An action plan on climate change along with its support mechanisms has been gaining headway, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, who is also the Official Representative of the President to the Climate Change Commission (CCC), said the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and its companion measure, Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan (NDCIP), are in full swing in the collective efforts to address the impacts of climate change and make local governments adapt to it and become resilient.
Secretary Loyzaga, who chaired a recent forum to mobilize support for NAP and NDCIP, put a premium on strategically coordinating the assistance and investments of development partners and financial institutions to achieve mitigation and adaptation goals.
“This will ensure that adaptation and mitigation can be embedded across sectors, scales, and geographies,” Secretary Loyzaga said at the June 20 forum held in Makati City.
The DENR Secretary hailed the forum as “an opportunity to work alongside like-minded countries who abide by a rules-based international order to achieve inclusive and climate-resilient development and contribute to international stability by reducing regional and global risks.”
The Philippines is one of the only 56 countries that have submitted their NAP to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Secretary Loyzaga, the official representative of the President to the CCC, said the support being established with the development partners would be aligned with priorities in the climate action, namely protection and regeneration of blue and green ecosystems, building climate-resilient communities, transition to clean energy, water and food security, responsible and sustainable mineral resource development, investing in gray and green infrastructure, value-generating digitalization, and creation of more green and blue jobs.
Citing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s instruction, Secretary Loyzaga reiterated that the value of the NAP and NDCIP “must be translated to the benefit of communities,” and that these plans must be disseminated aggressively among local governments and communities.”
With the theme “Mobilizing support for the NAP and NDCIP,” the forum was held in collaboration with the Department of Finance (DOF) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Kingdom (UK) government.
During the forum, DENR Undersecretary for Finance, Information Systems and Climate Change Atty. Analiza Rebuelta-Teh presented the NDCIP’s focus and priorities, while CCC Commissioner Atty. Rachel Ann Herrera tackled the NAP’s content and direction. Representatives from the Department of Finance (DOF) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) also participated in the discussion by sharing their insights and best practices.
The Philippines produced its first NDCIP through technical support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The NAP was also formulated and released with the support of the UK government through the UK Embassy in Manila. ###
