Palawan strengthens climate resiliency and green growth framework

Governor Jose C. Alvarez approved the ordinance for the implementation of Climate Resilient Green Growth and Development Program (CRGGDP) in a bid to introduce development while protecting the province’s ecological biodiversity.

The Provincial Ordinance No. 2091“Establishing the Guidelines in the Implementation and Utilization of Funds of the Climate Resilient Green Growth and Development Program,” is seen to uplift the conditions of the people of Palawan while implementing climate change adaptation measures.

The ordinance outlines the utilization of funds and specifically identifies the programs and activities that will be executed as part of the program.

“Ibig-sabihin [nito ay] hindi na lang talaga sya plano [kundi] talagang ii-implement na ng Provincial Government,” said Engr. Gilda Garibay of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), an NGO that introduced the mechanism through CRGG Project that was started in 2015 by Climate Change Commission and the provincial government. The approval of the ordinance is a manifestation that Palawan adheres to sustainable development initiatives.

Two years ago, Gov. Alvarez approved Provincial Ordinance No. 1865, which prescribes “the Climate Resilience and Green Growth Framework for the Province of Palawan” that requires sustainable and green development as a framework and part of the development plans of all 23 municipalities of Palawan.

“Dahil doon sa framework, talagang binigyan ng budget at talagang idinetalye kung ano ‘yung paggagastusan ng budget, ano ‘yung mga projects and activities under the CRGG program,” Engr. Garibay further said.

The ordinances mandate the establishment of CRGG database system, revision and updating of the Provincial Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP), integrating and prioritizing the landscape governance planning framework for the formulation of the Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUP) for small and island municipalities and green city planning framework for bigger and urbanized municipalities.

The “landscape governance development” framework will be piloted in Dumaran while the “green city development” framework will be first introduced in Brooke’s Point.

Disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation are important components of the ordinance.

It is expected that with the implementation of the newly enacted ordinance, the indigenous people, women, low-income families, and high risks communities in the barangays and rural areas in different municipalities of Palawan, which are among the most affected and vulnerable to the effects of climate change, will be helped. This will also be expected to contribute decrease of the province’s poverty index from 56 percent to 25 percent.