The Climate Change Commission (CCC) participates in a restoration and tree-growing activity in partnership with the Municipality of Balamban, Cebu, Aboitiz Foundation, GCash GForest and other stakeholders. BALAMBAN, Cebu — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) welcomed a long-term partnership to grow one million trees and help restore 1,200 hectares in Balamban, Cebu, calling it a practical contribution to the Marcos administration’s agenda for climate resilience, low-carbon development and sustainable growth. The five-year greening partnership brings together the Municipality of Balamban, Aboitiz Foundation through its CarbonPH restoration program, and GCash GForest, with communities, people’s organizations and other government and private-sector partners. More than 3,000 volunteers joined the program’s first major on-ground activity on September 19, planting bamboo and native trees across identified restoration areas. “This partnership recognizes a fundamental truth: planting is an activity, but growing a forest is a long-term responsibility,” said CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje. “The more meaningful measure is not simply how many seedlings enter the ground on planting day. It is how many survive, how much land is restored, how well watersheds and biodiversity are protected, and whether communities gain lasting livelihoods and greater resilience,” he added. The program targets at least 85 percent tree survival through nurseries, sustained maintenance, monitoring, protection and community stewardship. Native and endemic species—including Cebu Cinnamon or kaningag, narra, molave, katmon, almaciga and bagilumbang—will be grown alongside bamboo, fruit-bearing trees and agroforestry crops such as cacao, coffee and jackfruit. Bamboo and native trees were also planted along the river corridor to help rehabilitate the watershed, stabilize riverbanks, reduce erosion and support natural flood mitigation. Held during World Bamboo Day, the activity highlighted bamboo’s potential contribution to ecosystem restoration, climate action and local development. When properly selected, planted, managed and sustainably utilized, bamboo can support watershed rehabilitation, carbon storage, enterprise and community livelihoods. “Bamboo is valuable not merely because it grows quickly, but because it can connect ecosystem restoration with production and income,” Borje said. “For restoration to endure, communities must see both ecological and economic value in protecting what they have helped grow.” The CCC recognized the Municipality of Balamban for anchoring the initiative in local priorities and community participation. The Cebu Bamboo Industry Development Council and local people’s organizations can help connect bamboo growing with responsible production, value-chain development and livelihoods. Aboitiz Foundation, through CarbonPH, brings a long-term landscape-restoration model, resources and partnerships. CarbonPH forms part of the Foundation’s 40-year commitment to help restore Cebu’s forests, watersheds and ecosystems. GCash GForest connects digital participation with restoration on the ground. Green-energy points generated through everyday digital activities help support actual tree growing, enabling millions of Filipinos to participate beyond the planting sites. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Forest Management Bureau provides the broader technical and policy framework for sustainable forest and watershed management. “This partnership demonstrates how different responsibilities can reinforce one another,” Borje said. “The local government provides leadership. Communities provide knowledge and stewardship. Businesses contribute resources, technology and networks. National institutions provide policy direction and technical support.” The initiative supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s direction to move the government from reactive responses toward proactive and predictive governance. As the President said in his 2026 State of the Nation Address, “We have moved on from the reactive approach. Now, we are not only proactive, but predictive as well.” “Restoring degraded landscapes, protecting watersheds and strengthening livelihoods before climate impacts intensify are concrete expressions of predictive governance and preventive adaptation,” Borje said. Under President Marcos, who chairs the CCC, the Philippines completed and adopted its first National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for 2023–2050. The NAP provides the country’s long-term framework for reducing climate vulnerability and strengthening resilience across interconnected sectors. The Balamban initiative supports NAP priorities on ecosystems and biodiversity, water resources, agriculture and livelihoods, and integrated land-use management. Restoring forests and watersheds can reduce erosion and flood risks, protect water sources, strengthen biodiversity and help communities manage interconnected climate risks. The initiative also supports the Philippines’ commitments under the Paris Agreement by strengthening natural carbon sinks while generating adaptation benefits and opportunities for sustainable local development. Borje said that contributing to climate resilience does not stop at planting trees. “For initiatives such as CarbonPH to contribute credibly to national climate goals, we must measure more than the number of seedlings planted. We must track survival and growth, restored land, improved carbon stocks, ecosystem benefits and community outcomes.” He added that the partnership shows how national policy can be translated into local action through a one-country-team approach. “Balamban is showing how climate resilience, low-carbon development and sustainable growth can take root in the same landscape,” Borje said. “If we grow the trees, protect the watershed and build viable livelihoods around restoration, local action can help transform the nation.” The CCC, as the lead policy-making body of the government on climate change, continues to advance the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan, the National Climate Risk Management Framework and the country’s commitments under the Paris Agreement in partnership with national agencies, local governments, communities, development partners and the private sector. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

During the recent UNFCCC Adaptation Committee discussions, the Philippines pushed for stronger local access to climate finance, emphasizing that international funds must effectively reach and support communities on the ground. BAKU, Azerbaijan — The Philippines backed stronger local access to adaptation finance as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Adaptation Committee advanced discussions on the focus of its future thematic dialogue, emphasizing the need to examine how international climate finance can more effectively reach local actors and support adaptation implementation. Climate Change Commission (CCC) Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje, who serves on the Adaptation Committee from the developing-country constituency, supported local-level adaptation finance as a practical focus for the Committee’s continuing work on adaptation finance. The proposed theme examines approaches, stakeholder roles and country experiences in channeling international climate finance to local actors. It was considered alongside other possible themes, including country and regional platforms, innovative adaptation finance, blended finance and stronger institutional coordination for accessing adaptation finance. For developing countries, the issue goes beyond the overall volume of finance available. Adaptation priorities are often implemented by local governments and communities, yet access to international climate finance can remain difficult because of institutional, technical and financing constraints. This makes local access particularly important in countries where climate risks vary widely across territories and where implementation depends on local capacities, institutions and investment decisions. Borje said, “For developing countries, the question is not only how much adaptation finance is available, but whether it can actually be accessed and used where climate risks are felt most. Local access has to be practical, responsive and capable of supporting implementation.” He also emphasized that work on local adaptation finance should allow consideration of appropriate financing approaches and instruments that can make access more effective and productive, while avoiding additional complexity or barriers for developing countries and local actors. “Innovation should serve implementation. Where appropriate, financing approaches that help solve access constraints should be examined as part of the conversation on getting adaptation finance to the local level,” Borje said. For the Philippines, the discussion is directly relevant to efforts to localize the National Adaptation Plan and strengthen the capacity of local governments to develop, finance and implement climate-responsive investments. Improving local access to finance can help translate national adaptation priorities into projects and services that reduce risks to communities, protect livelihoods and infrastructure, and strengthen resilience across provinces, cities and municipalities. The discussion also reflects a broader implementation challenge for developing countries: adaptation finance must not only be mobilized but also structured and delivered in ways that are accessible, usable and responsive to local conditions. The Committee agreed that the scope of the dialogue could be further developed through the preparation and review of a concept note, creating space to examine how local access may be strengthened and how appropriate financing approaches can support implementation. The Adaptation Committee conducts thematic dialogues annually under its flexible workplan. Its 2026 dialogue focused on opportunities for accessing adaptation finance from the operating entities of the UNFCCC Financial Mechanism, while the Committee at its 30th meeting considered possible themes for 2027, including local-level adaptation finance. Borje represented the developing countries’ constituency in the Adaptation Committee, and is the first Filipino to be elected to the Adaptation Committee since it was established in 2010. The Climate Change Commission is the lead policy-making body of the Philippine government tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate programs and action plans relating to climate change pursuant to Republic Act No. 9729, as amended.   For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities, partnerships and international engagements, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

MANILA, Philippines — The Climate Change Commission (CCC), in coordination with the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, strengthened the capacity of vice governors and provincial legislative staff to help local government units (LGUs) develop risk-informed proposals for the People’s Survival Fund (PSF). CCC Deputy Executive Director Romell Antonio O. Cuenca briefed around 36 vice governors and key legislative staff during the Legislative Excellence and Development (LEAD) Program of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines on 18 September 2026. The LEAD Program, administered by the Development Academy of the Philippines, is a 14-session legislative capacity-building program running from August to November 2026. Rather than focusing only on application procedures, the CCC session emphasized the work LGUs must undertake before preparing a PSF concept note or full proposal—including identifying their actual climate risks, determining which communities and sectors are most exposed, and establishing a credible basis for the proposed intervention. “Accessing the People’s Survival Fund begins well before an LGU writes its proposal. It begins with understanding the specific climate risks confronting its communities and identifying the intervention that can reduce those risks,” Cuenca said. The presentation covered the PSF submission, evaluation, appraisal and Board approval processes. Participants were also provided with 16 links to climate and geospatial information sources that their technical teams can use to strengthen the data and analysis supporting their proposals. Questions from the participants centered on the application process and the preparations required of LGUs. The recorded session will be uploaded to the program’s online learning platform for officials and staff who were unable to participate live. CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje said provincial legislative bodies can play an important role in helping translate local climate priorities into properly designed and supported adaptation investments. “Local access to climate finance is not merely a question of completing forms. A sound proposal must connect the risk identified, the people and systems exposed, the intervention proposed and the resilience result expected,” Borje said. “Vice governors and provincial boards can help create the enabling conditions for this work by supporting climate-risk assessments, strengthening local plans and investment programs, allocating resources for proposal development, and encouraging coordination among provincial, city and municipal governments,” he added. Established under Republic Act No. 10174, the PSF provides long-term financing for adaptation programs and projects of LGUs and accredited local and community organizations. It supplements annual government appropriations for climate change programs and supports measures responding to climate-related risks and vulnerabilities. The CCC continues to provide policy guidance, technical assistance and capacity development to help LGUs formulate science- and risk-based adaptation programs aligned with the National Climate Change Action Plan and the National Adaptation Plan 2023–2050. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

MANILA, Philippines — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) called for sustained action to reduce waste and protect ecosystems as the country observes World Clean and Green Week from 17 to 23 September. The observance traces its roots to Clean Up the World, a global initiative that originated in Australia in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme. In 1993, Proclamation No. 244 formally institutionalized its observance in the Philippines to encourage collective action for cleaner communities and ecosystem protection. The CCC underscored the urgency of translating this commitment into everyday practice as the Philippines generated an estimated 60,760 tons of waste per day in 2025. “Clean communities begin with the choices we make each day—what we consume, what we discard, and whether materials are reused, recycled or allowed to become waste,” said CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje. Waste that is improperly managed can clog waterways and drainage systems, worsen flooding, pollute rivers and coastal areas, damage ecosystems, and expose communities to health and climate risks. Organic waste disposed of in landfills also produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Borje stressed that responsibility must be shared, but not treated as equal. Households and communities can practice waste reduction, segregation, reuse, recycling and composting, while local governments, businesses and national agencies must ensure that appropriate systems, infrastructure and incentives are in place. “We cannot place the entire burden on individuals when sustainable choices depend on accessible collection services, recovery facilities, responsible product design and markets for reusable and recyclable materials,” he said. “Everyday discipline must be matched by effective systems.” The CCC said stronger waste management supports both climate mitigation and adaptation. Reducing waste and recovering materials can lower emissions and ease pressure on natural resources, while cleaner waterways and healthier ecosystems can strengthen communities against flooding and other climate impacts. These efforts complement the National Climate Change Action Plan, the National Climate Risk Management Framework, the National Adaptation Plan 2023–2050, and the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan. “The World Clean and Green Week reminds us that clean-up activities are important, but they cannot be the endpoint. The real measure of progress is how rarely waste reaches our streets, rivers and seas in the first place,” Borje said. The CCC, as the lead policy-making body of the government on climate change, continues to coordinate, monitor and evaluate climate action and promote policies that support low-carbon, climate-resilient and sustainable development. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

The Philippines’ Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje, representing the developing countries’ constituency in the Adaptation Committee, presents a preview of the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee’s first Synthesis Report on the State of Adaptation Action by Parties at the 2026 Adaptation Forum. BAKU, Azerbaijan — The Philippines, through its membership in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Adaptation Committee, helped set the scene for global discussions on accelerating adaptation implementation, presenting an emerging picture of adaptation action reported by countries and highlighting the need to move from plans and systems toward measurable results. Climate Change Commission (CCC) Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje, who serves as a member of the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee, presented a preview of the Committee’s forthcoming Synthesis Report on the State of Adaptation Action by Parties, which the Adaptation Committee made available as a basis for discussion at the 2026 Adaptation Forum ahead of its consideration at the Adaptation Committee meeting. Borje represented the developing countries’ constituency in the Adaptation Committee, and is the first Filipino to be elected to the Adaptation Committee since it was established in 2010. The presentation drew from adaptation information communicated by 198 Parties to the UNFCCC, covering developed and developing countries across six regions. The information is also organized through the Adaptation Committee’s Interactive Portal on the State of Adaptation Action by Parties, which draws from Parties’ national reports and communications. The emerging picture shows that countries have substantially strengthened the institutional foundations for adaptation. Around 94 percent report having climate change frameworks and regulations in place, while 89 percent have adaptation-specific frameworks. Meanwhile, 182 of 198 countries have undertaken impact, vulnerability and risk assessments, mostly at national and sectoral levels. The findings also point to the challenges for the next stage: determining whether adaptation efforts are producing measurable reductions in vulnerability and climate risk. Only 31 percent of countries report having monitoring, evaluation and learning systems in place, while another 32 percent are still establishing them. Information on adaptation outcomes and effectiveness is available for only about 28 percent of countries, although some are beginning to report reduced agricultural losses, improved water, infrastructure and health outcomes, and avoided costs resulting from adaptation investments. “Planning remains essential, but it is not the endpoint. The increasingly important question is whether adaptation changes decisions, reduces risk and protects people, livelihoods and development gains,” Borje said. The presentation also showed that national adaptation priorities and reported implementation are broadly aligned. Food security, food systems and agriculture; freshwater resources and sanitation; and health are among the most frequently identified priorities in national plans, with significant implementation also reported in disaster risk management, ecosystems and human settlements. For the Philippines, the findings reinforce the importance of translating climate science and risk assessments into investments and decisions that can withstand increasingly severe climate impacts. Recent flooding in the country has underscored the consequences when hazards intersect with vulnerable communities, infrastructure and development systems. The Philippine National Adaptation Plan 2023–2050, the country’s first NAP, completed and submitted  under President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., provides the national framework for addressing these risks through anticipatory, risk-informed and locally grounded adaptation. The global review also highlights the importance of cooperation. A total of 173 countries report existing arrangements for cooperation on adaptation at national, regional or international levels, including efforts to strengthen institutional capacity, mobilize resources and expertise, and address risks that cross borders. The synthesis presented at the Forum was a preview intended to inform discussion. The final report is for consideration by the Adaptation Committee before publication. The underlying portal and synthesis are intended as complementary tools: the portal organizes and visualizes country-reported information, while the synthesis identifies broader patterns, trends and country experiences. The 2026 Adaptation Forum was held on 9–10 September at the Baku Convention Centre as part of UNFCCC Climate Week 4. The wider Climate Week ran from 7–11 September and placed particular emphasis on moving climate commitments toward practical implementation and scalable solutions. The Climate Change Commission is the lead policy-making body of the Philippine government tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate programs and action plans relating to climate change pursuant to Republic Act No. 9729, as amended. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities, partnerships, and international engagements, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

During Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo) this September, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) emphasizes the critical need to safeguard marine ecosystems and strengthen the climate resilience of coastal communities. MANILA, Philippines | 18 September 2026 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) underscored the importance of protecting marine and coastal ecosystems and strengthening the resilience of coastal communities as the country observes Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo) this September. The annual observance, established under Presidential Proclamation No. 316, series of 2017, promotes greater awareness of the Philippines’ maritime and archipelagic character and the importance of protecting the country’s maritime resources. “As an archipelagic nation, our seas are not simply the spaces between our islands. They connect our communities, sustain livelihoods, support food security, and help protect us from the impacts of climate change,” said CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje. Coastal communities face interconnected climate risks, including sea-level rise, storm surges, coastal flooding, erosion, saltwater intrusion and the degradation of marine ecosystems. These risks affect homes, livelihoods, infrastructure, fisheries and other essential services. Borje emphasized that healthy mangroves, seagrass beds, coral reefs and other marine and coastal ecosystems are natural defenses that help reduce climate risks while supporting biodiversity and local economies. “Protecting these ecosystems is both climate action and development policy. Their condition influences how well our communities withstand hazards, recover from disruption and sustain livelihoods over time,” he said. The National Adaptation Plan 2023–2050 recognizes ecosystem and biodiversity resilience and climate-resilient livelihoods and industries among the country’s priority adaptation outcomes. Its implementation requires climate risks to be considered in land- and sea-use planning, infrastructure, coastal resource management and local development decisions. The CCC called for stronger cooperation among national government agencies, local government units, coastal communities, fisherfolk, the private sector, academe and civil society to protect marine resources and translate climate information into practical local action. “Awareness must lead to better decisions—where and how we build, how we manage our coasts, how we protect livelihoods and how we use marine resources without diminishing their value for future generations,” Borje added. This MANA Mo, the CCC encourages Filipinos to deepen their appreciation of the seas that connect the country’s islands and strengthen their shared commitment to protecting them. The CCC is the lead policy-making body of the government tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate programs and actions on climate change pursuant to Republic Act No. 9729, or the Climate Change Act, as amended. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje leads the first meeting of the Steering Committee of the Adaptation Investment Platform (AIP), bringing together key stakeholders to strengthen pathways for financing and implementing climate adaptation projects.   MANILA, Philippines — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) convened the first meeting of the Steering Committee of the Adaptation Investment Platform (AIP) on September 3, advancing efforts to mobilize investments and accelerate the implementation of the country’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP).   The AIP seeks to help translate the country’s adaptation priorities into investment-ready projects by bringing together government, project proponents, financial institutions, and development partners to mobilize public, private, and concessional financing for locally led and NAP-aligned initiatives. CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje underscored the importance of ensuring that adaptation plans are translated into concrete investments and actions that benefit communities. “An adaptation plan becomes consequential only when it begins to change decisions: where the government directs public resources, which projects financial institutions support, and whether investment reaches communities before climate risk becomes climate loss,” Borje said. Developed under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Philippines’ National Adaptation Plan (NAP) was adopted by the CCC in April 2024 through Commission Resolution No. 2024-003. The Philippines was the third ASEAN nation and 56th country in the world to submit its NAP to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The NAP identifies adaptation priorities across eight sectors and estimates the annual economic cost of climate inaction at PHP 645 billion. While the NAP provides the country’s policy direction for climate adaptation, Borje emphasized the need to develop a credible pipeline of projects that can attract financing and deliver measurable results. The AIP is intended to address challenges that prevent adaptation projects from advancing, including fragmented institutional arrangements, limited project readiness, financing gaps, and the absence of clear pathways from national priorities to local implementation. The Platform's initial pipeline includes three projects in Negros Occidental and Iloilo, provinces identified within the high-exposure band of the NAP's provincial categorization. As of 25 August 2026, PHP 59 million had been deployed, with PHP 225 million identified for possible deployment over the next 12 months. “These are projected results, not yet accomplishments. Our responsibility is to build the governance, financing, and delivery arrangements that can turn them into verified outcomes,” Borje said. The first Steering Committee meeting focused on establishing the AIP’s governance and institutional arrangements, advancing the initial project pipeline, and identifying sustainable financing pathways to support the implementation of the NAP. For the CCC, investments supported through the Platform must remain aligned with NAP priorities, provide meaningful pathways for local governments and institutions, and generate results that can be tracked through the NAP’s monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning system. “Let us make sure that capital reaches the farm; that an investment becomes avoided loss, protected income, and greater security; and that the promise of the National Adaptation Plan is felt where climate risk is already lived,” Borje said. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

