Download Summary of UN-Habitat`s CCCI Climate Change Assessment for the

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:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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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:
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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:

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

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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.