THE People’s Survival Fund (PSF) has P685.330 million for climate change mitigation and adaptation projects that remain untapped after it allocated up to P314.674 million for six projects, mostly in the southern Philippines.
In an interview, Romell Antonio Cuenca, deputy executive director of the Climate Change Commission (CCC), said the funding could be distributed to projects that meet the standards of the PSF, including those similar to the previously approved six. The approved projects are mostly in fourth-class municipalities “in the boondocks,” he said.
“We need more projects in the pipeline. We’re very bullish of getting all the projects in the pipeline approved and presented for the board’s consideration,” he said after a press conference on Monday during the opening of the Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
Mr. Cuenca said the priority projects are those in high-poverty areas, where multiple environmental hazards are present, and with high levels of biodiversity.
“We’re very keen on seeing or having LGUs (local government units) prepare their local climate change action plans,” he said, adding that the plans would prompt interventions that the PSF would address.
“There’s a real connection between the remedies they propose and the hazards and the risks that the localities are exposed to,” he said.
In 2012, a law was passed creating the PSF, with an annual P1-billion allocation from the National Treasury. The fund can deploy financing for climate change adaptation programs for local government units and communities. A representative of the commission sits in the PSF board.
Aside from these funds, countries that consider themselves most vulnerable to the ill-effects of global warming are looking to tap billion of dollars from foreign public sources for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Of the six projects approved by the PSF, the biggest beneficiary is the P104-million Saub watershed ecosystem rehabilitation and flood risk reduction for increased resilience in Sarangani province.
The other projects are the Siargao climate field school for farmers and fisherfolk in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte at P80 million; disaster risk reduction and management (ridge to reef) as an adaptation mechanism to resiliency in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur at P40 million; and ecological-based farming in San Francisco, Camotes Island, Cebu at P38.2 million.
The others are resiliency promotion and climate information in Gerona, Tarlac at P38 million; and sustainable management of the river ecosystem in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte at P28.7 million. — Victor V. Saulon