The Climate Change Commission (CCC) is promoting gender-inclusive communication approaches to support the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contribution Gender Action Plan (NDC GAP). QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The Climate Change Commission (CCC), in partnership with the Miriam College–Women and Gender Institute (WAGI) and with support from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), recently convened an Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Multi-Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Framing Workshop last September 2-3, 2026, at Miriam College, Quezon City, to strengthen gender-inclusive communication approaches in support of the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contribution Gender Action Plan (NDC GAP). The workshop, which brought together government agencies, civil society organizations,  and other relevant stakeholders, provided a platform to identify communication priorities, strengthen a shared understanding of the NDC GAP, and explore ways to connect and align existing communication channels, networks, and resources to ensure that the country’s carbon emissions reduction targets are accessible, localized, and responsive to the needs of vulnerable sectors. Discussions focused on strengthening a whole-of-society, multisectoral, and participatory approach to implementing a Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI)-responsive Philippine NDC commitment. Participants emphasized the need to move away from generalized messaging to develop inclusive, localized, actionable, and participatory communication that resonates with the different lived experiences of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities. “The NDC GAP becomes more meaningful when people see themselves in the policies, programs, and messages we put forward,” said CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje. “Effective communication approaches can help translate the NDC GAP into messages that communities can understand and act on.” The engagement also highlighted the complementary roles of government institutions, civil society organizations, communities, development partners, and other stakeholders in strengthening communication for the NDC GAP. Participants recognized the value of connecting existing platforms, networks, and knowledge resources with the priority actions and measures (PAMs), rather than creating parallel mechanisms. CCC Commissioner and Chairperson of the CCC Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS) Rachel Anne S. Herrera highlighted the milestones in operationalizing the NDC GAP in relation to climate governance, adaptation and mitigation, measurement, reporting and verification, and finance. By integrating sex-disaggregated data and gender-responsive guidelines into climate governance and finance, the CCC is ensuring that gender and social inclusion are institutionalized within Philippine climate policy. “The implementation of the NDC GAP marks an important step for the Philippines,” Commissioner Herrera stated. “It moves us from mere recognition that climate change is not gender neutral, toward concrete action, by putting gender and social inclusion squarely into how we plan, implement, monitor, and improve our programs in government and in partnership with business and civil society.” The workshop established a shared strategic foundation for the development of the Communication and Visibility Plan. Moving forward, communication objectives, messages, and IEC concepts will be aligned with documented gender and social inclusion findings and directed toward addressing identified GEDSI gaps under the NDC GAP. From the government, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Transportation (DOTr), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) participated, joined by representatives from the media and other non-government organizations. The workshop affirmed that advancing a GEDSI-responsive NDC commitment requires sustained collaboration across sectors. By strengthening existing communication networks and linking institutional expertise with local knowledge and lived experiences, stakeholders can help build a more effective, accessible, and inclusive communication ecosystem for climate action. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

MANILA, Philippines — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) welcomed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s decision to bring the Philippines into the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), calling it a practical and forward-looking step for climate adaptation. The Philippines was formally welcomed as CDRI’s 71st member during the President’s meeting with coalition officials in New Delhi, India. The Department of Public Works and Highways has been designated to represent the country in the coalition. “This is a timely decision for Philippine adaptation. It can further strengthen our nation’s ability to anticipate risks and apply what we know before infrastructure is located, designed, financed, built and maintained,” said CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje. He said the decision supports the Marcos administration’s shift toward predictive governance, using climate projections, hazard information and risk assessments to guide present-day policies and investments. “Prediction has value when it changes a decision: the site selected, the design standard applied, the project prioritized, the maintenance scheduled and the essential service protected,” he added. Borje pointed out that roads, bridges, ports, power and water systems, schools, hospitals and communications facilities are interconnected. The failure of one critical system can disrupt essential services, livelihoods and economic activity, underscoring the need for climate-resilient design and preventive adaptation. The CCC said CDRI membership can complement the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan 2023–2050 and the National Climate Risk Management Framework by widening access to international expertise, technical cooperation, risk-assessment tools and potential partnerships for resilient infrastructure investment. The Commission emphasized that the value of membership will depend on how international knowledge and cooperation are translated into national standards, budgets, investment decisions and projects. “With DPWH as the country’s designated representative, the next step is to connect this cooperation with the work of other national agencies, local governments, infrastructure operators, financing institutions, universities and communities,” Borje said. “Our objective must be to build right at first sight and ensure that public investments remain safe, functional and useful under the risks we already face and those we can reasonably foresee.” CDRI is a voluntary global partnership that promotes infrastructure resilience against climate and disaster risks. The Philippines is its second Southeast Asian member after Vietnam. The CCC is the lead policy-making body of the government on climate change. Under Republic Act No. 9729, as amended, it coordinates, monitors and evaluates government climate programs and supports the mainstreaming of climate change into national, sectoral and local development policies and plans. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

Representatives from various divisions, units, and offices of the Climate Change Commission convene for a strategic and operational planning workshop to support the agency’s optimization efforts. MANILA, Philippines – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) continues to strengthen its organizational systems and operations through its Optimization Program to improve efficiency and support the faster delivery of climate action. The ongoing initiative seeks to align the Commission’s structure, resources, and operations with its mandate and priorities, with the goal of continuously improving its processes and strengthening its responsiveness to the country’s growing climate needs. As part of this continuing effort, the CCC recently conducted strategic and operational planning workshops with representatives from its divisions, units, and offices. The workshops focused on aligning institutional priorities, identifying areas for improvement, and strengthening coordination across the Commission. The workshops aimed to strengthen the Commission’s institutional capacity to advance national adaptation and mitigation policies and programs, supported by stronger climate data and science, measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV), and monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) systems. These capabilities will help ensure more efficient and accurate planning, monitoring, and decision-making amid the evolving climate risks and needs of the country, while strengthening the delivery of climate policies and programs. CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje underscored the importance of continuously strengthening the institution to effectively respond to climate change. “Climate change continues to pose complex and evolving risks, as seen in recent extreme weather events. Strengthening how we organize, plan, and deliver our programs is essential to ensuring that our policies translate into timely, effective, and meaningful action on the ground,” Borje said. Deputy Executive Director Atty. Romell Antonio O. Cuenca emphasized that organizational efficiency is an ongoing effort essential to delivering responsive public service. “By continuously reviewing and improving our structure, processes, and priorities, we are working to make the Commission more responsive and effective in delivering climate action for the Filipino people,” Cuenca said. The CCC’s Optimization Program forms part of the broader Government Optimization Program (GOP) under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. toward a more agile, efficient, and responsive bureaucracy.  As the Optimization Program progresses, the CCC continues to identify opportunities to strengthen its institution and operations. Further, it will improve internal coordination and enhance the delivery of programs and policies that advance climate resilience and sustainable development across the country. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming programs and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

Representing the Philippines as chair of the ASEAN Task Force on Carbon Neutrality, CCC Vice Chair and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje pushed action on carbon neutrality at the ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality Work Plan workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia. JAKARTA — The Climate Change Commission (CCC), representing the Philippines as chair of the ASEAN Task Force on Carbon Neutrality (ATF-CN), called for greater regional cooperation to translate ASEAN’s carbon neutrality strategy into concrete action. CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje said stronger coordination across sectors is to moving from strategy to implementation while recognizing the different development priorities and capacities of ASEAN Member States. “Climate ambition is easy to declare. Delivering it, however, requires ownership,” Borje said at the August 5 validation workshop for the ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality Work Plan in Jakarta, Indonesia. “The distance between a strategy and a result is measured by the quality of coordination: who acts, who supports, by when, and toward which shared outcome,” he added. Adopted by the ASEAN Economic Community Council in 2023, the ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality provides a regional framework for an orderly, inclusive and economically beneficial transition to a low-carbon economy. It sets out eight strategic approaches and 16 priority initiatives covering areas such as green value chains, circular economy, green infrastructure and markets, sustainable finance and green skills. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is an important part of addressing climate change, alongside strengthening adaptation and resilience to impacts already being experienced across the region. For the Philippines, regional cooperation on carbon neutrality complements its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and NDC Implementation Plan, which guide mitigation action while taking into account national development priorities. Borje said ASEAN cooperation should help connect work across sectors while supporting implementation by Member States according to their respective national circumstances. “The Sectoral Bodies, as the custodians of sectoral work, are where the real work lives,” he said. “The role of the Task Force for Carbon Neutrality is to help connect initiatives across sectors and carry good sectoral ideas up to the regional level where they can scale.” The Jakarta workshop, convened by the ASEAN Secretariat with support from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), brought together Member States and relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies as part of continuing work on the Carbon Neutrality Work Plan. The CCC chairs the ATF-CN for the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Department of Trade and Industry, which leads the country’s engagement under the ASEAN Economic Community pillar. Work on the Carbon Neutrality Work Plan will continue through established ASEAN processes before the Task Force reports to the ASEAN Economic Community Council in November. The Climate Change Commission is the country’s lead policy-making body on climate change. Under Republic Act No. 9729, or the Climate Change Act, as amended by Republic Act No. 10174, the CCC is mandated to coordinate, monitor and evaluate government programs and actions on climate change and mainstream climate change into national, sectoral and local development plans and programs. For more information on the CCC’s climate mitigation programs and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

