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Summary of UN-Habitat’s CCCI Climate Change Assessment for the Philippines and Sorsogon City I. Introduction Climate Change is fast becoming the preeminent development challenge of the 21st century. The future of hundreds of millions of people around the world will be determined by the pace of adaptation and mitigation that will be undertaken. In an urbanizing world, cities are both the cause of, and most vulnerable to climate change. UN-Habitat’s work contributes to improved disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness, and postdisaster rehabilitation capabilities at the local level. The Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium asks for support from national and international cooperation networks, in order to reduce the vulnerability of human settlements to natural and human-made disasters, and for improving shelter conditions, especially in developing countries and critical natural environments. With the recognition that climate change could increase the vulnerability of human settlements, UN-Habitat is implementing its Cities in Climate Change Initiative (CCCI), a component of the Sustainable Urban Development Network (SUD-Net) project. SUD-Net’s long-term goal is to enhance climate change mitigation and preparedness of cities in developing countries through CCCI, which will strengthen capacity gaps through advocacy, education, training and tools development and application. CCCI is the initial step for making SUD-Net operational and will contribute to the attainment of MDG Goal 7. CCCI aims to integrate principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources in developing countries in order to promote resilience to climate change. Ensuring environmental sustainability (MDG 7) requires that cities and local authorities, in partnership with other actors must possess the tools and capacities to promote resilience of cities and national governments against the impacts of climate changes on the ecosystems and livelihoods. Through CCCI, UN-HABITAT, is demonstrating its commitment to help settlements adapt to climate change at the local level and has identified the Philippines as one of the demonstration countries under the said initiative. II. Background The Philippines The Philippines archipelago is found in Southeast Asia and is geographically located between latitude (approximately) 4o23'N and 21o25'N and longitude (approximately) 112oE and 127oE. It is composed of 7,107 islands, with a land area of 299,764 square kilometres. Its length measures 1,850 kilometres, starting from the point near the southern tip of Taiwan and ending close to northern Borneo. The Philippine coastline adds up to 17,500 km. Three prominent bodies of water surround the archipelago: the Pacific Ocean on the east, the South China Sea on the west and north, and the Celebes Sea on the south. This position accounts for much of the variations in geographic, climatic and vegetational conditions in the country. The Philippines is considered the 9th most populous country in Asia and the 14th largest country in the world. An increase in the urban population proportion was evident with 37.44 percent in 1980 to about 55 percent of the total national population in 1996, and now at about 64%. In Metro Manila, for instance, the annual growth rate is 3.6 %. Migration to urban centres from rural areas is driven by relatively higher wages, more educational opportunities and, readily available basic services. Population growth is tied to poverty incidence. About 32.9 % lived below the poverty line in 2006 (30% in 2003). The poor in 2006 were 27.6 million (from 5.4 million in 2003). Sorsogon City, Bicol Region – Philippines Sorsogon City lies from 123° 53’ to 124° 09’ east longitude and from 12° 55’ to 13° 08’ north latitude, and is situated in the Philippine’s Bicol Region. It is 600 kilometres southeast of Manila and is located at the southernmost tip of Luzon. As part of the geographical chain linking Luzon to the rest of the Philippines, it is a transshipment corridor and serves as the gateway to the Visayas and Mindanao Islands. Its geographical location is such that it opens into both the Pacific Ocean and the China Sea. Sorsogon City has a total population of 151,454 based on the 2007 national census of population. It is considered as the largest city in Bicol Region in terms of land area and is one of the region's fastest growing cities with an urban growth rate of 1.78%. The city economy relies mainly on agriculture, fishing, trade and services. Sorsogon City is the capital city of the province of Sorsogon and the administrative, commercial, and educational centre of the province. Assessment Methodology: The climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessment conducted for Sorsogon City worked on defining the city’s vulnerability context through estimates of its adaptive capacities, sensitivity, and exposure to climate variability and change (figure 1). The assessment used participatory approaches not only in gathering data and information but also in analyzing the city vulnerabilities to climate change impacts. Figure 1: Assessment Framework City Climate Change Vulnerabilit y As defined by the IPCC, adaptive capacity describes the ability of a system to adjust to actual or expected climate stresses, or to cope with the consequences while sensitivity refers to the degree to which a system is affected, either adversely or beneficially, by climate-related stimuli. Exposure meanwhile relates to the degree of climate stress upon a particular unit of analysis. It may be represented as either long-term change in climate conditions, or by changes in climate variability, including the magnitude and frequency of extreme events. The purpose of the V&A assessment is to provide local government decision makers and community leaders with information relevant in defining their adaptation priorities and plans as well as guidance where it is critically needed such that the locality could manage the un-avoidable impacts of climate change. Shortcomings of current assessment / Needs for additional assessment The assessment process worked on and used secondary data especially in climate change projections. It mainly aimed to be parallel with that of recognized official