MANILA -- The Climate Change Commission (CCC) is working to facilitate the process for seeking climate financing under the People's Survival Fund (PSF).
"We're developing the online monitoring and evaluation system (MES) for such purpose," said CCC development manager officer, Kenneth Hizon, who's involved in the undertaking.
Hizon said the MES would allow local government units (LGUs) and community organizations nationwide to go online and submit their respective PSF funding applications, then track their status.
The MES' online set-up would enable the CCC to immediately acknowledge receiving such applications and provide applicants concerned feedback on these early on, he said, adding that by going online, the PSF Board would be able to easily monitor the applications' status.
"Such features will help facilitate the PSF application process," he said at the CCC-led 2017 Climate Change Consciousness Week (CCCW) celebration in Metro Manila Wednesday.
CCC launched the PSF in 2015. The PSF, a special fund in the national treasury, is for financing climate change adaptation initiatives of LGUs and communities nationwide.
Hizon said the PSF website would include the MES so parties concerned could access the online system.
Prospective PSF beneficiaries could commence using the MES around early or mid-2018, he said, noting that this is the period when the CCC would issue its new call for PSF funding proposals and concept notes.
The government allocates PSF annually with at least PHP1 billion under the General Appropriations Act, said CCC.
However, the commission clarified that the government could either increase the PSF if necessary or augment it using donations, endowments and other sources.
Last year, the PSF Board reported approving a total of PHP120 million for two adaptation projects in Mindanao.
PSF funding would support adaptation projects of the fourth-class municipality of Lanuza in Surigao del Sur province and the fifth-class municipality of Del Carmen in Surigao del Norte province, the board said.
Proclamation 1667 series of 2008 declared Nov. 19 to 25 in 2008 and every year after as Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week.
Climate change's threats require "urgent and thoughtful participation of our citizens, as well as the collective action of private and public sectors at all levels," notes Proclamation 1667.
The proclamation enjoins all government units to observe CCCW by conducting activities relevant to the occasion. (PNA)
