The Climate Change Commission (CCC) strengthened its partnership with the Local Climate Change Adaptation for Development, Inc. (LCCAD) to enhance the local government units' (LGUs') capacity in formulating and updating Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAPs).
CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje and LCCAD Executive Director Manuel Rangasa formalized the partnership as part of the CCC's ongoing capacity-building initiatives.
The MOU enables the CCC and LCCAD to work together in enhancing LGUs' LCCAPs and integrating these into other local plans, such as the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, the Comprehensive Development Plan, and Contingency Plans.
"We are strengthening partnerships with our stakeholders to further build the capacities of LGUs as frontliners of climate action," Borje said.
"Transformative climate action can be achieved through partnerships – partnerships based on principles of cooperation, good governance, and shared advocacy in building the nation's overall climate resilience," he added.
Among the key outcomes of the partnership are the recommendation of appropriate climate and disaster database development and modeling technology to support the LCCAPs, and the establishment of enabling mechanisms for LGUs to implement their climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives.
"Enhancing the capacities of key players, including agencies, LGUs, and other stakeholders, will allow us to develop and share best practices between regions, particularly those communities with common vulnerabilities," Rangasa said.
By collaborating with key stakeholders and launching capacity-building activities, the CCC vows to constantly support the LGUs in formulating, planning and implementing climate change action plans in their respective areas.
Data from the CCC showed that LCCAP submissions increased by 95 percent, from 715 submissions in 2021 to 1,397 as of 31 December 2022. The CCC's target is 100 percent compliance from 1,715 LGUs by FY 2024.
The LCCAP serves as the LGU's plan for enhancing local climate resilience. The program includes information on fit-for-purpose climate actions anchored on the LGU's site-specific risks and vulnerabilities.