In the spirit of the holiday season and in line with the directive of the Office of the President, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) conducted an outreach program that benefited 100 farmers and their families in the municipality of Paete, Laguna. This initiative is also part of the CCC’s ongoing efforts to engage with communities affected by recent typhoons and promote resilience amid the impacts of climate change.

Paete, a fourth-class municipality, relies heavily on agriculture for livelihoods, making it particularly vulnerable to climate-related challenges.

One of the key sectors of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) focuses on agriculture, fisheries and food security. The NAP aims to achieve three key outcomes for agriculture: productive and resilient agriculture and fisheries, conservation of natural resources critical for agriculture and aquaculture, and protection of farmers’ and fisherfolk’s livelihoods amid climate change.

The CCC continues to work closely with local governments through the development of Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAP) to ensure that farmers and their communities have the resources and knowledge needed to build climate resilience.

“This holiday season, we are undertaking this outreach program as part of our community-building activities, underscoring the reason for this season. We recognize that our farmers are at the frontline of climate impacts and we hope this outreach program helps ease the burden of those most affected and empower them to not just survive, but thrive,” CCC vice chairperson and executive director Robert E.A. Borje said.

The Municipality of Paete submitted its LCCAP for 2021 to 2026 and Annual Investment Program (AIP) for 2023 to the CCC in May last year. The LCCAP outlines the local government unit’s (LGU) strategies and actions to address climate change impacts on their community, infrastructure and economy, while the AIP contains the programs, activities and projects of the LGU, including on climate action.

As the CCC strengthens its efforts to combat climate change and strengthen adaptation measures, it continues to focus on helping vulnerable communities, ensuring no one is left behind in the journey toward a climate-resilient future.