BONTOC, Mountain Province (PIA) — The Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Mountain Province and the municipality of Besao received funding for climate change adaptation projects under the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) to increase resilience.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Atty. Edward F. Chumawar, Jr. said the funding assistance is intended for the ”Climate Field School for Farmers in Mountain Province” project to be established in the municipality of Paracelis.
This project to be undertaken by the provincial government, in partnership with the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College, aims to increase agricultural production and mitigate the risk of climate change through good agricultural practices nad sustainable resouce management.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, DILG Sec. Benjamin Abalos Jr., and Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert Borje turn over P271.15 million to Mountain Province Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan on November 29, 2023 at the Malacañang Palace for the ”Climate Field School for Farmers in Mountain Province” project under the People’s Survival Fund. (Photo courtesy: Mountain Province PDRRM Office)
The proposed school will have a solar farm for solar power, a rain harvesting facility and it will be equipped with climate resistant crop laboratory, crop and fish processing and livelihood facility, as well as laboratory, food processing and fish multiplier equipment.
It is envisioned as a self-sustaining and eco-friendly training center that caters not only to farmers but to farmer-students as well.
Chumawar also shared that part of the project is the establishment of automatic rain gauges in the 10 municipalities of the province, which will be connected to the school and to the Provincial Operations Center that can help in the actual forecast of rain.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. with Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Local and Interior Sec. Benjamin Abalos Jr., and Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert Borje led the ceremonial turnover of P271.15 million PSF fund to Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan on November 29, 2023 at the Malacañang Palace.
Besao Municipal Mayor Bryne O. Bacwaden also secured a P2 million Project Development Grant for the municipality.
The PSF, created under Republic Act 10174, is an annual fund intended for climate change adaptation projects of local government units and accredited local or community organizations to better equip vulnerable communities to deal with the impacts of climate change.
Selecting recipients starts with the submission of a proposal to the PSF Board, followed by assessment and technical evaluation then endorsement for approval.
Section 24 of the law provides the following criteria in prioritizing PSF allocation: level of risk and vulnerability to climate change, participation of the affected communities in the design of the project, poverty reduction potential, cost-effectiveness and sustainability of the proposal, identification of potential co-benefits extending beyond LGU territory, maximization of multi-sectoral and cross-sectoral benefits, responsiveness to gender-differentiated vulnerabilities, and availability of climate-change adaptation action plan.
Mountain Province PLGU and Besao LGU are among the only six LGU PSF beneficiaries nationwide this year. (JDP/VJLT-PIA CAR, Mt. Province)
