The Climate Change Commission (CCC) on Saturday urged local government units (LGUs) to move beyond climate planning and focus on implementing concrete measures to strengthen community resilience as the country faces increasingly severe climate threats.

The call came during the National Climate Resilience Forum (NCRF) 2026, where nearly 500 representatives from government agencies, local governments, development partners, civil society, the private sector and the academe gathered to discuss ways to translate national climate policies into action.

CCC vice chairperson and executive director Robert E.A. Borje said climate change is no longer a distant threat but one that is already reshaping the country’s development priorities.

“Climate change is reshaping the conditions under which resilience must now be built. Because resilience is inseparable from development, our task is to build stronger communities with discipline, purpose and shared responsibility,” Borje said.

CCC commissioner Rachel Anne Herrera said the challenge now is to transform national policies into “investment-ready and scalable climate action” that directly benefits communities.

The Philippines remains among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, facing increasing risks from stronger typhoons, flooding, sea-level rise, food insecurity and water shortages.

Addressing local chief executives, Senator Loren Legarda stressed that climate resilience should be embedded in land use plans, annual investment programs and infrastructure projects.

“The success of our national climate strategies depends on how they are carried out at the local level,” Legarda said.

House Committee on Climate Change Chair Rep. Aniela Bianca Tolentino echoed the call, saying communities will judge government not by the quality of its plans but by how effectively they are implemented.

The forum also showcased practical solutions for local governments, including climate finance, resilience measurement systems and science-based planning tools designed to help communities adapt to climate risks.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Maria Luwalhati Dorotan-Tiuseco reaffirmed the Marcos administration’s commitment to proactive disaster preparedness and resilience-building, saying government must anticipate risks, protect livelihoods and ensure that communities are prepared for future calamities.

Anchored on the theme “Bagong Bansang Matatag, Handa sa Pagbabago ng Klima,” the forum sought to align local implementation with the country’s National Adaptation Plan and Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan, while strengthening partnerships among government agencies, development organizations and the private sector to accelerate climate action nationwide.