THE Department of Finance (DoF) said P99.68 million worth of projects to address climate vulnerabilities were approved by the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) Board.
In a statement on Monday, the DoF said projects for Catanduanes and Davao del Norte, as well as three project development grants (PDG) for Negros Oriental, Surigao del Norte and Kalinga were approved during the 23rd PSF Board Meeting on July 18.
To date, climate adaptation projects approved by the board total 21, valued at a combined P1.42 billion.
“These climate adaptation projects are part of our whole-of-government effort to protect the most vulnerable communities from the effects of climate-related disasters,” Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said.
The PSF was established under Republic Act No. 10174 to finance adaptation programs and projects of local government units and accredited community organizations.
The largest of the newly approved projects is an P86.16 million initiative in Pandan, Catanduanes, which seeks to mitigate the municipality’s exposure to storm surges and drought.
Its first component — the Mangrove EcoShield Project, seeks to reforest 10 hectares of mangroves in six barangays and establishes a mangrove nursery.
The project will support 519 individuals from 10 fisherfolk associations and five multi-sectoral associations.
The second approval covers Climate-Smart Infrastructure Support for Agriculture to reduce reliance on external supplies of vegetables.
It will benefit around 774 members of 15 farmer associations and five multi-sectoral associations affected by drought.
“Key initiatives include installing solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS), gravity-fed water supply systems, climate-adaptive greenhouses, and a learning center to address the municipality’s vulnerability to drought and enhance local vegetable production,” the DoF said.
Another project is the P7.51 million in support for Tagum, Davao del Norte to mitigate the municipality’s vulnerability to flooding through reforestation and the establishment of an early warning system.
The reforestation component seeks to restore 55 hectares of degraded mangrove ecosystems in five barangays.
This is expected to help 1,867 fisherfolk whose livelihoods stand to gain from healthy mangrove ecosystems.
“To support this effort is the establishment and installation of Calamity Early Warning Systems (EWS), which will strengthen disaster preparedness and community resilience,” the DoF said.
The project development grants worth P2 million each are intended to help proponents develop comprehensive project proposals.
“The project development grant approved for Basay, Negros Oriental will support proposal development for a project that will rehabilitate, conserve, and sustainably manage the Basay River and Watershed to protect the community against flood and rain-induced landslides,” the DoF said.
A PDG was approved for Claver, Surigao del Norte, supporting a proposal to design nature-based solutions to rising water levels and storm surges.
A PDG for Rizal, Kalinga will develop proposals for irrigation networks that will mitigate the impact of impact of drought. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante
