LOCAL government units (LGU) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are urged to access the People’s Survival Fund by proposing a project that will address problems related to climate change.
Kairos Dela Cruz from the People’s Survival Fund Board said the local government units in the Cordillera region and accredited non-government organizations (NGO) should be empowered in proposing to the national government any project that would help to mitigate the effects of climate change in the country.
The fund was created through Republic Act 10174 which is in line with the Climate Change Act of 2009 which aims to protect the environment and to mitigate effects of climate change.
Under the act, at least P1.8 billion will come from the general appropriations act which will be used to fund the proposals of the different LGUs and NGOs in the country.
To help in the climate change adaptation, the country is also under United Nations climate negotiations where Senator Loren Legarda in her earlier talk said the country will ratify the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Upon the ratification of the agreement, more funding support from other countries will be expected. In fact, the Canadian embassy has committed US $2.65 billion wherein some $300 million will be committed to help developing countries like the Philippines in their green programs.
Dela Cruz and the the People’s Survival Fund Board helped LGUS in the region during a two day write shop at the Benguet State University (BSU).
Canadian Ambassador John Holmes, Benguet Governor Cresencio Pacalso and BSU President Dr. Feliciano Calora, Jr. were present during the workshop with 10 LGUs in Benguet and three from Mountain Province.
BSU will be assisting all LGUs in researching the needed materials before they will be giving their proposals to the People’s Survival Board.
Proposals of LGUs and NGOs will pass through a lot of stringent process before approval. The board is composed of members from the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Climate Change Commission, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and non-government organizations from the academe as well as from the business sector.
There were 58 groups already have submitted their proposals and 2 were already approved.