SEARCA consortium, ADB, CCC, MinDA, and UNEP organize Conference on Climate Resilience and Green Growth in Mindanao

  • 5 May 2017

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – A consortium of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Climate Change Commission (CCC), Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will hold the "Climate Resilience and Green Growth in Mindanao: Road Map to Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development" conference on 9-10 May 2017 at the Grand Regal Hotel in Davao City, southern Philippines. 

This conference is under the ADB-funded TA-8493 PHI: Climate Resilience and Green Growth in Critical Watersheds (46441-001), implemented by the CCC and commissioned to a consortium composed of SEARCA as lead organization, CTI Engineering Japan, Woodfields Consultants, Inc. (WCI), and ERGONS Project Management.

The two-day conference will bring together varied ideas, experiences, and proposals from different stakeholders including government institutions, the academe, civil society, private sector, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The overall aim of the conference is to learn from the previous and ongoing projects related to climate change adaptation (CCA) and mitigation, urban resiliency, and green growth measures in critical watersheds of donor organizations and other institutions. With these, the conference will attempt to plot the road map for Mindanao towards becoming a clean, green, and economically progressing center in the country.

Specifically, the upcoming conference aims to (1) reflect on the Mindanao 2030 Vision in the context of CCA and disaster risk reduction (DRR) preparedness for climate resilience and green growth options in Mindanao; (2) present the climate change and DRR assessment tools and approaches of both ADB TA 8111 and TA 8493 and other project initiatives to determine possible synergy and connectivity towards developing a model of CCA mainstreaming in local development planning; (3) explore an indicative sectoral climate resilient investment and green growth road map for Mindanao; and (4) identify areas of possible inter-institutional collaboration and partnership towards assisting local government units (LGUs), the business sector, small producers, and other resource user groups for climate resilience and green growth options in Mindanao as emerging new strategic destination for urban expansion, trade, and commerce in the country.

The conference will be attended by key representatives from the organizers, including Commissioner Noel Antonio V. Gaerlan of CCC; Dr. Ancha Srinivasan, Principal Climate Change Specialist under the ADB Southeast Asia Department; and Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr., SEARCA Director, who will deliver the welcome remarks.

Dr. Candido A. Cabrido, Jr., TA-8493 Team Leader and National Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Specialist, will present the Road Map for Climate Resilience and Green Growth in Davao Oriental.