Strengthening climate transparency. The Climate Change Commission (CCC), together with key national agencies and development partners, officially launched the Capacity-Building Initiative for Transparency in the Philippines (CBIT PH), a project aimed at strengthening the country’s capacity to comply with the transparency requirements of the Paris Agreement.

PASIG CITY – The Climate Change Commission recently launched the Capacity-Building Initiative for Transparency in the Philippines (CBIT PH), a transparency project aimed at strengthening the country’s capacity to comply with the transparency requirements under Article 13 of the Paris Agreement.

Implemented by the CCC as executing agency, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as co-lead, the CBIT PH is funded by the Global Environment Facility through Conservation International – Global Environment Facility (CI-GEF), with the Manila Observatory serving as executing agency support partner and project management unit.

In his opening remarks, CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje emphasized the need to integrate existing policies, data systems, and platforms into a cohesive and functional whole.

“We have policies that set direction. We have sectoral systems that generate data. We have platforms that are meant to bring these together. And under the Paris Agreement, particularly through the Enhanced Transparency Framework, we are expected to connect all of these to track progress, to understand impact, and to inform decisions.”

“These are not separate requirements. In practice, they have to work as one system that links science, policy, and investment and allows us to act with clarity and consistency. The CBIT Philippines Project is meant to operationalize that,” Borje added.

An inception workshop followed the launch, which convened key government agencies including the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Department of Transportation (DOTr), development partners, and stakeholders to align strategies for enhancing the country’s climate transparency systems, particularly on Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) of greenhouse gas emissions.

The project is co-led with the DENR, with support from the Global Environment Facility through Conservation International – Global Environment Facility (CI-GEF).

DENR Undersecretary Analiza Rebuelta-Teh underscored the importance of transparency in driving global climate ambition, noting that investments in transparency serve as the backbone of the global transition toward a low-carbon and climate-resilient future.

“A strong transparency system allows us to demonstrate progress of our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), unlock greater access to climate finance, and design policies that are grounded in real and reliable data,” Teh said.

Meanwhile, Aki Marcelino of CI-GEF highlighted that transparency remains central to the Paris Agreement, enabling countries to track progress and strengthen accountability.

Fr. Ramon Villarin of the Manila Observatory also emphasized that transparency lies at the heart of climate action, stressing the need for stronger institutional capacity and data systems.

Held on April 20–21, 2026, the two-day workshop featured presentations from key sectoral agencies, including the Department of Energy, DOTr, and DENR, on their ongoing transparency initiatives for greenhouse gas emissions. Discussions also surfaced challenges in reporting and identified capacity needs to support the country’s Enhanced Transparency Framework.

A ceremonial signing of commitment among partner institutions was also conducted, reaffirming support for the project.

On the second day, participating agencies engaged in workshops on the CBIT PH results framework, targets, budget, and workplan, contributing to the project’s three-year implementation roadmap.

Anchored on Article 13 of the Paris Agreement, CBIT PH aims to strengthen institutional coordination, enhance technical capacities, and improve knowledge sharing to enable a more transparent, coherent, and responsive climate information system, supporting the whole-of-government approach to climate action under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

The CCC emphasized that strengthening transparency systems will not only support compliance with international commitments but also improve climate policy development, resource mobilization, and overall governance, in line with the administration’s push for science-based, data-driven, and accountable climate action.
 

For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.