TABUK CITY, Kalinga (PIA) — The Kalinga provincial government has inked a memorandum of agreement with international development agency Alinea Philippines for the implementation of the Governance for Climate and Disaster Resilience (Gov-DCR) project.
Funded by the Canadian government through the Global Affairs Canada, the project is a six-year initiative to enhance Kalinga’s resiliency to natural disasters and climate change by building the capacities of local government units (LGUs) and communities including women-led and community-based groups to effectively prepare, mitigate, respond to, and recover from climate-induced hazards and natural disasters.
“This is a significant milestone in our commitment to strengthening our province’s resilience against climate change and disaster risk,” Gov. James S. Edduba said.
“As we all know, our province is not immune to natural calamities. Over the years, we have experienced typhoons, landslides, floods, and droughts. These realities remind us that we cannot afford to be complacent,” he added.
Kalinga is the only province in Luzon and one of the six in the country selected for the project, alongside Aklan, Samar, Bohol, Davao de Oro, and Bukidnon.
Edgardo Catalan, Country Project Manager of Alinea Philippines Inc., said the project will support Kalinga to enhance its climate and disaster risk assessment or CDRA and integrate it to its development plans.
“Madaming plano ang LGU, magaling tayo sa pagplano pero ang approach ng project is to really transition or shift from planning to financing and implementation,” Catalan said.
Likewise, Catalan said that the project will help local governments tap funding mechanisms to implement climate change adaptation projects such as the People’s Survival Fund.
It will be working with women-led and community-based organizations to amplify their voices, ensuring they have the skills, resources, and opportunities to participate in the decision-making process.
The project will also provide technical and financial assistance to these organizations and LGUs to implement CDR initiatives within the selected ecosystem.
Local chief executives in the province and civil society organizations, Kalinga State University, and other stakeholders showed their support for the project, signing a pledge of commitment to a climate and disaster-resilient Kalinga.
Also, manifesting their support are the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, and the Department of Science and Technology. (JDP/IOS-PIA CAR, Kalinga)
