The Climate Change Commission (CCC) has cited the Pangasinan provincial government for its comprehensive climate resilience strategies and integrated approach to environmental sustainability, disaster preparedness, and risk reduction.
CCC vice chairman and executive director Robert Borje said Pangasinan’s 100 percent compliance with the Local Climate Change Action Plan enables all 48 of its local government units to implement initiatives tailored to address their specific needs.
“Pangasinan’s commitment to disaster risk preparedness is commendable, as reflected in its 100 percent LCCAP submission. When we talk about hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and capacity, we must see them not just as challenges but as part of a strategic game plan—an investment in community resilience. This is exactly what we witness here in Pangasinan,” Borje said.
Leading these efforts are Project PARAAN, (pioneering safety, assessing vulnerabilities, risk management, addressing hazards, achieving resilience, and navigating challenges) to increase preparedness specifically for a tsunami, as well as the Green Canopy Project, which has already planted 400,000 native and fruit-bearing trees as well as mangroves since its launch in 2023.
Pangasinan is also advancing ecological conservation through the planned Eztanza Native Tree Nursery and Project Kasilyas, further strengthening its climate resilience framework, Borje said.
Gov. Ramon Guico III thanked the CCC for the recognition, noting that Pangasinan’s climate adaptation and mitigation efforts will not only benefit the province but also have positive impact for the rest of Luzon given the interconnectedness of the ecosystem.
“We thank the Climate Change Commission for recognizing the consistent and collaborative work of all the LGUs of Pangasinan towards climate change adaptation, environmental protection, and socio-economic sustainability,” Guico said.
“We owe it to every Pangasinense whose commitment to lasting resiliency as well as disaster risk reduction and preparedness is anchored on a deep sense of duty, dedication and discipline to ensure the safety and sustainability of our beloved province,” he added.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office also showcased its 24/7 operations center with its robust early warning systems that aim to address vulnerabilities to fluvial and pluvial flooding with data-driven decision-making.
The center integrates risk information from the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, the Office of Civil Defense, and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau to enhance disaster response.
The CCC also cited the Bued Mangrove Propagation and Information Center in Alaminos, which is home to diverse mangrove species such as Rhizophora, Avicennia, and Sonneratia.
Local eco-guides detailed the critical role of mangroves in carbon sequestration and coastal protection.
Meanwhile, Alaminos City’s ridge-to-reef conservation strategy, which links forestry management, watershed protection, and coastal rehabilitation, was recognized as a model for environmental sustainability.