Climate consortium launched in Panay

MANILA, Philippines — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) has led the establishment of the “climate consortium” in Panay Island that will enable knowledge sharing among national government agencies, local government units and higher education institutions in the area.

“Risk assessment is fundamental in coming up with a science and risk-based local climate change action plan and other local plans,” Climate Secretary Emmanuel de Guzman said during the launch of the Northern Panay Climate Change Consortium earlier this month.

“We are collaborating with national government agencies and academe to really serve the LGUs and the local communities who are actually in the frontline of climate change impacts,” he added.

The CCC facilitated the establishment of the consortium to strengthen cooperation between national and local governments and the science and academic community on mainstreaming climate change adaptation and mitigation.

The NPCCC will model the way for the formation of more regional multi-stakeholder partnerships that will accelerate the delivery of capacity building and technical assistance to LGUs, the private business sector and other entities in key vulnerable areas in the country, according to the climate body.

Its members agreed that bringing climate science closer to communities to inform their policies drives relevant and tangible actions, both at the national and grassroots level.

“Coming-up with a risk-based and evidence-based assessment entails strong commitment from the partners,” said Carmelo Orbista, regional director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Western Visayas.

“We hope to expand the DILG’s partnership to other higher education institutions and state universities and colleges in the region given their expertise in sciences and research,” he added.

Anna Mae Relingo, vice president for academic affairs of Aklan State University, noted that the role of tertiary institutions is to prepare society to adapt to the impacts of climate disruptions through research and education on adaptation strategies.

“Higher education should also take the leadership role in climate mitigation and adaptation,” she said. “Higher education institutions should make the fundamental contributions to climate adaptation efforts by identifying the most pressing climate impacts related to specific communities, especially in relation to the most vulnerable populations in our society.”

The NPCCC is composed of the CCC; regional offices of DILG, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture; the Northwestern Visayan Colleges, Aklan State University and University of Antique; and the different LGUs in northern Panay Island.