• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP), through its Canada-funded Philippines-Canada Partnership on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Climate Adaptation (PCP4NbS) program, officially opened its request for proposals (RFP) for site-based grants in Negros Occidental Nov. 6.
Proposed projects should respond to the results of the baseline assessments earlier made to address both hazards and risks identified in target sites in the province, the FFP said.
Based on the vulnerability risk assessment (VRA) and gender-based analysis-plus (GBA-Plus), the PCP4NbS identified target sites within the Malogo and Sicaba River watersheds, including specific barangays in Cadiz City, Victorias City, E.B. Magalona, Talisay City, Silay City, Manapla, and Don Salvador Benedicto.
“Canada is making significant investments to support the Philippines in its environment and climate action commitments. Through this project, we ultimately want to see nature-based solutions designed, and implemented, by local communities for local communities,” Ambassador of Canada to the Philippines David Hartman said during the signing of two memoranda of understanding with the provincial government of Negros Occidental and the Northern Negros Natural Park-Protected Area Management Office in a hotel in Bacolod City Nov. 6, on the implementation of PCP4NbS and other future projects in the province.
The Government of Canada has committed P332 million (CA$8 million) for the program implementation. The fund will be managed by FFP, which will support local organizations in implementing holistic, community-based, and gender-responsive initiatives based on NbS principles, the foundation said in a press release.
The first RFP for site-based grants specifically in Negros Occidental highlights the call for community-based and gender-responsive NbS proposals to help reduce vulnerability, and increase resilience to climate change impacts.
The program could fund two to three projects in target sites within the province, with an implementation period of up to two and a half years. Eligible grant recipients include nongovernment organizations, people’s organizations, and other community-based organizations active in the Philippines.
“Let’s achieve sustainable development while safeguarding natural heritage; Let’s work together where people thrive in harmony,” Atty. Julie Ann Bedrio, provincial environment management officer said as she welcomed this initiative in Negros Occidental, in behalf of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
“We hope you will enjoy as we start this journey towards project development, towards understanding what you need, towards developing common solutions, and hopefully, achieving our joint, and common goals,” Atty. Jose Andres Canivel, FFP executive director, said as he encouraged the organizations to take part in the program.
PENRO and NNNP park superintendent Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, who represented DENR6 regional executive director Raul Lorilla during the MOU signing, stressed that this partnership marks an important step toward the shared commitment to conserving and protecting the precious biodiversity.
He said in a statement that he is delighted that the NNNP is among the priority sites of this PCP4NbS initiative in the province.
The FFP said that NbS are cost-effective actions that protect, regenerate, and enhance ecosystems while responding to the needs of the community and safeguarding biodiversity.
“The four-year program aims to utilize tailor-fitted solutions with evidence-based decision making, co-created knowledge platforms and communities of practice, co-created policy recommendations, and strong collaboration with stakeholders in support of the biodiversity-climate-gender nexus,” it stressed, adding that implementation will be supported by a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure that resources will be maximized towards achieving the program’s goal.
FFP, established in 2002, is a nonprofit organization founded under two bilateral agreements between the Philippines and the United States of America, through the US Tropical Forest Agreements.
It has supported 472 projects between 2005 and 2016 under the First Tropical Forest Conservation Agreement (TFCA I), that collectively improved the management of roughly 1.5 million hectares of forest lands throughout the country.
The follow-up second TFCA led to the development of the 2017-2021 Results Framework that enabled the Foundation to support over 300 projects, focused on the protection and sustainable management of the Philippines’ most critical landscapes, the FFP said. | CGC
