Commission signs pact with Albay on Climate Change Academy

MANILA, Philippines – The Climate Change Commission recently inked an agreement with the Provincial Government of Albay concerning the establishment of a Climate Change Academy in the province that will serve as a center for education and knowledge sharing on climate adaptation.

CCC Secretary Heherson Alvarez said the move is to ensure that aggressive adaptation measures will be applied in all levels of governance to vulnerable communities.

“Adaptation, through risk reduction and disaster management, is vital as the foundation stone to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of the United Nations. Without these foundations, MDG programs cannot move ahead,” he said.

The Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Provincial Government of Albay, through its Center for Initiatives and Research in Climate Change Adaptation, and the United Nations in the Philippines represented by UN Development Program country director Renaud Meyer.

“As our adaptation blueprint, the Albay experience will be replicated in all provinces. It exemplifies the effectiveness of local governance for addressing adaptation and disaster risk reduction needs brought on by natural hazards and climate change,” Alvarez said.

He said adaptation must be translated to all levels of governance alongside coordinating national efforts towards an incorporated ecosystem-based administration in order to enable sectors to become climate-resilient.

Alvarez noted that adaptation measures on climate change are crucial to achieve progress and development.

“Unless we manage our communities to reduce their risk to climate disasters, unless we protect our vulnerable ecosystems and food production systems through climate adaptation, we will not be able to confront the challenges of global warming and climate change in the Philippines, and achieve the MDGs,” he said.

Alvarez was guest speaker in a summit held in the province. The event was organized by the province of Albay led by Gov. Joey Salceda and the commission with the support of the UNDP and the National Economic and Development Authority.

Alvarez is set to head the Philippine delegation to the 16th Climate Change Conference of Parties in Cancun, Mexico by the end of the month. –Rhodina Villanueva (The Philippine Star)