The RISE Benguet Project held a round table discussion on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (CCAM) Mainstreaming in Local Development Planning on Monday, April 7, 2025, at Hotel Veniz, Session Road, Baguio City.
The event served as a learning opportunity for partner CSOs and BLISTT LGU offices regarding Disaster Risk Reduction and Management – Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (DRRM-CCAM). A review of laws concerning Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (CCAM) was conducted to identify areas for improvement in their implementation. The aim is to effectively respond to community needs and contribute to national and global climate change action. Ms. Rose Ann Paragas, project manager of the RISE Benguet Project, emphasized that community involvement is crucial, as they play an essential role in the decision-making process and collaborate with local and national governments to enhance community resilience.
The roundtable discussions focused on the following topics: (1) Understanding Climate and Disaster Risks in the Philippines, (2) Local Disaster and Climate Studies Assessment, (3) Ecology and Climate Change: Looking into DENR’s Climate Change Program, and (4) Localizing Climate Change: Learning from the Experiences of BLISTT LGUs.
Mr. Christianly Albis from the Tublay Municipal Planning and Development Office emphasized the meaning of DRRM-CCAM ‘mainstreaming,’ stating that it is the ‘normalization’ of the concept into local government planning. Then, Arch. Donna Tabangin, Coordinator of Baguio City Planning Development and Sustainability Office (CPDSO) also gave inputs on the LGUs’ learnings and experiences in localizing climate change. She shared Baguio City’s Vision 2043 towards a creative, inclusive,and livable city.
On the importance of the Academe in data collection, research, and knowledge genera-tion, Mr. Jeffrey H. Havier from the University of the Philippines Baguio – Cordillera Studies Center (UPB – CSC) averred that these contributions from the sector are vital in capacity building and educating the communities on the matter of DRRM-CCAM. He also said these are fundamental in informing and influencing local government policies of indigenous knowledge for interventions that complement science based studies.
During the open forum, Ms.Vicky Bautista from Zero Waste Baguio, Inc. also stressed turning and focusing CCAM efforts on adaptation. She asserted that while counting our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions matters, focusing on adaptation measures and policies would make more impact, given that climate change will continue over the years. She added that the country has emitted less than 1% (204.33 teragrams) of worldwide carbon emissions as of the 2024 Climate Change Commission report (Del Prado 2024).
Ms. Maria Monica Costales, PhD, Metropolitan BLISTT Development Authority (MBLISTTDA) Administrator, was also one of the panelists during the roundtable discussion. She recognized the LGUs’ awareness of their local challenges while also stressing MBLISTTDA’s approach, which centers on the interconnectedness of these issues within MBLISTT. As an example, she cited the common problem of water sources among the areas, and mentioned how collaborative action could be taken to solve the problem through MBLISTTDA. Ms. Costalles believes that greater efficiency and impact in decision-making can be achieved by working together as one community. Rather than each LGU pursuing independent MOAs with Academic Institutions, the MBLISTTDA could spearhead these collaborations for the entire region.
Representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – CAR; Ms. Jolly Baltazar-Aloda, Mr. Mclister Abellera from the Environment and Management Bureau (EMB), and Ms. Glady Mae Vijandre of Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau-Watershed and Water Resources Research Development and Extension Center (ERDB-WWRDEC), were also members of the panel of reactors. Alongside them were also Ms. Shiela May Sangqui from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau – CAR.
LGU representatives from the Benguet Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), the Itogon, Tuba and Sablan MDRRMOs, and Tublay Mayor’s Office also gave their inputs during the discussion.
This initiative is in line with one of the project’s objectives: reinforcing CSOs’ competencies and participation in local governance in BLISTT and Benguet province and mainstreaming DRRM-CCAM into LGU plans.
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𝘙𝘐𝘚𝘌 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘋𝘙𝘈 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘑𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘝. 𝘖𝘯𝘨𝘱𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘐𝘯𝘤., 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢 (𝘊𝘋𝘗𝘊). 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰-𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘈𝘋𝘙𝘈 𝘋𝘦𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦.𝘝.
