Philippines secures Loss and Damage Fund board seat

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has secured a seat on the Loss and Damage Fund board, which was created to compensate nations most affected by climate change-induced disasters.

“I think this is a good development and we’ll keep working to make sure that the Philippines has a very strong voice when it comes to all the issues of climate change, of which we are very severely affected,” President Marcos said in a video message posted on Facebook yesterday.

The Loss and Damage Fund was a major outcome of COP27, or the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference held in Egypt.

It intends to support countries, such as the Philippines and other island states, that are struggling to cope with loss and damage caused by climate change beyond adaptation.

Marcos said the Philippines’ seat on the board would give the country “a very strong voice” in the management of all funding that is available around the world for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

“The next step that we are hoping to achieve is to host the damage and loss funds here in the Philippines because after all, we are very much mixed when it comes (to) the climate change effects,” he said.

Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga also announced the Philippines’ inclusion in the Loss and Damage Fund board at a press briefing at Malacañang yesterday.

Loyzaga led the Philippine delegation in the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.

She had delivered the country statement on behalf of Marcos, who canceled his trip to Dubai to focus on the 17 Filipino seafarers held hostage by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants in the Red Sea.

During COP28, developed countries pledged over $700 million as initial capital to address the negative consequences of climate change such as rising sea levels, prolonged heat waves, desertification, the acidification of the sea and extreme events such as bushfires, species extinction and crop failures.

The Philippines will represent the Asia Pacific group on the board along with the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in a term-sharing agreement.

“For the three terms, we will have two years – the first year which is the inaugural year, 2024, and 2026. In the year 2025, we will have a term share with Pakistan, who is the other Asia Pacific country that is also part of the board,” she explained.

Former finance undersecretary Mark Joven was nominated as the country’s representative on the board.

Meanwhile, the International Office for Migration awarded Marcos and the president of Sudan with climate and human mobility recognition for their achievements in handling human mobility and migration as a whole during COP28.

According to Loyzaga, the Philippines will be pushing for some type of “sensitivities” to be reflected in the board’s guidelines such as land area loss, total biodiversity and ecosystems destruction, species losses and extinction threat, in which the Philippines is particularly vulnerable.?

Carbon credits

Farmers’ group Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) met with Loyzaga and urged her to provide a lasting incentive to farmers and local communities to boost the campaign against global warming.

Before the meeting, FFF chair Leonardo Montemayor wrote a letter to Loyzaga, proposing a simplified system in which farmers can get carbon credits for planting and maintaining trees, bamboo, mangroves and seagrass.

“In general, Secretary Loyzaga said she would favorably act on our requests and recommendations,” Montemayor said in a message to The STAR.

“In addition to augmenting farm incomes, these credits could be used for education, health and other benefits,” he added.

Montemayor noted that over the years, the government’s efforts to restore and safeguard forests and other natural resources have generally failed as they have not effectively mobilized those directly working on lands or waters.

“Urgently needed is a more effective collaboration between capable farmers’ groups and DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources). This includes reorienting DENR personnel dealing with rural folk,” he added.

Montemayor also asked Loyzaga to act on the alleged harassment of farmers occupying the 40,000-hectare former Yulo King Ranch in Busuanga Island, Palawan.

“After EDSA People Power in 1986, more portions of the 40,000-hectare YKR have been occupied, developed and claimed by self-propelled settlers, influential individuals, corporation interests and speculators. Many FFF members are reportedly being harassed and threatened with eviction by local DENR personnel,” he reported.  – Bella Cariaso