climate information and available scientific research in the country. The scenario used is mainly the projected doubling of CO2 presented in the PINCCC. The assessment likewise recognize the uncertainties of such scenario taking into account that Scientific knowledge is “probabilistic rather than absolute and provisional rather than final; it can never be devoid of uncertainty or the possibility of inaccuracy or incompleteness.” (Silbergeld, 1991) The city assessment worked on available information at the city level and used the IPCC framework for vulnerability assessment. Though it largely captured qualitative vulnerability information, enhancing the assessment result with more quantitative analysis could also be done such that values of adaptive capacity could be peg and statistically derived. Uncertainties continue to revolve on the localized projection of climate change at the regional/provincial level given absence of hard data and projections. However, it is assumed that the V&A assessment at the City Level would be a dynamic document that could be continuously enhanced given new parameters/projections and changes in local socio-economic and environmental conditions at the city. III. Overview of Climate Change Vulnerability and Climate Change Impact (4 pgs) 3.1 The Philippines The Philippines has an inherent vulnerability to natural disasters due to its physiography and location. As an archipelago situated in the Pacific ring of fire, with its large mountainous terrain, narrow coastal plains and interior valleys, the Philippines has always experienced natural hazards like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tropical cyclones. The UNDP’s 2004 Global Report on Disasters ranked the country as highest in terms of tropical cyclone occurrence and resultant deaths and third in terms of people exposed to such events annually. An average of 20 cyclones traverses the country yearly, causing physical and economic devastation. Climate variability affects the amount of rainfall, with El Niño producing droughts and La Niña bringing floods. Climate projections and Observed Anomalies in the Country’s Climate (1951 – 2006) Based on studies of the national government’s Department Science and Technology specifically studies conducted by its attached office that is the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the countries observed anomalies in climate from 1951-2006 are as follows: • • • • • • • • increase of 0.6104 oC in observed mean annual mean temperature; increase of 0.3742 oC in observed annual maximum temp; increase of 0.8940 oC in observed annual minimum temp; increase number of hot days and warm nights; decrease number of cold days and cool nights; increase of annual mean rainfall and rainy days increase in inter-annual variability of onset rainfall; average of 20 cyclones cross the Philippine Area of Responsibility where 8-9 make landfall each year - had Increase of 4.2 in frequency for the period of 1990-2003 Most of these observations parallel those of the global trend that is showing decrease in length of cold dry season and increasing length of warm dry season. Philippine climate trend and projections were first officially released through the Philippine Initial Communication on Climate Change or PINCCC in 1999. The PINCCC predicted that with a doubling of CO2 in the atmosphere, a 2 to 3 oC increase in annual temperature in the country could be expected. Under the same CO2 scenario, a 60 to 100 percent increase in annual rainfall is likewise projected in the Central Visayas and Southern Tagalog provinces, including Metro Manila. As of the date of writing this assessment, the country is yet to come out with an updated localized climate projection in its Second National Communication on Climate Change (SNC) targeted to be released end of November 2009. Table 1: Temperature Change and Rainfall Ratio by Water Resource Region Based on the Canadian Climate Center Model (2 x CO2 Scenario) Country’s Key Vulnerabilities to Climate Change The physiographic and geophysical characteristics of the Philippines make it highly vulnerable to climate change. The country is an archipelago composed of 7,107 islands and it has a total coastline of 34,000 kilometers. As such, seventy percent (70%) of the cities/municipalities depend on coastline and marine ecosystems as source of livelihood. National estimates show that 82.5% of the entire population of the Philippines are at risk to tropical cyclones, flooding and storm surge. Using information from the 2003 official statistics, about 14.9 million homes are vulnerable to impacts of climate change having structures with roofs/walls that are either make shift or made of sub-standard materials as well as nonengineered. These homes may not withstand impacts of stronger typhoons or storm surges. A one-meter sea level rise (SLR) is likely to inundate coastlines and enhance coastal erosion affecting beaches cliffs and low-lying areas. In 1992 the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) of the Philippines estimated that a SLR of 100 cm will inundate a total area of 129,114 ha affecting approximately 2 million people. This was projected using topography as the sole basis for evaluation. Given this, accelerated SLR is predicted to increase risk of people to flooding, changes in tides of rivers and bays, as well as salt water intrusion into surface and ground water that may affect the amount and quality of water supply. In urban centres, the impacts of sea level rise are compounded by ground subsidence due to over-extraction of ground-water for domestic and industrial use (Rodolfo and Siringan, 2006). The agriculture sector of the Philippines is projected to be greatly vulnerable to climate change especially due to the increased occurrences of El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a drought and extreme wet phenomenon. El Nino dropped GDP by 6.6 % in agricultural production and in construction and construction-related manufacturing by 9.5%. The 2008 Labour Force Survey estimated 11.8 million workers along with their families and dependents, in agriculture, forestry and fisheries were affected by extreme whether events. Twenty percent (20.6%) of fishponds dried out in the 1998 El Nino. These impacts to agriculture create more pressure to the urban areas not only in food security but also in accommodating alterations in livelihood/income source and settlement patterns. The rural to urban migration patterns is predicted to increase considering the latter. Higher population densities spell higher vulnerability to climate change. As it is now, 60% of the Philippine population is now concentrated in cities and national urbanization rate is 3.4%. Climate change impacts are expected to bring added pressure for the urban environment with respect to sustainable land use, infrastructure, access to potable water and health services, waste management, among others. 