PHL wins approval for $10-million Tawi-Tawi climate change project

THE PHILIPPINES has obtained approval for a $10-million climate-proofing project for Tawi-Tawi’s water systems, the first such approval from the Adaptation Fund (AF), the Department of Finance (DoF) said on Wednesday.

The project, known as “Harnessing the water-energy-food nexus to address and adapt to climate change impacts in Tawi-Tawi,” seeks to build the climate resilience of communities in the province.

“This includes deploying resilient water supply systems integrated with existing renewable energy infrastructure in Tawi-Tawi,” it said.

The project was approved during the 44th Board Meeting of the Adaptation Fund in Germany, earlier in April.

The project will be implemented by “supplying local capacity building for sustainable water management, building the local communities’ resilience and strengthening their livelihoods, and providing knowledge management to scale up the project’s activities in the Philippines.”

It is estimated to directly benefit 71,562 people and more than 150,000 people indirectly.

According to the project document, it will be deployed in the municipalities of Sitangkai and Sibutu, Tawi-Tawi.

“It is targeting the water security issue in these two island municipalities. The islands are increasingly affected by climate change through a sea-level rise (saline water intrusion) and more unpredictable rains, impacting water resources available for the communities on the islands.”

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Mindanao Development Authority will be in charge of the project, in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as the National Designated Authority.

The Philippines is a member of the AF Board, representing the Non-Annex I Parties which mostly consist of developing countries.

At the same meeting, the DoF worked on its application to be a national implementing entity of the fund.

This will allow the country to receive direct financial transfers for adaptation projects and programs, the DoF said. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson