The Commission on Rights (CHR) cited the "significant role" the Philippines will take in the international climate change dialogue as lead country for the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) to which developed countries have already pledged $700 million.

In a statement, the CHR said "loss and damage" is a term initially introduced during international climate negotiations, and it refers to a range of negative consequences and extreme events brought upon by the climate crisis.

To combat loss and damage, the United Nations Climate Conference (COP 27) established in 2023 the LDF Board, which will provide financial assistance to nations who are heavily impacted by the effects of climate change.

Together with seven other contenders, the Philippines had expressed its intent to host the LDF Board. Since the Philippines was chosen, the CHR said that the country will hold a “formidable voice” in advancing climate action for its 26 country parties.

The funds that are contributed will be utilized as a new channel for multilateral financing to bolster global efforts towards responding to economic and non-economic loss and damage associated with the climate crisis, the CHR said.

"It must be noted that the Philippines has long made strides in promoting human rights in the context of international climate negotiations," it said.

"In 2015, the Philippines also served as the Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, an international partnership which focuses on South-South cooperation on climate change issues."

The CHR said that the country's pivotal role in the LDF Board is a positive development that will provide the Philippines better opportunities to engage with like-minded countries which also put the climate crisis at the top of their interests, especially those that also suffer from the same detrimental effects of environmental degradation.

"We hope that this will pave the way towards lobbying for stronger and more coordinated global initiatives which promote a human rights-based approach to enhancing environmental governance on the international level," the CHR said.

"We look forward to Congress’ swift passage of a law related to this matter, in order to confer the legal personality and capacity to the LDF Board. We envision that this will supplement the Philippines’ efforts towards climate adaptation and mitigation measures, while giving emphasis to the financial aid that this will provide for climate-related initiatives," it also said.

"As the Philippines takes the helm of the LDF Board, we welcome this landmark development and hope that this will prompt decisive and collective global efforts towards lobbying for the full enjoyment of the rights of all in the context of climate action," it added.