3.2 The Case of Sorsogon City: Climate Change Impacts and Vulnerabilities This could be a bit longer and again, I am very keen on getting the human dimension into this. The Province of Sorsogon where the City is located has been identified by a study of the Manila Observatory and the Department of Environment and Natural Resource to be at a Very High Risk category relative to combined Climate Disasters1. Sorsogon is fourth in the top ten list provinces which are highly at risk to combined factors Based on recorded and unrecorded local observations, the impacts of climate change in the city given its location and previous stresses are seen to be associated with the climate-driven phenomena on changes in extremes (i.e. tropical cyclones, storm surge, and extreme rainfall/flooding) and changes in means (i.e. increased in temperature, increased precipitation, saline intrusion, and sea level rise). City climate change hotspots were identified based on exposure of the area to multiple hazards and risks projected to be brought climate change and based on actual risk/hazard maps produced by the city disaster coordinating council based on previous disaster events and assessments. There are 12 villages which were identified to be the city climate change hotspots considering their exposure to multiple climate risks and hazards (i.e. tropical cyclone/storm surge, SLR, flooding, landslide). Of the hotspots identified, 8 are urban villages, 1 is urbanizing, and the last 3 villages are rural in classification. 1 sum of the normalized, provincialized risks to typhoon, drought caused by El Niño, projected rainfall change and projected temperature increase Table 2: City Climate Change Hotspots Barangay Classification Land Area (Ha) 2007 Population Balogo Bitan-O Dalipay Cabid-an Cambulaga Piot Sampaloc Sirangan Talisay Poblacion Sto. Nino Osiao Gimaloto Urban Urban Urban Urbanizing Urban Urban Urban Urban Urban Rural Rural Rural 152.85 19.20 223.56 37.10 65.96 12.58 4.96 12.40 174.51 385.13 1015.66 143 5251 3028 5426 4097 2572 5214 2491 2660 4882 2008 2721 907 % Growth (2000-2007) 11.46 14.86 22.61 22.03 7.5 12.2 14.3 6.58 3.83 4.78 4.52 7.17 The urban hotspots on the average are growing annually at the rate of 1.7%. Cabid-an registers the highest annual growth rate at 3.23% while four more areas are noted to have growth rates higher than the average and these areas are Bitan-O Dalipay (2.12%) Sirangan (2.02%), Cambulaga (2%), and Sampaloc (1.74%). Projecting that the growth rate remains the same for these areas more people would become vulnerable to impacts of climate change. Risks will be higher and the costs for relief and rehabilitation should (climate-induced disaster happen) would also considerably cost more if anticipatory plans for climate adaptive social and physical infrastructures are not put in place. Apart from population growth, the climate change vulnerabilities of the urban hotspots are mainly accounted to the fact that these villages are home to poor households with limited capacities to cope with projected impacts of climate change; structures (houses and community facilities like health centres) are exposed or at risk to tidal flooding; seawalls are already damaged; inundation/erosion of coastlines; settlements are not planned in view of climate hazards especially their flood drains; livelihoods are sourced from weather sensitive activities such as fishing/vending a tourism services; commercial establishment where wage earners source their income are at risk to flooding and SLR; public infrastructures (schools, bridges & roads) were not engineered to withstand extreme events as evidenced by previous disaster reports; and, people in general have limited knowledge on climate change thus knows insufficient information on possible adaptation options. These vulnerabilities were all substantiated by city data and community accounts as gathered in site validation and focus group discussions. At the governance level, the City Government of Sorsogon regard their general vulnerability to the fact that the current City Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) has not taken into account the projected impacts of climate change. The built-up area as planned in the CLUP has been found to be exposed to seaward risks that climate change brings (e.g. sea level rise and storm surges). Spatial planning capacity of the city is limited by their lack of a Geographic Information System that could support the local government unit (LGU) in sustainable development planning. Further, the city vulnerability tends to be higher as their disaster risk management framework is more aligned with reactive or response actions (relief and rescue) than preparedness to mitigate disasters and anticipatory planning for climate related risks. The city vulnerability to climate change related disasters are evidenced by damages and disruptions it experienced during the last quarter of 2006 when two super typhoons passed through Sorsogon and when Typhoon Dante (with only the lowest warning signal) devastated the city during the last few days summer of 2009. Super Typhoon Milenyo affected more than 27,000 families in the City and totally damaged more than 10,000 houses. Main lifelines (electricity and water) infrastructure were severely damaged leaving the City out of electric power services for more than a month. Major bridges connecting the city were heavily devastated in that 2006 extreme event with 1 major bridge linking Sorsogon City to the next municipality finally collapsing just recently when Typhoon Dante lashed Sorsogon with extremely heavy rains. With business as usual at the global, national, and local contexts, Sorsogon