MANILA – Local government units (LGUs) must be empowered to address the challenges of climate change and mitigate disaster risk, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) said.
In a media briefing on Wednesday, CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje said the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) will enable LGUs to have primary access to data, climate projections, and recommendations. Having this information will allow them to address vulnerabilities at the community level.
“This plan, which serves as a roadmap for enhancing the country’s climate resilience, will be most effective if it’s localized,” Borje said.
The NAP, which was submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) earlier this year, outlines strategies for adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
“We really need the direct intervention sa kanila (to them), and we need to empower them,” Borje said.
He added that LGUs, together with concerned national government agencies, must be able to download the data, apply the recommendations, and integrate these resources into their own climate policies.
Borje noted that recent weather disturbances have become more intense and devastating, and the country’s exposure to risks and hazards has also increased.
The NAP has been provided to various government agencies, with a standing order from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to localize its provisions. Borje emphasized the importance of providing guidance and assistance to areas that need support from different LGUs to improve climate change mitigation efforts at the local level, which would ultimately benefit the country as a whole.
The NAP is the national instrument aimed at mobilizing efforts across all levels of governance to address climate risks and reduce the country’s vulnerability to climate change impacts. It aims to bolster adaptive capacity, foster resilience, and integrate adaptation into relevant policies and programs, including public-private partnerships.
As the Philippines braces for Climate Change Consciousness Week, scheduled from Nov. 19 to 25, the CCC reiterated the role of LGUs as vital players in achieving climate resilience.
Borje also called on all sectors, including media, civil society, and the private sector, to support LGUs in building adaptive capacities and raising climate awareness. (PNA)