The Climate Change Commission (CCC), together with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), engaged in knowledge exchange to develop a capstone project proposal that will strengthen evidence-based and data-informed climate action and ecological monitoring through research.   MANILA– The Climate Change Commission (CCC) has partnered with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) to launch research-based efforts to support evidence-based and data-informed climate action and ecological monitoring in the Philippines through improved datasets and analyses. This also provides support to students from the Sustainable Leadership Learning for Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction (SLL-CDRR) scholarship program, an initiative of Senator Loren Legarda in partnership with the CCC and AIM, which aims to develop future leaders equipped to respond to climate and disaster risks through science, data, and innovation. The initiative also aims to build scholars’ capacity and strengthen their interest in climate-related data generation, analysis, and application—skills that they can use for the programs, activities, and initiatives of their respective agencies. Under the collaboration, Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS) students of AIM will work with the CCC to explore innovative approaches in tracking changes in land use and forests, as well as improving how the country measures and reports greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative seeks to address persistent challenges in producing timely and reliable data to inform climate planning and decision-making. CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje underscored the value of collaboration between government and the academe in addressing the climate crisis. “Climate change continues to intensify, and our response must be anchored on science, data, and strong partnerships. Through this collaboration, we are able to harness the expertise and innovation of our students, ensuring that our efforts remain responsive to national priorities and grounded in evidence,” Borje said. Borje added that strengthening climate data systems is essential to improving transparency and accountability in the country’s climate response. “Reliable and accessible data allows us to understand better risks, track progress, and design policies that deliver real impact on the ground. By investing in data and people, we are strengthening the foundation of a more resilient and climate-informed Philippines,” he said. A total of four AIM MSDS students will undertake the capstone project, working closely with the CCC to contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen climate data systems, enhance transparency reporting, and support evidence-based policy development. The CCC remains committed to bridge academic knowledge and public sector needs, while empowering the next generation of data scientists to play an active role in advancing climate resilience and sustainable development. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has advanced efforts to integrate gender and social inclusivity into climate governance, planning, implementation, and monitoring. The President, who chairs the Climate Change Commission (CCC), approved last August 27 2026 three CCC resolutions adopting the CCC Gender and Development (GAD) Agenda 2027–2032 and the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG) Checklist for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and establish the Gender and Climate Change Advisory Group (GCAG) to support the implementation of the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contribution Gender Action Plan (NDC-GAP) 2024–2030. Together, the measures provide stronger institutional mechanisms and practical tools to ensure that gender considerations are integrated into climate policies, programs, projects, budgeting, and decision-making. CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje said the approval reinforces the government’s commitment to making gender equality an integral part of climate action. “Climate change does not affect everyone in the same way. Gender-responsive climate action allows us to recognize these differentiated impacts and ensure that our policies, investments, and programs respond to the realities of those most vulnerable. These resolutions help translate that commitment into concrete institutional action,” Borje said. The CCC GAD Agenda 2027–2032 sets the Commission’s strategic direction for institutionalizing gender-responsive climate governance, planning, implementation, and monitoring. It directs CCC offices and units to integrate gender-responsive actions into their annual GAD Plans and Budgets and GAD Accomplishment Reports. Meanwhile, the adoption of the HGDG Checklist for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation provides a climate-specific tool for assessing the gender-responsiveness of climate programs and projects. It integrates gender analysis and sex-disaggregated data into climate risk assessments, project design, monitoring, and evaluation, while supporting alignment with the NDC, National Adaptation Plan (NAP), climate change expenditure tagging, and GAD planning and budgeting processes. CCC Commissioner and Chairperson of the CCC Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS) Rachel Anne S. Herrera emphasized that the measures strengthen the institutional foundation for translating gender commitments into actual climate action. “Gender mainstreaming must be reflected not only in our policies, but in how we design projects, allocate resources, make decisions, and measure results. These resolutions give us the institutional framework and practical tools to ensure that gender considerations are consistently integrated into climate action,” Herrera said. The third resolution establishes the Gender and Climate Change Advisory Group, composed of the CCC and key national government agencies, including the Philippine Commission on Women, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, Department of Economy, Planning and Development, Department of Budget and Management, and Department of Finance. The GCAG will provide strategic leadership, coordination, quality assurance, and performance monitoring in implementing the NDC-GAP 2024–2030, strengthening inter-agency collaboration in mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion across climate mitigation and adaptation programs. Borje said the measures reinforce the importance of a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to climate action. “Climate resilience must be inclusive by design. By bringing gender considerations into our planning systems, project development, budgeting, and inter-agency coordination, we strengthen not only equity but also the effectiveness and sustainability of our climate actions,” he added. The CCC works with national government agencies, local government units, development partners, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to support the implementation of the measures and advance gender-responsive climate mitigation and adaptation across the country. Through these institutional reforms, the CCC continues to strengthen gender equality and social inclusion as integral components of the Philippines’ climate agenda, supporting a climate-resilient and low-carbon development pathway that leaves no one behind. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