City presents high vulnerability to climate change impacts given its current& projected exposure, sensitivities, and adaptive capacities. Figure 2: Climate Change Hotspots relative to City Land Use HOTSPO T HOTSPOT S (map colours changed and “hotspo”) IV. Existing Institutional framework to address Climate Change 4.1 National policies, strategies, action plans The creation of the Inter-Agency Committee on Climate Change or IACCC via Presidential Administrative Order (EO) 220 in 1991 is among the first climate change action that the government did in parallel to the formulation of the Philippine Strategy for Sustainable Development. The IACCC is chaired by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and is co-chaired by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). It is made up of 13 government agencies and 1 NGO network, the Philippine Network on Climate Change (PNCC). The IACCC is mandated to deliver the following tasks: Coordinate, develop, and monitor implementation of various climate change related activities; Coordinate representation(s) and formulate the Philippine position(s) in international negotiations, conferences, and meetings on climate change; Formulate and recommend climate change related policies and actions; and Serve as technical committee for the review and evaluation of project proposals for Global Environment Facility (GEF) funding. The IACCC facilitated the development of the 1999 PINCCC which was submitted to the UNFCCC. The PINCCC established the baseline understanding on the Philippines’ vulnerability to climatic changes and its potentials for adaptation measures. The sectors assessed were the energy, agriculture, industry, land use change/forestry and wastes. Currently, the Secretariat holds office at the Environmental Education and Information Division of the Environmental Management Bureau. The IACCC is undertaking an improved national GHG inventory, and planning for adaptation actions. It will serve as basis for the preparation of the country’s Second National Communication to be submitted to the Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC by 2010. The Philippines has conducted the necessary policy initiatives needed for the implementation of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). It has ratified the Kyoto Protocol in November 2003 and named the DENR in 2005 as the Designated National Authority (DNA) for CDM. The Philippine DNA facilitates and promotes CDM project activities that: contribute to the UNFCCC objective of stabilization of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system; lead to the transfer of environmentally safe and sound technology and knowhow; contribute to the conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of natural resources; comply with all other pertinent laws and regulations; and provide measures to alleviate poverty as part of their contribution to sustainable development. Administrative Order 171 was issued in February 2007 to create a Presidential Task Force on Climate Change (PTFCC). The Task Force is headed by the DENR Secretary, with the heads of different agencies such as the Departments of Energy (DOE), Science and Technology (DOST), Agriculture (DA), and the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Two representatives from the private sector and the civil society serve as members. Among the functions of the PTFCC are: Conduct rapid assessments on the impact of climate change, particularly on vulnerable sectors such as: water resources, agriculture, coastal areas, terrestrial and marine ecosystems; Ensure compliance to air emission standards and combat deforestation and environmental degradation; Undertake and initiate strategic approaches and measures to prevent or reduce GHG emissions; Conduct nationwide massive and comprehensive public information and awareness campaigns; Design concrete risk reduction and mitigation measures and adaptation responses, especially on short-term vulnerabilities on sectors and areas where climate change will have the greatest impact; Collaborate with international partners to stabilize GHG emissions and Integrate and mainstream climate risk management into development policies, plans and programs of the government. In the same year, Administrative Order 171-A was issued in August transferring the chairmanship of the PTFCC from the DENR to the DOE and increasing the membership of the Task Force to include the Secretary of Education and the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education. In the same period, the President likewise appointed former environment secretary Heherson Alvarez as Presidential Adviser on Global Warming and Climate Change. In December 2008, the President of the Philippines issued Executive Order 774- “Reorganizing the PTFCC”. The EO designates the President as the Chairperson of PTFCC and mandates the creation of following 14 task groups (TGs) with functions to work from all fronts to ensure the 'CPR' -- Conservation, Protection and Restoration -- of Philippine natural resources. As the Presidential Adviser on Climate Change, Secretary Heherson Alvarez prominently figures in leading the PTFCC in the execution of EO 774. The 14 task groups and their respective functions are: 1. Task Group on Solid Waste Management (DENR, DOH, MWSS) - reduce solid waste generation by 50 percent within six months to two years; identify and regenerate forest lands and protected areas. 2. Task Group on Watershed Protection (DENR, CHED, NAPOCOR, SUCs, DOST) - undertake survey and mapping of protected areas and watersheds; conduct massive reforestation; mobilize the youth for inventory of flora and fauna; clear and restore all waterways. 3. Task Group on Rainwater Conservation (DPWH, UAP) - establish rainwater collection system. 4. Task Group on Water Recycling (NWRO, LWUA, DTI) - recover and treat used water. 5. Task Group on Atmospheric Activities (DOST, PAGASA) - transform PAGASA into world-class facility; attract the best Filipino scientists; develop local capability in weather sciences. 6. Task Group on Fossil Fuels (DOTC, DPWH, DILG, OPACC, DBM) - reduce consumption on fossil fuels; reform transport sector, to include walking, cycling, and other human-powered vehicles; conduct consultations, mass media social marketing and mobilization campaign. 