THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has forged a partnership with a German organization to address climate change and promote resilience among Filipinos amid worsening environmental challengers.
The DILG signed a memorandum of understanding (NOU) with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH for the implementation of a five-year program aiming to empower Philippine cities toward sustainable, climate-smart urban development amid environmental concerns.
The signing of the MOU titled Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon and Resilient Cities (Urban-Act) Project in the Philippines was seen as a significant milestone in advancing urban climate resilience among Filipinos.
Funded by the International Climate Initiative through the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Urban-Act forms part of a broader regional initiative covering India, Thailand, China, and Indonesia.
The project focuses on enhancing the capacities of Philippine cities to immerse in climate change adaptation and mitigation into urban planning.
It also promotes stronger policy coherence by integrating national climate policies into local strategies, ensuring tangible, community-level impact.
The DILG, represented by Assistant Secretary for Local Government Jesi Howard Lanete, thanked the German government for its continuing support for the Philippines.
“Your support strengthens our shared goal of building inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities,” he said during the signing ceremony held in Makati City.
“Today, we turn another page of a new chapter of resilience. Together, we will invest in green projects, renewable energy, and climate care to ensure a future that is safe for all generations to come,” he said.
German Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke also expressed his gratitude to the Philippine government for its proactive role in championing climate resiliency.
For his part, GIZ Philippines country director Immanuel Gebhardt described the MOU a key “milestone for the Urban-Act project.”
Under the accord, the DILG will oversee project management, ensure operational feasibility, financial accountability, deploy experts; and provide office support.
Key national government agency partners are the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the Department of Transportation .
They will contribute to policy updates and development, technical services, cross-sectoral collaboration, and incentive frameworks to accelerate urban climate action.
The cities of Antipolo, Bacolod, and Tagbilaran have been identified as pilot areas where climate-responsive urban development plans will be pilot tested.
Urban-Act supports the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, and advances the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This partnership embodies the national government’s ongoing commitment to fostering climate-resilient communities in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s vision of a future-ready, inclusive, and sustainable Bagong Pilipinas built on innovation and resilient governance.
