different government agencies and local government units (LGUs) involved in carrying out the plan must fully understand the NDCIP and NAP and what they intend to achieve in order for them to implement them in their programs. The President also said ordinary people must also have a full grasp of the two plans as they relate to their own condition and environment.
Environment Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga told the President that there are several ongoing bilateral projects that actually deal with adaptation and resilience of LGUs.
These projects include the ongoing $15-$16 million Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities Against Disasters and Climate Change in the Philippines (SHIELD) project backed by Australian government and a US-funded project called Climate Resilient Cities focusing on metropolis.
“Australia on provinces and special regions including BARMM and Metro Manila. There is a Canadian offer for another… also LGU-based for adaptation. So kasama po namin ang DILG in that particular implementations. So there is already bilateral funding, specifically for the localization of adaptation and resilience,” said Yulo-Loyzaga.
In December last year, the DENR and Climate Change Commission (CCC), in partnership with the ADB and Government of the United Kingdom, conducted a high-level panel discussion on the Philippines’ commitment in the NAP and NDCIP.
The discussion also served as a platform in mobilizing financing for these national plans.
The NAP aims to steadily reduce climate-related loss and damage as well as build the country’s adaptive capacity towards transformative adaptation, resilience, and sustainable economic development by 2050.
The NDCIP is the Philippines’ commitment to the Paris Agreement which sets to bring about sustainable industrial development; eradication of poverty and provision of basic needs; securing social and climate justice; and energy security. PND