7. Task Group on Information (PIA) - mobilize government media to inform the public on climate change and enjoin them on individual responsibilities. 8. Task Group on Fisheries (DA, DILG) - audit implementation of Fisheries Code; conduct massive information and education campaign for coastal LGUs; identify and declare fish sanctuaries. 9. Task Group on Agriculture (DA) - identify and delineate agricultural lands; promote chemical-free farming; utilize all public open spaces for sustainable urban farming. 10. Task Group on Education (DepEd) - incorporate climate change component in the Science curriculum in all levels by school year 2009; 11. Task Group on Foreign Affairs (DFA, DOJ) - coordinate with other island nations on climate change initiatives. 12. Task Group on Renewable Energy (DOE) - implement Renewable Energy Law with urgency. 13. Task Group on CPR Economics (NEDA, DTI, DOF, BOI, DOT) - promote CPR economics; formulate CPR Economics Action Plan and Investment Priorities Plan; develop program on restorative CPR ecotourism; promote traditional medicines. 14. Task Group on Outdoor and Rooftop Structures (DPWH) - shut off neon/billboard lights by 9 p.m.; remove illegal structures/billboards; provide incentives for owners of urban roof gardens. Latest Development following the signing of the “The Philippine Climate Change Act of 2009” Last 24 October 2009, the President of the Philippines signed Republic Act 9729 otherwise known as the Philippine “Climate Change Act of 2009”. This new law directs the mainstreaming of climate change into government policy formulations, development of the framework strategy and program on climate change, and creation of the climate change commission. The Climate Change Commission, which will be created within 60 days from the effectivity of the law, shall be the sole policy-making body of the government that is tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate the programs and action plans of the government relating to climate change. As such, the IACCC and PTFCC shall be abolished upon the organization of the Commission taking into stand that the functions of the said institutions will be absorbed by the Commission. The Climate Change Commission will be an independent and autonomous body with the same status as that of a national government agency. It will be an attached agency to the Office of the President having the President of the Republic of the Philippines as Chairperson for the Commission. Three more Commissioners will be appointed one of whom will be assigned as a Vice-Chairperson. To support the Commission will be an Advisory Board composed of Secretaries of National Government Agencies2, Director General of National Economic and Development Authority (in his capacity as Chair of the Philippine Council for Sustainable Development), Director General of the National Security Council, Chairperson of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, Presidents of the Leagues of Provinces, Cities, Municipalities, and Barangays, and Representatives from the Academe, Business Sector, and Non-governmental Organizations. Further, the commission will be supported by a Panel of Technical Experts who shall provide technical advice to the Commission in climate science, technologies, and best practices for risk assessment and enhancement of adaptive capacity of vulnerable human settlements to potential impacts of climate change Based on the new law, the Climate Change Commission within 6 months from the effectivity of the Act shall develop the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change and subsequently formulate the 2 Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Education, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Interior and Local Government, Interior and Local Government, Public Works and Highways, Science and Technology, Social Welfare and Development, Trade and Industry, Transportation and Communications, National Climate Change Action Plan within one year after formulation of the Framework. Specifically the Commission will have the following powers and functions: (a) Ensure the mainstreaming of climate change, in synergy with disaster risk reduction, into the national, sectoral and local development plans and programs; (b) Coordinate and synchronize climate change programs of national government agencies; (c) Formulate a Framework Strategy on Climate Change to serve as the basis for a program for climate change planning, research and development, extension, and monitoring of activities on climate change; (d) Exercise policy coordination to ensure the attainment of goals set in the framework strategy and program on climate change; (e) Recommend legislation, policies, strategies, programs on and appropriations for climate change adaptation and mitigation and other related activities; (f) Recommend key development investments in climate- sensitive sectors such as water resources, agriculture, forestry, coastal and marine resources, health, and infrastructure to ensure the achievement of national sustainable development goals; (g) Create an enabling environment for the design of relevant and appropriate risksharing and risk-transfer instruments; (h) Create an enabling environment that shall promote broader multi-stakeholder participation and integrate climate change mitigation and adaptation; (i) Formulate strategies on mitigating GHG and other anthropogenic causes of climate change; (j) Coordinate and establish a close partnership with the National Disaster Coordinating Council in order to increase efficiency and effectiveness in reducing the people’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters; (k) In coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, represent the Philippines in the climate change negotiations; (l) Formulate and update guidelines for determining vulnerability to climate change impacts and adaptation assessments and facilitate the provision of technical assistance for their implementation and monitoring; (m) Coordinate with local government units (LGUs) and private entities to address vulnerability to climate change impacts of regions, provinces, cities and municipalities; (n) Facilitate capacity building for local adaptation planning, implementation and monitoring of climate change initiatives