The Climate Change Commission (CCC) has called on local planning officers to fully utilize the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the People's Survival Fund (PSF) to enhance climate resilience. The appeal was made during the 35th Annual National Convention of the League of Local Planning and Development Coordinators of the Philippines held recently in Tacloban City.
Assistant Secretary Romell Antonio O. Cuenca, CCC Deputy Executive Director, underscored the NAP and PSF as key mechanisms for strengthening local climate adaptation efforts.
The NAP serves as a long-term strategy to reduce climate-related loss and damage, aiming to enhance adaptive capacity and drive sustainable development by 2050. Meanwhile, the PSF provides dedicated funding for community-based climate adaptation projects to bolster local and ecological resilience.
“The NAP provides a long-term strategy for climate adaptation, while the PSF provides financial support for local projects. As one of the most climate-at-risk countries, the Philippines must maximize these frameworks to enhance preparedness and adaptive capacity,” Cuenca said.
He also emphasized the crucial role of local planning and development coordinators in ensuring the effective implementation of these programs.
The CCC continues to support local government units (LGUs) through mentorship, workshops, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing disaster resilience and climate adaptation across the country.
“The success of NAP implementation and PSF access depends on the collective efforts of local governments. Proper compliance with PSF requirements is necessary to ensure the effective utilization of funds for climate adaptation initiatives,” Cuenca added.
Meanwhile, CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje reiterated the importance of these programs in local development planning.
"With proper integration, utilizing the PSF and NAP in local plans will strengthen resilience and support sustainable recovery,” Borje said, highlighting that the NAP was developed under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The national convention gathered around 800 local planning and development coordinators and other LGU representatives from across the country. With the theme "Beyond Building Back Better: Utilizing Lessons of Resilience in Development Planning," the event focused on disaster preparedness, drawing insights from Tacloban’s recovery after Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.