Support from the National Youth Commission (NYC) and private sector partners is strengthening efforts to equip young people with the knowledge, leadership skills, and opportunities needed to take meaningful part in climate action through the Youth Climate Leadership Accelerator Project (Youth CLAP) of the Climate Change Commission (CCC). MANILA, Philippines — The Climate Change Commission’s (CCC) Youth Climate Leadership Accelerator Project (Youth CLAP) has garnered support from the National Youth Commission (NYC) and private sector partners, strengthening the CCC’s efforts to develop the next generation of climate leaders. The second session, held at the Mapua University Makati campus, brought together students from selected higher education institutions (HEIs) for discussions on climate governance, the economic impacts and costs of climate change, solution-building, campaign development, and monitoring and evaluation. The learning activities were designed to help participants understand how climate challenges are shaped by governance and economic systems, while developing practical approaches that can be pursued within their institutions and communities. Participants examined climate governance at the global, national, and local levels, and revisited their problem trees and developed solution trees to identify the underlying causes of climate challenges and map out possible responses. These activities encouraged students to connect their understanding of climate issues with concrete opportunities for action. Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje emphasized the role of the government in preparing the youth to become formal leaders and active civic participants by creating platforms for dialogue such as Youth CLAP. “Our responsibility is to continue growing as a country, and the youth will play that important role of bridging the hopes of the past to the energy of the present towards the reality that we want for the future,” Borje said. Meanwhile, NYC Chairperson Jeff Ortega urged the youth to focus on translating climate concerns into concrete and realistic solutions, emphasizing that young people and student organizations can already take action within their own communities even as broader accountability mechanisms continue to develop. “When you develop your proposals and engage with like-minded people, think of concrete and realistic ways to address these issues. While we wait for accountability from those who need to be accountable, we can already take action on the ground, among students and through student organizations to turn these ideas into initiatives that can be implemented and create real impact,” Ortega said. The second session also featured a Masterclass on private sector initiatives on climate action, led by Ma. Victoria Tan, former head of the Enterprise Risk Management and Sustainability Unit of Ayala Corporation and now Chief Finance Officer of Keltera Corp. The session aimed to broaden the participants’ understanding of how different sectors can contribute to climate solutions and the importance of partnerships in advancing climate action. “Corporate accountability isn't something companies just hand over, it's something we have to demand. When you use your power as consumers, speak up with your investments, and drive public campaigns, you turn simple public pressure into real corporate urgency,” Tan said. Youth CLAP forms part of efforts to provide young people with the knowledge, skills, and collaborative spaces necessary to take part in climate action. The accelerated learning journey consists of four core modules and a Masterclass, culminating in an Innovation Showcase where participants will present their developed climate solutions and proposals. As young people increasingly engage with the impacts and solutions to climate change, sustained support from government, educational institutions, civil society, the private sector, and other partners remains important in creating spaces where they can learn, collaborate, innovate, and participate meaningfully in climate action. Through Youth CLAP, the CCC continues to support the development of a generation of young climate leaders equipped to contribute to climate-resilient, safe, and sustainable communities. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming programs and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

Representing the Philippines as chair of the ASEAN Task Force on Carbon Neutrality, CCC Vice Chair and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje pushed action on carbon neutrality at the ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality Work Plan workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia. JAKARTA — The Climate Change Commission (CCC), representing the Philippines as chair of the ASEAN Task Force on Carbon Neutrality (ATF-CN), called for greater regional cooperation to translate ASEAN’s carbon neutrality strategy into concrete action. CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje said stronger coordination across sectors is to moving from strategy to implementation while recognizing the different development priorities and capacities of ASEAN Member States. “Climate ambition is easy to declare. Delivering it, however, requires ownership,” Borje said at the August 5 validation workshop for the ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality Work Plan in Jakarta, Indonesia. “The distance between a strategy and a result is measured by the quality of coordination: who acts, who supports, by when, and toward which shared outcome,” he added. Adopted by the ASEAN Economic Community Council in 2023, the ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality provides a regional framework for an orderly, inclusive and economically beneficial transition to a low-carbon economy. It sets out eight strategic approaches and 16 priority initiatives covering areas such as green value chains, circular economy, green infrastructure and markets, sustainable finance and green skills. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is an important part of addressing climate change, alongside strengthening adaptation and resilience to impacts already being experienced across the region. For the Philippines, regional cooperation on carbon neutrality complements its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and NDC Implementation Plan, which guide mitigation action while taking into account national development priorities. Borje said ASEAN cooperation should help connect work across sectors while supporting implementation by Member States according to their respective national circumstances. “The Sectoral Bodies, as the custodians of sectoral work, are where the real work lives,” he said. “The role of the Task Force for Carbon Neutrality is to help connect initiatives across sectors and carry good sectoral ideas up to the regional level where they can scale.” The Jakarta workshop, convened by the ASEAN Secretariat with support from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), brought together Member States and relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies as part of continuing work on the Carbon Neutrality Work Plan. The CCC chairs the ATF-CN for the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Department of Trade and Industry, which leads the country’s engagement under the ASEAN Economic Community pillar. Work on the Carbon Neutrality Work Plan will continue through established ASEAN processes before the Task Force reports to the ASEAN Economic Community Council in November. The Climate Change Commission is the country’s lead policy-making body on climate change. Under Republic Act No. 9729, or the Climate Change Act, as amended by Republic Act No. 10174, the CCC is mandated to coordinate, monitor and evaluate government programs and actions on climate change and mainstream climate change into national, sectoral and local development plans and programs. For more information on the CCC’s climate mitigation programs and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

The Climate Change Commission (CCC), in collaboration with the National Youth Commission, kicked off the Youth Climate Leadership Accelerator Project (Youth CLAP) with selected higher education institutions (HEIs). The first session was conducted online and brought together participating students from partner institutions to learn, engage with experts, and connect with fellow young climate leaders. MANILA, Philippines — The Climate Change Commission (CCC), in collaboration with the National Youth Commission (NYC), partnered with selected higher education institutions (HEIs) to pilot the Youth Climate Leadership Accelerator Project (Youth CLAP), providing participating students with opportunities to strengthen their climate knowledge, develop leadership skills, and explore practical ways to contribute to a more transformative climate action. The pilot session, held virtually on 15 August 2026, brought students into an accelerated learning journey covering climate science, policy and governance, climate diplomacy, communications, innovation, and youth leadership, with activities designed to translate learning into practical climate action. Youth CLAP was designed as a complementary and fast-tracked learning experience that provides selected university and college students with a common foundation on climate issues while allowing them to apply their knowledge to challenges within their institutions and communities. Spanning four consecutive Saturdays at selected HEIs, the program combines four core modules and a Masterclass to help students engineer concrete climate solutions. It culminates in an Innovation Showcase where participants pitch their finalized proposals. CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje emphasized bridging the gap between climate awareness and concrete, multidisciplinary action led by youth. “There are students here from different institutions, disciplines, and communities. Meet them. Challenge one another. Borrow ideas. Improve them. Build friendships and partnerships. One of you may understand the science. Another may know how to build the technology. Someone else may understand policy. Another may know how to communicate the idea so that people actually listen,” Borje said. “Very often, the solution is not sitting inside one person. It emerges when different people learn how to think and work together,” he added. The initiative forms part of the CCC's continuing efforts to strengthen climate education and meaningful youth participation in the country's climate agenda. During the program's Masterclass, Dr. Rodel Lasco, Executive Director of the Oscar M. Lopez Center, discussed the science of climate change and the role of nature-based solutions in adaptation. Dr. Lasco emphasized the importance of grounding climate action in scientific understanding while recognizing the potential of nature-based approaches in helping communities adapt to climate risks. His session also highlighted the value of connecting climate science with practical responses that can be applied in local contexts. “I hope we have seen that natural ecosystems are critical in enhancing climate resilience, the climate resilience of our people, especially the Indigenous Peoples,” Dr. Lasco expressed as his parting message. Meanwhile, Dr. Emma E. Porio of Ateneo de Manila University led a session on youth action in the field, highlighting the importance of connecting climate knowledge with community realities and translating learning into meaningful engagement. Her discussion emphasized that youth participation in climate action goes beyond awareness, requiring young people to engage with communities, work with different sectors, and contribute to solutions responsive to local needs. “You have to know how you are balancing the ecosystem, because most of the time, we do not have appreciation. Our life depends on a balance, on an equilibrium within the planet, the Earth, and people,” Dr. Porio noted. Both Lasco and Porio are former members of the CCC’s National Panel of Technical Experts (NPTE), bringing expertise in climate science, adaptation, and community-based approaches to the Youth CLAP learning experience. Dr. Rodel Lasco is a Coordinating Lead Author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), whose work as part of the IPCC contributed to its recognition with the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Emma E. Porio, Professor Emeritus at Ateneo de Manila University, is also an IPCC Lead Author, contributing to the IPCC’s work on climate change and cities, with expertise in urban resilience and sustainability. The participation of experts from different fields reflects the multidisciplinary approach of Youth CLAP, recognizing that climate action requires more than scientific knowledge but also leadership, communication, and engagement with communities. The CCC recognizes the important role of HEIs in creating spaces for climate learning, research, innovation, and youth leadership. Through their academic institutions and organizations, participating students can help bring climate knowledge and solutions closer to their peers and communities. The initiative also supports the government’s broader direction of strengthening youth participation and climate resilience. The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023–2050, developed under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., provides a long-term framework for building the country’s adaptive capacity and resilience. The NAP also recognizes the role of young people in shaping and implementing climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. The pilot initiative supports the CCC's broader efforts to promote climate literacy, strengthen multi-stakeholder participation, and provide meaningful avenues for young people to contribute to building a climate-resilient, safe, and sustainable Philippines. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming programs and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