in vulnerable communities and areas; (o) Promote and provide technical and financial support to local research and development programs and projects in vulnerable communities and areas; and (p) Oversee the dissemination of information on climate change, local vulnerabilities and risks, relevant laws and protocols and adaptation and mitigation measures. Notably in the Climate Change Act is recognition of the role of LGUs as the frontline agencies in the formulation, planning and implementation of climate change action plans in their respective areas, which must be carried out consistent with the provisions of the Local Government Code, the Framework, and the National Climate Change Action Plan. The law directs that “Municipal and city governments shall consider climate change adaptation, as one of their regular functions. Provincial governments shall provide technical assistance, enforcement and information management in support of municipal and city climate change action plans. Inter-local government unit collaboration shall be maximized in the conduct of climate- related activities”. While the law elaborates that it is the national governments responsibility to extend technical and financial assistance to LGUs for the accomplishment of their Local Climate Change Action Plans, LGUs are tasked and directed as follows: formulate local climate change plans and regularly update their respective action plans to reflect changing social, economic, and environmental conditions and emerging issues furnish the Commission with copies of their action plans and all subsequent amendments, modifications and revisions thereof, within one (1) month from their adoption mobilize and allocate necessary personnel, resources and logistics to effectively implement their respective action plans; and Local Chief Executive to appoint the person responsible for the formulation and implementation of the local action plan allocate from their annual appropriations adequate funds for the formulation, development and implementation, including training, capacity building and direct intervention, of their respective climate change programs and plans. It shall also include public awareness campaigns on the effects of climate change and energy-saving solutions to mitigate these effects, and initiatives, through educational and training programs and micro-credit schemes, especially for women in rural areas. In subsequent budget proposals, the concerned offices and units shall appropriate funds for program/project development and implementation including continuing training and education in climate change authorized to appropriate and use the amount from its Internal Revenue Allotment necessary to implement said local plan effectively, any provision in the Local Government Code to the contrary notwithstanding submit annual progress reports on the implementation of their respective local action plan to the Commission within the first quarter of the following year 4.2 Sorsogon City policies, strategies, and governance issues relating to Climate Change A few sentences on the process in Sorsogon: City consultation TWG, IWG and the key issues which were prioritized Though not clearly advanced locally as the city Climate Change Adaptation strategy, disaster preparedness is at the core of the city’s development agenda. It is in the hands of the City Disaster Coordinating Council (CDCC). In times of natural catastrophe and other man-made hazards, the city carries out its disaster preparedness plans and contingencies through the City CDCC headed by the City Mayor. The CDCC is mirrored at the barangay/village level with the existence of the BDCCs headed by the Punong Barangay. Assisting also are the volunteers of the Sorsogon Emergency and Rescue Team and the Philippine National Red Cross for relief operations. The CPDO provides data and information to CDCC with regard to risk reduction policies, strategies and plans. These include zoning ordinances; natural hazard maps (flood, landslide, storm surge); demographics and logistics and other facilities that could be used by the city to enhance its risk reduction planning and programs. Through CDCC, it has prepared its City Disaster Profile (Office of the Mayor, 2008). The document presents basic profile such as physical and demographic profile; environmentally constrained areas relative to natural hazards; inventory of available relief and emergency goods that are readily available during or immediately after disaster. Parallel to this, the City has also developed its Disaster Risk Management Plan for the fiscal year 2008-2009. The plan focused on two major components namely (1) Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction and (2) Mitigation Measures. Given the lack of clear-cut guidance from the national government on climate change, results of LGU assessment revealed the following critical factors that pose as constraints in the governance/institutional aspect of Sorsogon City in pursuing actions toward climate change mitigation and adaptation: limited technical capacity of city government staff relative to Environmental Planning and Management; limited knowledge on climate change projected impacts at the global, national, and local levels; lack of important hardware such as Geographical Information System as well that could support its environmental and development planning processes coupled with technical capacities in managing information management system; absence of a city shelter plan and appropriate governance structure that will focus on the needs and action for the shelter sector; weak disaster preparedness and contingency plan as it concentrate mainly on reactive and emergency response. Despite the constraints mentioned above there are facilitating factors and opportunities within the City governance structure that could prove to be assets in pursuing local actions towards addressing impacts of climate change. This facilitating factors and opportunities include: Commitment of the local chief executive and the city council to face climate change issues by (a) learning from and partnering with external partners, (b) engaging stakeholders in the discussions, and sharing its available resources (human, technical, financial) in pursuing appropriate actions; Interest and commitment of LGU staff