P1-B PSF fund available for LGUs, people’s orgs
>> Saturday, February 18, 2017
For climate change projects
By Karen Copa and Aleja Joy
Sison
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Local government units and peoples
organizations can now request and access funds from the People’s Survival Fund
(PSF) to address issues and problems related to climate change in their
localities with more than P1 billion still in its coffers.
Here in this capital town, local government officials from
Benguet and Mountain Province banded together last week to discuss projects,
accessing funds and efforts to protect their harvests, adapt to climate change
and minimize danger.
The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), in
partnership with Benguet State University and Canadian Embassy, held an
orientation and workshop here Thursday on how to access the PSF in Agricultural
Training Institute at BSU.
The fund, established in 2012 under Republic Act 10174,
grants funds for climate change adaptation initiatives proposed by local
governments and communities.
Canadian
Ambassador John T. Holmes, Canadian said during orientation they supported the
workshop as it would help in managing challenges brought about by climate
change in programs proposed by localities.
“Overarching
our concern about climate change is a global one,” Homes said. “It hits both
countries and regions and locality. It is inspiring to come to this region and
learn what the university is doing and learn what the local communities are
doing. We adapt to crops, we adapt to the changing climate, as what our Canada
Fund is doing and as we have done it in many areas, we help. So we are here to
give you the money to bring the project that you need. But we can work in an
institute for example to build up a capacity so you can access your own country
fund, the People’s Survival Fund. “
Ambassador
Holmes visited BSU farms including Strawberry Fields here where he was briefed
on farming techniques and tools used by BSU.
His
briefers included BSU officials Alexander B. Fagyan, director of Climate Smart
Agricultural Center; president Dr. Feliciano
Calora Jr. and Dr. Carlito Laurien, vice president for research.
Meanwhile, Kairos Dela Cruz, ICSC Associate for Climate
Policy said “Cordillera region has long been identified as highly vulnerable to
climate impacts. Through this workshop, we hope to empower local governments
not just to seek a grant from the People’s Survival Fund, but also to craft
more informed plans to better protect their people’s lives and livelihoods.”
ICSC is the civil society representative to the PSF Board,
which assesses and approves proposals for funding.
The Board already approved last November its first two
projects - one in Del Carmen, Siargao, Surigao del Norte and the other in
Lanuza, Surigao del Sur - totaling almost P120 million.
About P1.8 billion remains in the People’s Survival Fund, but it can also be replenished by national and international sources.
About P1.8 billion remains in the People’s Survival Fund, but it can also be replenished by national and international sources.
The Embassy of Canada, which in 2015 committed $2.65 billion
in climate finance until 2020 for developing countries, also co-sponsored the workshop.
“Canada is working with countries around the world to
demonstrate leadership and take global action on climate change,” said
Ambassador Holmes. “The Government of Canada is pleased to support this
capacity building workshop on climate-inclusive planning to help enable local
government units plan, mobilize, and access climate finance from existing
sources such as the People’s Survival Fund.”
“Our longstanding research on climate change impacts here in
the Cordillera region shows that agricultural production will be even further
besieged by more intense typhoons and heavier rainfall. Benguet State
University is proud to host this People’s Survival Fund workshop and to provide
scientific advice for our farmers and local government planners alike,” said
Calora.
The PSF is the country’s first legislated adaptation fund. It is meant for initiatives with adaptation as its primary objective. The PSF was added as a climate finance feature of the Climate Change Act of 2009 that was passed as a law last August 16, 2012.
The PSF is the country’s first legislated adaptation fund. It is meant for initiatives with adaptation as its primary objective. The PSF was added as a climate finance feature of the Climate Change Act of 2009 that was passed as a law last August 16, 2012.
Dela
Cruz said they have started partnering with BSU years back and that the academe
and local government units should work together more in close proximity to put
up or build a successful project.
He
said purpose of the workshop they organized was for people from different towns
of Benguet and Mt. Province to learn about the PSF and how to write a proposal
for funding.
Local
government units and “communities” defined as local organizations as qualified
by non-government organization representative to the PSF Board through a policy
recommendation can access the PSF.
For
more information, interested parties may contact info@icsc.ngo
or www.icsc.ngo.
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