Philippines: DRR, climate change adaptation to be integrated in local planning
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), with development partners United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), will launch the project, "Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (DRR/CCA) in Local Development Planning and Decision-making Processes" for Davao Region at the NEDA-RDC XI Center, Bangkal, Davao City on November 20, 2009.
A workshop using Focus Group Discussion will be conducted by which institutional capacities of regional and local partners will be assessed according to functional areas, such as: 1) mainstreaming DRR/CCA in local planning; 2) data availability and requirements; 3) technical capability; and 4) institutional capability.
The launching will be participated in among others, by the members of the Regional Development Council (RDC) XI; the members of the Regional Land Use Committee XI (RLUC); the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) XI; the local planning officers of the provinces and cities of Davao Region; and the representatives from the academe and civil society organizations.
The project aims to mainstream the related concerns of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into local decision making and planning processes. Disaster risk reduction is a forward-looking paradigm that intends to strengthen defense against the hazardous impacts of climate change and variability such as extended droughts and floods.
With a total budget of AUS$2.5 million, covering national components and implementation of project activities in 14 regions, the project aims to bring awareness and understanding of DRR/CCA to the community level, incorporating it into local level land-use and development plans. The project also seeks the enhancement of multi-stakeholder cooperation by creating mechanisms for their participation.
The project focuses on building the institutional capacities of local government units who bear the enormous responsibilities associated with disaster-risk reduction. Aside from promoting medium- to long-term strategy on rebuilding the disaster-affected areas in Luzon and the quick recovery of those areas, it will also focus on building the capacities of the areas outside Luzon toward stronger and more resilient communities.