ILOILO CITY—The Philippines must build up resilience measures to minimize climate risks and ensure sustainability of the country’s economic and social systems.
The Climate Change Commission (CCC) made the call during the recent 5th Philippine Environment Summit (PES) here, citing the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) as a key strategy for building the country’s climate resilience.
Secretary Robert E.A. Borje, vice chairperson and executive director of the CCC, noted the Philippines’ susceptibility to climate change. “The Philippines faces intensifying climate threats—rising temperatures, increasing sea levels, shifting rainfall patterns, and stronger tropical cyclones,” he said.
Discussions in the summit centered on transformative actions to reduce carbon footprints, with the CCC citing the NAP as a framework for strategic, informed, and targeted measures to minimize climate risks.
“This underscores the importance of NAP as it outlines actions to reduce risks, enhance adaptive capacities, and integrate climate adaptation into national and local development planning,” Borje said.
Iloilo City is one of the 18 provinces identified in the NAP as highly exposed to climate change impacts, particularly strong winds, rising sea levels, and extreme sea levels.
Borje batted for climate change mitigation,with the Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan (NDCIP) seerving as the country’s commitment to reducing emissions and supporting global climate efforts. The NDCIP provides strategies for transitioning to cleaner energy, promoting renewable sources, and increasing energy efficiency.
While frameworks and roadmaps like the NAP are in place, Borje said their success relies on collective action. “The success of the NAP and NDCIP depends on the active participation of all stakeholders,” he said.
He encouraged simple yet impactful actions to reduce carbon emissions, such as participating in tree-growing activities, abstaining from using disposable plastics, conserving energy and supporting solar, wind and other renewable sources.
Undersecretary Asis G. Perez of the Department of Agriculture also called for concrete action, noting that climate change poses severe threats to the agricultural sector. “The Philippines is not only a contributor but also experiences major impacts, such as strong typhoons that disrupt harvest seasons,” Perez said.
The three-day summit, held in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Green Convergence, brought together representatives from government, business sector, civil society, indigenous groups, non-government organizations, and students. \
The CCC also visited the Leganes Integrated Katunggan Ecopark, a 9.1-hectare mangrove forest rehabilitated after the devastation caused by Typhoon Frank in 2009. The ecopark serves as a vital carbon sink, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts. CCC News