THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has partnered with the Philippines government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) for the conduct of a study on “Climate Resilience and Green Growth in Critical Watersheds in the Philippines.”
ADB chose Searca to handle the project in collaboration with CTI Engineering International Co. Ltd., Woodfields Consultants Inc. and Ergons Project Marketing Consultants.
The technical assistance (TA) will be financed by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) through ADB, while the Climate Change Commission (CCC) will serve as the implementing agency for the Philippines government.
The TA seeks to demonstrate climate-resilient green-growth options in critical watersheds along the Lower Marikina River Basin covering nine municipalities in Lower Marikina (Marikina, Cainta and Quezon City), Camarines Sur (Naga City, Milaor and San Fernando) and Davao Oriental (Banganga, Cateel and Boston).
Priority is given to watersheds in these areas because of their role as water support systems for both upstream and downstream communities, i.e., domestic water consumers, irrigation water users and hydropower companies.
The watersheds were chosen based on the following: high biophysical vulnerability to climate change; high levels of urban poverty and population density with settlements in vulnerable locations; and high demonstration potential for integrating climate resilience and green growth into local development at both policy and operational levels.
The TA will create plans for green growth and resilience in each of three critical watersheds by considering five dimensions: economic development; resilience to climate change; biodiversity, ecosystems and social development; greenhouse-gas emissions; and poverty alleviation.
Staff of national agencies will collaborate with the local government units (LGUs) and other stakeholders on the development and delivery of outputs through participation in dialogues and trainings.
Through increased awareness of potential benefits of climate actions, funding opportunities, and other incentives, it is expected that the national agencies and participating LGUs will remain committed to implementing locally appropriate measures for green growth and resilience, and integrate them into local development plans.
Searca said the project started on May 5 and is expected to run until October 31, 2016. The project contract was signed on April 21. Signing the agreement on behalf of the ADB were Dr. Ancha Srinivasan and Hiet Tran, with Alexis Lapis of the CCC inking the accord on behalf of the Philippines government.
Searca Director Gil C. Saguiguit Jr. signed the agreement along with Julius Francisco of Woodfields Consultants Inc., Teresita V. Pascual of Ergons Project Marketing Consultants and Shuji Kaku of CTI Engineering International Co. Ltd. of Japan.
The consulting team will be led by Dr. Candido A. Cabrido Jr. as the National Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management specialist.
The other team members are Dr. Teodoro Villanueva (deputy team leader), Dr. Juan Pulhin (international climate-change adaptation and disaster risk-reduction specialist), Dr. Takayaku Hatano (international natural resource management economist), Dr. Florencia Pulhin (international CC mitigation specialist); Dr. Hector Sales (natural resources management economist), Dr. Esteban Godilano (geohazard information system specialist), Dr. Paulo Pasicolan (capacity building specialist), Ma. Emelinda Mendoza (gender mainstreaming specialist) and Antonieta Arceo (multimedia, communication and knowledge management specialist).
The five sectoral vulnerability and impact assessment specialists are Dr. Nicomedes Briones (agriculture), Teresita V. Pascual (water resources), Dr. Asuncion de Guzman (coastal resources), Dr. Amiel Nazar Consigna Bermudez (health) and Randolph D. Carreon (transportation and energy).
