GCF PH stakeholders gather in first national stakeholders conference
USEC Joven Balbosa of DOF and Mr. Marcel Silvius from GGGI presented certificates of appreciation to the moderator and panelist. From left to right, USEC Joven Balbosa, Mr. Christian Ellermann from ADB, Mr. Angelo Kairos Dela Cruz from the Institute of Climate and Sustainable Cities, Dr. Marqueza Cathalina Reyes from Expertise France, Comm. Rachel Anne Herrera of the Climate Change Commission, USEC Maria Luwalhati Dorotan-Tiuseco from DOF, and Mr. Marcel Silvius. The Department of Finance (DOF), in partnership with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), officially launched the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Handbook for the Philippines and the GCF Philippines website during the first-ever “National Stakeholders Conference on the GCF in the Philippines” held on June 27, 2024. The GCF, the world’s largest multilateral climate fund, was established to serve the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNCCC) to support low-emission development and climate resilience projects in developing countries. With the theme “Driving Collective Action through Accessible Climate Finance,” the Conference gathered representatives from different sectors such as the Philippine government, civil society organizations, local government units, private sector, indigenous peoples (IPs), academe, and multilateral institutions to exchange insights on leveraging the GCF to accelerate climate action and identifying opportunities for fostering synergy among stakeholders. The GCF Handbook for the Philippines is expected to streamline, simplify, and broaden access to a rich mix of blended financing for a pipeline of bankable projects and cross-cutting climate solutions in the Philippines. Meanwhile, the GCF Philippines website can be an instrument in amplifying the Fund’s visibility in the country and enhancing transparency from project conception to implementation and evaluation. USEC Joven Balbosa and USEC Maria Luwalhati C. Dorotan Tiuseco launching the GCF Philippines Website. The Conference was led by Finance Undersecretary Joven Z. Balbosa of the International Finance Group (IFG). Panelists included Finance Undersecretary Maria Luwalhati Dorotan- Tiuseco, Climate Change Commission (CCC) Commissioner Rachel Anne Herrera, GCF Director of the Mitigation and Adaptation Division German Velasquez, Executive Director of the Institute of Climate and Sustainable Cities Angelo Kairos Dela Cruz, and Asian Development Bank (ADB) Senior Infrastructure Specialist Rodrigo Fermin Martinez. In addition, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN FAO) National Technical Assistance Coordinator Ryan Vita, Program Officer of the Environmental Programs Management Department of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) Jose Diaz, Jr., Weather Services Chief of the Climatology and Agrometeorology Division of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Thelma Cinco, and Director of the Agriculture, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Nieva Natural also engaged in a separate panel discussion. Both panel discussions were moderated by Asian Institute of Management clinical professor and Expertise France Technical Lead Marqueza Reyes. USEC Joven Balbosa of DOF and Mr. Marcel Silvius from GGGI presented certificates of appreciation to the moderator and panelist. From left to right, USEC Joven Balbosa, Dr. Marqueza Cathalina Reyes from Expertise France, Ms. Nieva T. Natural from NEDA, Mr. Jose Diaz, Jr. from the Land Bank of the Philippines, Mr. Ryan Vita from UN FAO, and Mr. Marcel Silvius.
DOF, partners hold project dev workshop for stakeholders
The Department of Finance (DOF), the Global Green Growth Institute Philippines (GGGI), and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) held the first Green Climate Fund (GCF) 101 Orientation and Project Development Workshop for the Philippines on June 3-7, 2024. This workshop aimed to help participants from relevant government agencies to understand how GCF works; gain proficiency in GCF financial structuring and budgeting instruments and mechanisms; and enhance their skills in writing bankable project proposals that will help the Philippines realize its climate ambitions. The participants also had the opportunity to take the GCF Orientation online course, highlighting the context of GCF in the Philippines. This five-day workshop is part of the project, “Readiness Support to Strengthen the Philippines’ Capacity and Knowledge on Accessing the GCF”, under the GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Program. The project aims to enhance the capacity of the DOF in implementing its roles and responsibilities as the Philippines’ National Designated Authority to the GCF.
DOF, GGGI, ADPC spearhead workshop in tracking PH climate finance
The Department of Finance (DOF), in collaboration with the Global Green Growth Institute and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, on February 22, 2024 held a workshop on Enhancing Climate Finance Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV). Establishing a vigorous climate finance MRV system in the country will help streamline all sources of climate finance available to the Philippines and catalyze a robust pipeline of climate projects, crucial for the country’s transition towards climate resilience and sustainable development. The MRV workshop is part of the project, “Readiness Support to Strengthen the Philippines’ Capacity and Knowledge on Accessing the GCF”, under the GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Program.