The Climate Change Commission and the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute recently signed an agreement that is seen to further strengthen their partnership to develop a support mechanism for climate and disaster risk assessments and to build the capacities of institutional stakeholders at the grassroots, particularly for LGUs.

The Letter of Agreement was signed by CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje, UP President Atty. Danilo L. Concepcion and UPRI Executive Director and Professor Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay on 25 November 2022 at the UPRI Building in UP Diliman, Quezon City.

The LOA between CCC and UPRI aims to intensify collaboration on the development of science-based tools and instruments that will boost the resiliency of LGUs, enhance the vulnerability and risk assessment capabilities of target municipalities for climate hazards, and promote climate risk assessment in line with the National Climate Risk Management Framework.

The two parties' cooperation also aims to generate vulnerability and risk assessments of target municipalities using appropriate hazard maps as reference for climate change mainstreaming, and Local Climate Change Action Plan development and/or enhancement.

The agreement likewise targets providing support for capacity-building activities on climate change mainstreaming and resiliency building for LGUs and higher education institutions, including state colleges and universities.

It aims to further strengthen the generation of risk-policy interventions and recommendations as inputs in the formulation/enhancement of development plans of target LGUs, and the development of a repository of vulnerability and risk data and other climate change and disaster risk reduction management information, including the establishment of Geographic Information System in partner LGUs and HEIs.

The LOA reinforces and reiterates support to the existing MoA between the CCC and the UP System signed on 13 June 2013.

The ceremonial signing of the LOA was part of the commemoration of the 15th Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week on 19 to 25 November 2022 with the theme, "Sama-samang Tumutugon sa Hamon ng Nagbabagong Klima."

The Climate Change Commission is the lead policy-making body of the government tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate government programs and ensure mainstreaming of climate change in national, local, and sectoral development plans toward a climate-resilient and climate-smart Philippines.