NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
U.S., South Korea Ink P111.5-M Partnership to Boost Climate Resilience of Philippine Cities
Photo credit: US Embassy of the Philippines
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have signed a Php 111.5 million ($2 million) grant partnership agreement to boost the resilience of Philippine cities to climate change and natural disasters.
The partnership aims to enhance the capacity of local government units (LGUs) to develop guidelines for and use climate adaptation technology.
Through this grant funding, KOICA will aid in the the implementation of the USAID’s five-year, Php 836.5 million ($15 million) Climate Resilient Cities Project that benefits partner cities of Batangas, Borongan, Cotabato, Iloilo, Legazpi, and Zamboanga
KOICA’s technical assistance will help these cities to adapt, mitigate, and manage the impacts of climate change and natural disasters.
Moreover, USAID and KOICA will support the dissemination of climate-related information to local communities, increase access to climate financing for economic and social development, and promote natural climate solutions to strengthen the resilience of cities to climate change.
Over 180 Philippine officials and stakeholders will participate in capacity building programs organized in the Philippines and Korea.
In addition, the US and Korean governments will launch a partnership to prevent and reduce marine pollution in Manila Bay. The partnership also seeks to enhance knowledge and influence social and behavioral changes for marine pollution reduction and prevention.
The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone nations, with an average of 20 typhoons per year, frequent floods, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. According to the 2022 World Risk Index, the Philippines ranked first out of 193 countries with the highest disaster risks. Between 2011 and 2021, the country incurred more than Php 670 billion worth of damage and losses due to tropical cyclones alone.
The USAID-KOICA partnership supports the Philippine government’s 2023-2028 strategy framework goal to enhance the adaptive capacity and resilience of communities and ecosystems to natural hazards and climate change. This partnership builds on the memorandum of understanding signed by the two agencies in April 2021 to collaborate on priority programs, including climate change-related initiatives, to advance development in the Philippines.
“This momentous partnership of USAID, KOICA, and the Philippine government will bring together our accumulated experience and technical expertise to build climate change and disaster resilience in the country,” KOICA Country Director Eunsub Kim said.
“The United States has pledged to strengthen this alliance and broaden the focus to address issues of critical importance to the Indo-Pacific region and the world. In particular, we will deepen our cooperation in addressing the climate crisis, reducing plastic waste, and promoting advanced technologies. We will also enhance our economic cooperation and people-to-people ties,” USAID Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn said.
The partnership aims to enhance the capacity of local government units (LGUs) to develop guidelines for and use climate adaptation technology.
Through this grant funding, KOICA will aid in the the implementation of the USAID’s five-year, Php 836.5 million ($15 million) Climate Resilient Cities Project that benefits partner cities of Batangas, Borongan, Cotabato, Iloilo, Legazpi, and Zamboanga
KOICA’s technical assistance will help these cities to adapt, mitigate, and manage the impacts of climate change and natural disasters.
Moreover, USAID and KOICA will support the dissemination of climate-related information to local communities, increase access to climate financing for economic and social development, and promote natural climate solutions to strengthen the resilience of cities to climate change.
Over 180 Philippine officials and stakeholders will participate in capacity building programs organized in the Philippines and Korea.
In addition, the US and Korean governments will launch a partnership to prevent and reduce marine pollution in Manila Bay. The partnership also seeks to enhance knowledge and influence social and behavioral changes for marine pollution reduction and prevention.
The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone nations, with an average of 20 typhoons per year, frequent floods, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. According to the 2022 World Risk Index, the Philippines ranked first out of 193 countries with the highest disaster risks. Between 2011 and 2021, the country incurred more than Php 670 billion worth of damage and losses due to tropical cyclones alone.
The USAID-KOICA partnership supports the Philippine government’s 2023-2028 strategy framework goal to enhance the adaptive capacity and resilience of communities and ecosystems to natural hazards and climate change. This partnership builds on the memorandum of understanding signed by the two agencies in April 2021 to collaborate on priority programs, including climate change-related initiatives, to advance development in the Philippines.
“This momentous partnership of USAID, KOICA, and the Philippine government will bring together our accumulated experience and technical expertise to build climate change and disaster resilience in the country,” KOICA Country Director Eunsub Kim said.
“The United States has pledged to strengthen this alliance and broaden the focus to address issues of critical importance to the Indo-Pacific region and the world. In particular, we will deepen our cooperation in addressing the climate crisis, reducing plastic waste, and promoting advanced technologies. We will also enhance our economic cooperation and people-to-people ties,” USAID Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn said.
May 3, 2023