to learn and improve their technical capacities in Environmental Planning and Management; Acknowledgement of both the elected officials and the technical staff that they are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts considering their previous experiences from extreme events; and There are already local policies issued that are aligned with climate change mitigation and adaptation that could be utilized as spring-board(s) to creating a more focused or programmatic action (i.e. city solid waste management ordinance etc.) V. City Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation measures (3 pgs) Existing measures at the National level: The sectors which are considered as the major national policy making players on climate change, include, (1) housing and urban development, (2) energy, (3) air, (4) waste, (5) environment and natural resources, and (6) agriculture and marine. The national assessment for CCCI surfaced the fact that some overarching national policies on CC are stationed in sectoral agencies. Thus far, the most active in developing policies on adaptation and mitigation approaches is the Environment and Natural Resources sector (Table 3). Table 3: Environment and natural resources policies related to climate change National Policies Department level RA 8749: “Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999” DAO 2000-82: “Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework-Air Quality Control Action Plan” Presidential Decree No. 1586: “Establishing An Environmental Impact Statement System, Including Other Environmental Management Related Measures and for Other Purposes” DAO 2003-30: “Implementing Rules and Regulations for the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System” EO 318: “Promoting Sustainable Forest Management in the Philippines” DAO 2004-59: “Rules and Regulations Governing the Special Uses of Forestlands” EO 220: Created the IACCC SO 2006-787: “Creation of the Inter-agency Steering Group (IAWG) and a Program Steering Committee (PSG) for the Adaptation on Climate Change” DAO 2008-01: “Creation of Task Force Kalikasan (TFK)” DAO 2007-653: “Creation of the Advisory Council on Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation, Monitoring and Communication” EO 320: “Designating the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as the National Authority for the Clean Development Mechanism” DAO 2005-17: “Rules and Regulations Governing the Implementation of Executive Order No. 320, series of 2004, Designating the DENR as the National Authority for the Clean Development Mechanism” At the Department of Education, the CC advocacy is gaining ground with integration of CC matters in the curriculum of schools. On the one hand, the Department of the Interior and Local Government has designated a bureau to lead on the CC issue. Table below lists some of the newest policy initiatives that these Departments have added to the increasing number of sectoral policies, indicating that even the agencies that are not “traditionally” identified as CC champions have integrated adaptation actions. Table 4: Latest CC policy advocacies of DepEd and DILG Government unit National policies Department of Education DepED Order No. 33 (2008): “Responding to the Threats of Climate Change and Global Warming Through Massive, Intensive and Sustained Tree-Planting, Tree Growing and Tree-Caring Program” DepED Order No. 33 (2008): “Home Economics Slogan and Essay Writing Competition on Global Warming and Climate Change” Department of the Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular No. 2008-123: “Mobilizing Local Actions to Address the Impacts of Climate Change” LGU supervisor on implementation of RA 9003 National Guide on the EPM Process published National Guide on SWM Board Functionality Housing and urban development The formulation of the national policy on housing and urban development is with the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council. As the title suggests, the Council is expected to lead the government in addressing the housing and urban development functions, but for undefined reasons, the urban development function receives much lesser attention than housing in the Council while urban policy development relating to climate change impacts has also been weak. The urban data situation as observed reflects the absence of persistent advocacy or championing of the urban cause in national agencies, institutions and organizations. The HUDCC connects directly with communities and the LGU especially in the implementation and monitoring of the Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA). As mandated by the UDHA, HUDCC is to formulate the National Urban Development and Housing Framework (NUDHF) as main basis for downstream planning and management. Operationally, under this planning function, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board is mandated to oversee the formulation of CLUP, Comprehensive Development Plan and other city plans. Recently the 2009 -2016 NUDHF has been launched. The NUDHF states that the Philippines have been “transformed into an urban economy where most economic activity now emanates from the industry and services sectors.” The share of the urban has expanded from 28 to 77% in the 1980’s to 1990's, respectively. The agricultural sector productivity is declining making prospects for national economic growth dependent on the performance of the urban areas. However, the Philippine urban system since the 1980's has not been very encouraging due to problems in inadequate infrastructure, overcrowding and congestion, strained basic urban services such as health and sanitation, water and air pollution, slums and squatter settlements, poor urban land management, etc., which have been compounded by weak governance and financial capacities. Themes that form the new NUDHF’s structure are as follows: (a) Urban Competitiveness, (b) Poverty Reduction (c) Housing affordability and delivery (d) Sustainable Communities, and (e) Performanceoriented governance. Of these five themes, the framework document only discusses climate change in the sustainable communities’ theme. A few sentences on the urban climate change action agenda (see also below) President Issues Executive Order 841 as a result by recent extreme weather