“If we can identify needs and available resources, we can not only formulate plans to face challenges of the locality, but also formulate plans that are more sustainable and long term.” - Renato Redentor Constantino, executive director of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities
FUNDING SUPPORT. Renato Redentor Constantino, executive director of ICSC, presents the rationale of the forum and the overview of the People's Survival Funds.
Text by Jhon Louie B Sabal
Photos by Jigo Racaza
“Kung sabihin ng mga politiko na hindi mahalaga ang climate change, malalaman nating hindi sila mahalaga.”
(If our politicians don’t consider climate change as important, we know that they are not also important.)
This was the opening statement of Renato Redentor Constantino, executive director of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) during the Climate Compatible Cities: Second Stakeholders’ Workshop on Opportunities and Challenges on Climate Change Financing held on January 27 at Pearlmont Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.
The workshop drew together key officials of regional and city-level government offices and barangay local government units from coastal, lowland and hinterland communities and representatives from central business districts (CBD).
This is the second stakeholders workshop conducted by the Social Sciences cluster of Xavier University aimed at exploring innovative ways of financing for climate compatible development in Asian cities particularly second-tiers like CDO.
The first workshop was conducted in September 2015 and participated in by civil society groups, academic institutions and members of the business and commerce sector. The outcome of the first workshop was presented to various public officials for validation and recommendation.
Results of the first workshop
The first workshop resulted in (1) sharing of respondents’ experience in dealing with climate change challenges, (2) current adaptation and mitigation measures, (3) prioritization of plans, (4) measures that identify risk vulnerability, and (5) stakeholders’ analysis.
The participants identified eight personal encounters of climate change, varying from topographic changes to unpredicted weather conditions.
The results also showed that the participants observed the significant change of temperature in the city, becoming much hotter now, even during mid-morning and early evening. The change in temperature has caused interruption in energy supply even during working hours, disrupting major economic and livelihood activities in the city. They added that even a small amount of rain can cause flooding especially in densely populated, disaster-prone areas and major thoroughfares.
When asked about what they think should be the priority of the local stakeholders to reduce climate change impacts, the participants identified three steps:
• The need for intensified Information and Education Campaigns (IEC) must be done not just among local residents but even to key officials. They must understand that climate change is not a concept or theory anymore but already an existing and emerging concern that poses a great threat to our ecosystem.
• The second step is to support the general agreement in the Conference of Parties 21 (COP21): 2015 Paris Climate Conference on the reduction of carbon emission.
• Lastly, reduce risks of natural disasters through strong engineering solutions and emphasis on proper and sustainable urban planning.
When it comes to power and interests, the community members appeared to be the most interested but they lack the necessary resources to start collaborative and science-based initiatives. They identified the urban sector be the first victim of the impacts of climate change.
The media and religious sector also expressed interest in climate change impact with the power to change people’s mindsets and moral views toward this environment al concern.
Lastly, the government, undeniably, has the resources, which makes them the most powerful among the four identified stakeholders in funding, reducing carbon emissions, urban planning and empowering local leaders, among others.
“The participants were identified based on the stakeholders' mapping we did during the last workshop” said Don Antonio Velez, chairperson of the XU Sociology and Anthropology department.
Since the government is one of the highly powerful stakeholders that has the potential to efficiently respond to against climate change, there is an urgent need to help them understand climate change mitigation and adaptation, map current, and identify major initiatives, access to national and international funding mechanisms and the best practices of local communities.
Workshop on climate change
Participants were divided into six groups to discuss their existing climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives and the challenges they face, especially on financing.
During the plenary, Constantino emphasized the need to evaluate current initiatives and resources to prepare for and mitigate the impacts climate change in the future.
“If we can identify needs and available resources, we can not only formulate plans to face challenges of the locality, but also formulate plans that are more sustainable and long term” he said.
Part of the presentation was the reiteration of various public financing schemes, namely People’s Survival Fund (PSF), Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) and the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB).
Representatives from the Local Government Bureau of the Department of Interior and Local Government - Main Office and Region 10 have discussed the rationale, procedure and strategic importance of PCF and BUB.
The ICSC sits in the PSF board representing the civic groups and non-government organizations.
Lisa Junghans, policy officer of the Germanwatch, presented sample cases on innovative financing schemes.
In CDO, there have been several financing schemes that are on-going in both the barangay and city levels. Taxing mechanism has been implemented such as penalties, fines on emissions and garbage, clearances and permits. Third-party institutions, such as the Balay Mindanaw and XU, have also been conducting capacity-building initiatives on effective planning on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) in different barangays, in line with Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Management Law.
Despite these developments among government units, there are factors hampering them from continuously implementing these initiatives. The most glaring is the lack of idea on climate change and the “how” in accessing potential financing schemes. Politicking is also a hindrance, such as the current political divide in CDO government and the lack of political will among local leaders to strictly implement solutions against climate change especially when they affect several groups which could be their potential voters in the forthcoming elections.
However, Ramil Bacquin of National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) – Region 10 said that no scheme is too difficult to access when local governments take the requirements painstakingly and are sincere about mitigating environmental impacts.
“It is not a question of ease, but a question of the preparedness of LGUs to meet the requirements that will qualify them for the funds” Bacquin shared.
BRAINSTORMING. Participants were divided into six groups to discuss their existing climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives and the challenges they face, especially on financing.
Hopes for the environment
Constantino added that the said workshop was already a strategic venue to put scientific and technical substance to their proposals.
“Hindi pwede ang proposal na hinugot sa ilong,” he said. (We don't want a mediocre proposal.)
The results of the two workshops will be collated and presented to the candidates for city mayor and the congressional seats of CDO’s two legislative districts.
The challenge now is to elect local government officials who have sustainable plans in reducing climate change impacts and those who see it not as a separate concern but a problem which is interconnected to a myriad of issues ranging from disaster risk reduction, economic and social drawbacks and even urbanization.
The Climate Change Candidates Forum is tentatively scheduled on March 2, 2016 at the XU Covered Courts.
“We must reiterate that the local government, especially the barangay, is the front-liner in battling climate change,” said Catherine Almaden, head of the XU Social Sciences research team as her parting message to the participants of the workshop.
“It is always possible to come up with city-level measures that will benefit everyone including the barangays.”