ALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/13 Sept) – The province of Bukidnon is one of 10 provinces in the country selected as a pilot area for the Joint Programme on Strengthening the Philippines’ Institutional Capacity to adapt to climate change, according to the National Economic Development Authority, which spearheads the program in the country.
The joint program, dubbed MDG-F 1656 JP, aims to influence the institutions of government and their respective key processes by integrating climate change adaptation as one of the critical issues that pose as a serious threat to the achievement of the country’s Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target on environmental sustainability, said Sheila Marie Encabo, the joint program coordinator, in her letter to Gov. Alex Calingasan.
The program covers three components, including policy development planning and programming, capacity development of the duty bearers, and capacity development.
The province was selected as a pilot area for the capacity assessment for climate change adaptation.
Under the program, the NEDA held a capacity assessment for climate change adaptation workshop with provincial government officials last Sept. 6. The assessment, according to Encabo in her letter back in July, was meant to analyze the capacity development needs of Bukidnon stakeholders in line with their roles and responsibilities for climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR).
The assessment involves training of trainers, roll out activity, and validation workshop and looks at the technical and functional capacities on adaptation at three levels: policy or enabling environment, the organizational, and the individual level.
The joint program has funding support from the Spanish government involving eight government institutions, including the Departments of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Science and Technology, Trade and Industry, Labor and Employment, and two other government entities. Six United Nations organizations are behind the project, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UN Agency for Human Settlements (UN HABITAT), the International Labor Organization (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and World Health Organization (WHO).
Along with Bukidnon, the other provinces considered among the pilot areas are Antique, Ifugao, Cavite, Biliran, Pangasinan, Sorsogon, Surigao del Norte and Agusan provinces. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)
