The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has identified 24 provinces considered as the country’s most vulnerable places to the impacts of climate change.
These provinces are Masbate, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Negros Oriental, Western Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Siquijor, Sarangani, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Zamboanga del Norte, Bukidnon, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Lanao del Sur.
The agency said Task Force Build Back Better (TFBBB) would shift DENR’s efforts from the current disaster response and recovery to disaster prevention and building climate resiliency in the most vulnerable provinces.
“One aspect of the gains that the task force can look into is on how we can shift our mode from response and recovery to putting in place governance frameworks that will prevent climate-related disasters and climate resiliency in these identified provinces,” said Analiza Teh, DENR Undersecretary for finance, information systems and climate change.
Teh was designated as the TFBBB secretariat head.
The direction was pursuant to the blueprint of action set out by DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga focusing on strengthening climate risk capacities through improved coherence and implementation of climate-resiliency and adaptive programs under the whole-of-society approach.
Teh said the task force would take part in the drafting of the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan, specifically Chapter 17 (Accelerate Climate Action, and Strengthen Disaster Resilience) of the document which will lay out specific actions on climate and disaster resiliency.
“The DENR is in charge of Chapter 17. We will interface with the Office of the Civil Defense in the development of this chapter so that we can craft more specific and concrete plans, rather than motherhood and generic directions,” she added.
TFBBB was created by Executive Order 120 issued on Nov. 18, 2020 by then President Rodrigo Duterte to expedite and lead the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of post-disaster rehabilitation and recovery programs for typhoon-ravaged areas.