events. After severe losses and destruction brought by extreme weather events (Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng) affecting even mega-manila and other highly urbanized areas, The Philippine President issued in October 26,2009 Executive Order (EO) 841 – “ordering all local government to revisit–reformulate, update and assess the implementation and manner of execution of their existing comprehensive land-use plans, particularly identifying government lands suitable for socialized housing resettlement and relocation.” The EO takes off from the pertinent provisions of UDHA or RA 7279 and the RA 7160 (Local Government Code) as legal basis. It orders all local governments to create a task force, to be chaired by the local chief executive and composed of all members of local development councils. The taskforce will update, formulate or reformulate the CLUP to ensure its completion within six months, or by April 2010. Further, the taskforce will facilitate the identification and inventory of public lands that have been idle for 10 years from the effectivity of RA 7279, and initiate their transfer to the National Housing Authority (NHA) for socialized housing and resettlement or relocation areas. The task force will draw the mechanics for the relocation and resettlement of persons living in so-called danger areas and other public places, and institute programs for the provision of basic services, facilities, and access to employment and livelihood opportunities of relocated families. The EO 841 further directs the HUDCC and DILG to assist LGUs in complying and acting on the EO by providing secretariat support to the task force. VI. Conclusions and recommendations (2 pgs) The Philippines is highly vulnerable to impacts of climate change given its physiography and socio-economic conditions. Function of the country’s vulnerability to climate change is attributed to observed trends in increasing mean annual and maximum temperature, increase in mean rainfall, occurrence of extreme events and observations on sea level rise. The Philippine urban system, hosting 64% of the total population, would be confronted with greater pressures given projected impacts to settlements, livelihoods pattern especially in the agriculture sector, food security, health, access to ground water, and land inundation. National estimates show that 82.5% of the entire population of the Philippines are at risk to tropical cyclones, flooding and storm surge. 14.9 million homes are vulnerable to impacts of climate change having structures with roofs/walls that are either make shift or made of substandard materials as well as non-engineered. This underscores the fact that poverty and limited knowledge highly contributes to climate change vulnerability and the poor’s condition could be exacerbated by climate change. The recent developments in advancing national policies and governance frameworks relative to climate change through the Philippine Climate Change Act of 2009 signifies the very promising and dynamic policy environment in the country. The issue of constraints in coordination and direction is now being addressed by the new law as it mandates the establishment of Climate Change Commission. The Philippine Climate Change Act does not only demonstrate the country’s commitment to global agreements on climate change but also its commitment to sustainable development. It promotes synchronization of vertical and horizontal government functions and puts at the heart of the action local government units – who are expected to develop, implement, monitor and actualize adaptation and mitigation actions. Despite the dynamism at the national front, a big challenge now is on building LGU capacities to act on its role as the front liner for climate change adaptation and mitigation planning as embodied in the Climate Change Act. LGUs would need great support from national government in terms of capacity development of LGUs in the areas of vulnerability assessments, and adaptation & mitigation planning with action points that really bridge the local realm with the national policy frameworks and the evidences of the climate science. Knowledge management and information sharing across LGUs, sectors, and disciplines are highly crucial points to affect sustainable adaptation and development. Innovations and applicable new technologies that are affordable needs to be considered given the limitations of financial resources not only of LGUs and but most importantly of the vulnerable poor who would be the end users of the adaptation technologies. There is a big opportunity to mainstream climate change planning elements in the newly launched National Urban Development and Housing Framework (2009-2016) put forward by HUDCC. Mainstreaming CC parameters in the NUDHF could facilitate for LGUs’ better understanding of the relation of climate change to urban development planning processes. However, it is noted that climate change is only considered as an element of the sustainable communities theme, which is just one of the five themes of the framework. It could be advocated that given the complexities of its impacts, climate change could be an overarching consideration in urban development programming. (link to Urban Climate Change Action Agenda) The Case of Sorsogon City exemplifies the need of LGUs for capacity development in climate change adaptation and mitigation. While as in the national context where vulnerability of the City is high relative to exposure and socio-economic sensitivity to climate change, the strong and dynamic institutional/governance framework at the national level is not translated in the local governance context. Mainly this is due to the fact that translation of national policies to local implementation is in general a big challenge to Philippine governance dynamics. This suggests that a stronger role of the Department of Interior and Local Government must be played especially in the localization and implementation of the Climate Change Act at the municipal and city levels. (the last point is not clear it would be crucial to have a few recommendations for the national level – this could be based on the UCCAA (all the categories we identified) – it would also be important to ensure that the roles and responsibilities of LGUs are strengthened.