The Climate Change Commission highlighted bamboo’s potential to strengthen climate resilience, local industries, and sustainable development at the Mindanao Bamboost Forum. SOUTH COTABATO — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) underscored the potential of bamboo innovation to advance climate-resilient development and sustainable construction as government, industry, academe, and development partners convened for the Mindanao Bamboost Forum. In his message, CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje emphasized that expanding the use of locally available, sustainable materials such as bamboo can complement the country’s broader climate action efforts while creating opportunities for local industries, communities, and workers. “Climate action succeeds when it strengthens competitiveness, expands opportunity, and builds resilience. Bamboo reflects that possibility,” Borje said. As the Philippines advances its climate agenda, the Commission continues to support solutions that address climate risks while advancing sustainable development, particularly at the local level. The CCC also emphasized that the country’s ambition for bamboo should go beyond producing raw materials. The goal should be to create greater value through research, engineering, design, manufacturing, and construction, allowing more of the industry’s economic value to remain in the country.   “Our ambition should not end with growing more bamboo. It should be to build an industry that becomes a durable driver of Philippine growth, strengthening manufacturing, creating quality jobs, expanding regional economies, and contributing meaningfully to national development,” Borje said. For his part, Bukidnon First District Representative Jose Manuel F. Alba highlighted the need to institutionalize demand for bamboo, particularly through its use in infrastructure and public procurement, as a pathway to further develop what he described as “green gold.” “Industry growth requires a sure, scalable market demand. And that starts with turning public procurement into a guaranteed, scalable market for Filipino families,” Alba said. South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. likewise underscored the potential of bamboo beyond its traditional uses, particularly in the construction industry, and the role of government in helping bring these applications to local communities. “This gathering will also highlight the potential of bamboo not just for its traditional use but also for its impact in the construction industry and how government agencies can help scale this into their localities,” said Tamayo. Reaffirming this message at the regional level, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Leo Tereso Magno, through Director Olie Dagala, underscored bamboo’s role not only as a renewable resource but also as a strategic economic asset for Mindanao. “At Mindanao, we recognize bamboo as more than a renewable resource. It is a strategic economic asset that advances our Mindanao agenda, particularly our priorities on trade and industry development, ecological integrity and preparedness, and resilience. Through the bamboo development program, we continue to expand opportunities for local producers and strengthen the region’s green economy,” Dagala said. The forum featured discussions on strengthening the bamboo value chain, showcasing bamboo-based technologies and projects, and encouraging wider adoption of bamboo in both public and private sector construction. The forum also featured South Cotabato’s experience in developing and applying bamboo-based solutions, providing participants with examples that may be adapted and scaled in other communities and regions. The CCC also highlighted the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in advancing climate-responsive development, bringing together government institutions, architects, engineers, researchers, industry stakeholders, and development organizations to bridge policy, technology, and implementation. “Climate action must translate into solutions that are practical, scalable, and responsive to the realities of our communities. Bamboo offers an opportunity to connect resilience with sustainable development by harnessing a locally available resource for climate-responsive construction,” the CCC said. The forum further contributes to efforts to promote climate resilience through locally grounded innovations and partnerships, consistent with the country’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023–2050, which provides a framework for reducing vulnerability and strengthening adaptive capacity amid the impacts of climate change. Organized by the Base Bahay Foundation, Inc. in partnership with the South Cotabato Bamboo Industry Development Council (SBIDC), the regional forum brought together stakeholders to explore how bamboo-based technologies, policies, and innovations can be scaled across Mindanao and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient built environment. The CCC remains committed to working with national government agencies, local governments, private sector partners, academe, civil society, and other stakeholders in advancing solutions that strengthen the country’s resilience while supporting sustainable and inclusive growth. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming programs and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

Climate Change Commission (CCC) and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela (PLV) officials sign a Memorandum of Understanding, strengthening the partnership to advance climate education, youth engagement, and capacity-building initiatives in support of climate action and national resilience.   MANILA – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela (PLV), affirming a shared commitment to advance climate education, youth engagement, and capacity-building initiatives that strengthen climate action and national resilience. The partnership seeks to foster greater collaboration between the CCC and PLV in developing climate-aware and engaged students, while creating opportunities for the academe to contribute to climate action through education, research, community engagement, and capacity-building. “The partnership with PLV provides an opportunity to bring climate action closer to young people and the communities they represent. By strengthening climate knowledge and leadership among students, we help prepare a generation that can contribute meaningfully to a more resilient and sustainable Philippines,” CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje said. The partnership also reflects the CCC's continuing efforts to expand collaboration with academic institutions in mainstreaming climate action and developing future leaders who can help build climate-resilient and sustainable communities. The partnership supports the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023–2050, developed under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which provides a long-term framework for strengthening the country’s resilience to the impacts of climate change and advancing climate adaptation across sectors and levels of governance. PLV is a local public higher education institution established by the City Government of Valenzuela to provide accessible and quality tertiary education to its residents. It offers academic programs in education, engineering, business, public administration, information technology, health sciences, and other fields that contribute to local and national development. The university also promotes instruction, research, extension, and community engagement, including initiatives supporting sustainability, disaster resilience, civic participation, and local governance. The CCC remains committed to strengthening partnerships with the academe, civil society, private sector, local governments, and other stakeholders to advance science-based, inclusive, and people-centered climate action toward a climate-resilient, sustainable, and prosperous Philippines. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming programs and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

