The UPLB-Interdisciplinary Studies Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management (UPLB-INREM), led by its founding director, Dr. Juan M. Pulhin, and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), launched Phase III of the Climate Change Action Program (CCAP) on May 16, 2025, at the Luxent Hotel, Quezon City.
The launching program informed stakeholders about the direction of CCAP Phase III to promote collaboration among its key implementers.
The program is jointly implemented by Agence Française de Développement (AFD), CIRAD, and UPLB, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Building on the momentum of Phases I and II implemented from 2023 to 2024, CCAP Phase III aims to strengthen climate adaptation across sectors. The earlier phases focused on supporting policy reforms and implementing climate-smart technologies for high-value crops.
CCAP Phase III responds to the DENR’s Forest Management Bureau (FMB) request to support the Philippines in meeting its climate adaptation targets under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
It also continues to support three R&D projects from previous phases, which focus on improving resilience in agriculture and fisheries, in partnership with the DA Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR).
The inception meeting, moderated by Dr. Jean-Marc Roda, regional director for Southeast Asia Island Countries of CIRAD, included two sessions that brought together participants from government and research institutions.
The program opened with remarks from the key implementing partners—AFD and CIRAD—delivered by Thierry Liabastre, AFD deputy director, and Roda, who reaffirmed their institutions’ commitment to the project and highlighted the importance of regional scientific collaboration.
A key highlight of the meeting was the presentation of CCAP Phases I and II results, during which Dr. Philippe Guizol and Dr. Manuel Boissière provided an overview of the Technical Assistance component and shared valuable insights into the project’s outcomes.
In the morning, officials and researchers from DA, DA-BAR, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL), UPLB, CIRAD, and AFD reviewed the results of CCAP Phases I and II.
They discussed future directions for research and development, particularly in banana and mango cropping systems and waste valorization for aquaculture.
In the afternoon, discussions turned to environmental governance with representatives from DENR, including lawyer Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, undersecretary for finance, information systems, and climate change, and Director Elenida Basug of the Climate Change Service.
Experts from the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau and FMB, as well as the Asian Development Bank, also participated.
The introduction of carbon accounting into protected area management and positioning the Philippines at the forefront of integrating climate action into conservation work were among the topics discussed.
To operationalize the next steps of CCAP Phase III, the meeting identified the following priorities: securing DENR’s input in project site selection and overall direction, formalizing the collaboration with UPLB through a contractual agreement with the University of the Philippines Foundation, Inc., signing a memorandum of agreement to host a French master’s student and scientists as part of the project, and forming a DENR-led working group to provide technical and policy guidance during implementation.
The launch of CCAP Phase III demonstrated the strong commitment of local and international stakeholders to advance climate-resilient agriculture and environmental management in the Philippines through collaborative and science-driven action. (Pia C. Montoya, Kaymart A. Gimutao, Beth Zaida H. Ugat, and Kyle Vincent R. Singson)
This article was originally published on the official website of the University of the Philippines Los Baños: https://uplb.edu.ph.