DENR launches climate change project

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently launched a four-pronged project aimed at developing models of climate change-resilient communities in agricultural and forested areas using updated scientific data on climate risk management under the Philippines Climate Change Adaptation Project Phase 1 (PhilCCAP1).

In a statement, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said that the $4.97-million project, through a grant from the Global Environment Fund (GEF) of the World Bank, recognizes the need to strengthen biodiversity conservation and forest protection efforts as a lynchpin to bring down poverty in rural communities.

He added that it addresses key vulnerabilities of the agricultural and natural resource sectors to climate change.

Paje also said that the implementation of PhilCCAP1 seeks to develop on-the-ground adaptation measures drawn from practical examples and approaches that demonstrate the benefits of mainstreaming climate risk management into key national development strategies.

“The project supports the government’s efforts to protect the lowland and upland communities from the cumulative effects of climate change as it builds up their resiliency with [a] climate change-resilient crop production system and enhanced protection of forests and biodiversity conservation,” the official said.

Eight municipalities in Regions II, V and XIII have been chosen as pilot sites for the project, which include the Penablanca town and Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province; Janiuay, Pototan and Dumangas towns in Iloilo province; and General Luna, Del Carmen and Dapa towns in Surigao del Norte province.

PhilCCAP1 is set to operate on a platform that will develop and demonstrate climate change adaptation strategies in the agriculture and natural resources management, using five core elements.

These include: climate-proofing irrigation infrastructure, enhancing delivery and effectiveness of extension services for farm-level climate risk management; pilot-testing the feasibility of weather index-based crop insurance; and strengthening climate change resilience through improved management of protected areas.

It also aims to improve the access, especially in the agriculture and natural resources sectors, to more reliable scientific information that will enable more rapid and accurate decision-making for climate risk management.

The GEF grant will be farmed out to four specific components, which will be undertaken by the Environment department, the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Component 1, which has a budget of $590,000, will be implemented by the Environment department in coordination with the aforementioned departments and the Climate Change Commission.

This particular component aims to improve the climate change-adaptation (CCA) capabilities of government agencies at the forefront of CCA activities in the agricultural and natural resource management on policy formulation and coordination with other agencies on CCA.

Component 2 will be implemented by the Environment and Agriculture departments with a $2.94- million budget to implement four key activities that seek to climate-proof infrastructure support to farmers by mainstreaming climate change compliant engineering designs in irrigation structures and farm-to-market roads; improve delivery and effectiveness of extension services for farm-level climate risk management; pilot-test feasibility of weather index-based crop insurance; and strengthen climate change resiliency thru improved protected area management.

With a $1-million allocation, the DOST-Pagasa will take the lead in Component 3, which seeks to improve the access of more reliable scientific information needed for a prompt and accurate decision-making, especially of local governments, for climate risk management.

The Environment department is also tasked to implement Component 4, which calls for the overall promotion, monitoring, supervision and coordination of PhilCCAP1 with a budget of $410,000.

PhilCCAP1 was approved on June 29 after it was conceived and submitted by Philippine government officials for endorsement to the GEF in December 2009. –JAMES KONSTANTIN GALVEZ REPORTER, Manila Times