The Philippines and Germany strengthened national climate reporting systems through a two-day workshop aimed at improving data, enhancing transparency, and driving more effective climate action. MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government, through the Climate Change Commission (CCC), in partnership with the German government, moved to enhance the country’s climate reporting systems through a two-day workshop aimed at translating accurate climate data into more effective, evidence-based action. The workshop focused on strengthening consolidated and centralized systems for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) for adaptation, and Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) for mitigation. It aimed to improve progress tracking, enhance data systems, and promote harmonized methodologies alongside stronger institutional capacities. This initiative forms part of the Transformative Actions for Climate and Ecological Protection and Development (TRANSCEND) project, a joint effort by the Philippine and German governments to raise climate ambition and align national efforts with international and domestic climate and biodiversity goals. CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje emphasized the critical role of reporting systems in guiding climate action strategies. “A strong national reporting system allows us to clearly track progress, align our strategies, and ensure that climate action delivers real results for our communities. This is essential to making sure our actions are responsive to the needs of our people,” Borje said. The workshop also explored best practices in climate reporting, identified key gaps and priorities, and examined approaches from other countries to build a more robust MRV and MEAL system. CCC Deputy Executive Director Atty. Romell Antonio O. Cuenca underscored the challenges posed by fragmented reporting systems, noting that scattered data limits the effectiveness of climate action and highlights the need for continuous improvement. “When our systems are coherent and robust, our reporting becomes more credible, efficient, and meaningful. Beyond that, it strengthens governance and ensures that climate action delivers real and lasting benefits for our communities,” he said. Ms. Maraida Licerio, Senior Technical Advisor of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), highlighted that strengthening climate action does not always require new systems, but rather enhancing existing mandates through more transparent and accountable implementation. The event, organized under the GIZ TRANSCEND project through WSP and Clean Air Asia, brought together representatives from national government agencies, the private sector, and other stakeholders. The CCC remains committed to continuously improving and strengthening climate action in the country to address the climate crisis and help prevent communities from bearing the brunt of its impacts. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming programs and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

The Climate Change Commission (CCC) joined the “Walang Plastikan, Walang Iwanan!” Plastic-Free July 2026 activities, supporting collective action to reduce single-use plastics and promote sustainable consumption and production. MANILA, Philippines — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) reinforced its commitment to scale up the drive against plastic pollution and engage government, civil society, and community partners in promoting sustainable consumption and production as the month-long observance of Plastic-Free July concluded. Anchored on the theme "Walang Plastikan, Walang Iwanan!," the campaign brought together government agencies, civil society organizations, youth groups, and communities to promote sustainable consumption and production, strengthen waste reduction efforts, and encourage climate-conscious lifestyles under the principle of a just transition that leaves no one behind. The Commission kicked off its participation by joining the "Walang Plastikan, Walang Iwanan! Takbuhan!" on July 26, an initiative designed to demonstrate that community sporting events can be organized without generating single-use plastic waste. It aimed to raise awareness on local plastic reduction policies and strengthen collaboration among local governments, civil society organizations, and communities. The activities culminated in the Arts, Culture, and Music Festival on July 31, where the CCC mounted an information booth to highlight its climate action initiatives and the "Bawal Plastik Dito" campaign. During the event, CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje and Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera joined government and civil society leaders to pledge their full support for plastic reduction. “At the heart of this effort is a simple principle: walang iwanan. Solutions must be inclusive, ensuring that no community is left behind. Zero Waste is not just about reducing trash, it is about rethinking systems, values, and how we use resources,” Borje said. He added, “Through art, culture, and music, today’s celebration transforms awareness into action and inspires hope.“ Reaffirming reducing plastic pollution as a climate action, Herrera recognized these efforts as a shared responsibility. “Real transformation happens when governments, businesses, civil society, communities, artists, educators, and young people move together with a shared purpose. As we shift toward more sustainable systems and practices, we must ensure that no one is left behind, especially the communities, workers, and sectors most affected by both climate change and plastic pollution,” she said. The event featured interactive exhibits, community murals, cultural performances, reuse and refill demonstrations, workshops on circular living, and performances honoring environmental champions and communities affected by ecological hazards. The CCC, under the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., emphasized that addressing plastic pollution reduces greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening the resilience of ecosystems and communities affected by climate change. Plastic-Free July is a global movement that encourages millions of people worldwide to refuse single-use plastics and reduce waste generation. Through partnerships with organizations such as the EcoWaste Coalition, the CCC continues to advance whole-of-society approaches that encourage responsible consumption and production, support the transition to a circular economy, and reinforce climate action at the national and community levels. The CCC's participation formed part of its continuing "Bawal Plastik Dito" campaign, which supports the national drive to reduce single-use plastics, promote ecologically sound alternatives, and mainstream climate change and environmental sustainability across sectors. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming programs and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.

The Climate Change Commission joins the Centro Escolar University community in advancing climate change awareness and collective climate action. MANILA, Philippines – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) underscored the power of youth to drive climate action, highlighting the role of students and the academe at the 119th Foundation Anniversary Convocation of Centro Escolar University. The discussion centered on the convocation theme, “Innovative Approaches to Mitigate Climate Change and Global Warming,” and highlighted the role of academic institutions as critical platforms for advancing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 and embedding climate action into education systems and campus initiatives. CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje emphasized that the youth are not merely beneficiaries of climate policy, but active agents in shaping a climate-resilient future. He stressed that the academe remains a cornerstone in cultivating the knowledge, values, and leadership necessary to confront the climate crisis. “Every lecture, every research endeavor, and every meaningful exchange within our academic institutions helps shape the future of our nation. It is through education that we cultivate the critical thinking, innovation, and collective resolve needed to confront the climate crisis and secure a more resilient future for all,” Borje said, underscoring the transformative power of education in driving long-term, systemic change. Borje emphasized that the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan (NDCIP), developed under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., serve as national frameworks guiding the youth and academic institutions in their climate initiatives, strengthening resilience and pursuing a low-carbon future. Dr. Teresa R. Perez, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs of Centro Escolar University, reaffirmed the institution’s role in shaping responsive and forward-looking societies. “As a university, we have a unique responsibility. Universities are not merely centers for instruction; they are generators of ideas, incubators of innovation, and catalysts for social transformation,” Perez said. Meanwhile, Borje also underscored the broader civic purpose of education, noting that it must instill a deep sense of responsibility toward both present and future generations. “Education, therefore, is much more than preparation for employment. It is preparation for citizenship. Citizenship is not simply the exercise of rights; it is the acceptance of responsibility for a future we will never experience alone,” he added. After the convocation, the CEU also launched its electronic waste bin as one of its newest initiatives to promote sustainability and proper waste disposal. The event gathered CEU faculty, students, and staff, with participants from a public livestream through the Facebook page, reflecting a unified academic community committed to advancing climate action and sustainability. The CCC reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with academic institutions to deepen climate literacy, promote evidence-based policymaking, and empower the youth as central actors in advancing a resilient, low-carbon, and sustainable future. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming programs and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.