Let me commend the Climate Change Commission and its partners for staging the Visayas leg of the summit, titled “Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) in the Philippines.” This is a very timely and significant intervention since it signifies our making climate change adaptation a national priority. Now, more than ever, there is a need to enable Filipino communities to cope with worsening impacts of climate change—a  problem they have contributed little to, but whose full impact they will feel the most.
            Many human settlements in cities and municipalities are ill-equipped to cope with climate change. They are constrained by improper or poor site selection, inadequate or inappropriate infrastructure, and inflexible and undiversified economies, among others. Majority of the Philippine cities and municipalities are faced with these limitations and are not adapting to the new realities rapidly enough.
            The climate change phenomenon further adds to the challenges of urban development. If these challenges are unmet and no adaptive measures are set, we will definitely encounter difficulty in achieving many targets in the millennium development goals, or MDGS. Climate change will even aggravate the situation in most cities and municipalities. Based on UN-Habitat data, approximately 50 million people from 70% of the municipalities and cities along the country’s coastline will have increased risks from climatic hazards and extreme events.
            By responding to the pressing need of those most vulnerable to the damaging effects of climate change, we are also responding to the global challenge of a safer and more sustainable world for all.
            The role of the national government in this regard is to orchestrate the formulation of a national framework strategy on climate change. Such a strategy must mainstream climate change adaptation at all levels of governance, in a manner that is participatory, consultative, and engaging. At the same time, it must be consistent or in harmony with existing laws, plans and policies.
            On the local level, such a national strategy will encourage public and private sector participation. The earnest implementation of climate change adaptation measures will also harness the full capacity of the LGUs in promoting sustainable development and environmental awareness.
            The Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, for its part, comes in as a provider of policy directions for the housing and urban development sector. Relative to this, we are serious in our intent to integrate climate change in the housing sector plans, programs, and initiatives.
            In updating the National Urban Development And Housing Framework, or the NUDHF, for the period 2010–2016, the HUDCC integrated such climate change related issues and concerns to include the corresponding strategic recommendations on sustainable development.
            The integration of climate change in the framework is a recognition that development trends are not sustainable. This negative situation is evident in the current ecological footprints of housing and development projects as well as with respect to location-specific service performance standards.
            Some of the issues identified in the NUDHF that relate to addressing the effect of climate change include:

(a)  minimal incorporation of sustainability practices and standards in zoning regulations and irregular implementation and enforcement of zoning ordinances;

(b)  deteriorating environmental conditions characterized by diminishing water resources, increasing energy costs, poor air quality, poor, unsanitary solid waste management; and

(c)  increasing threat of disasters (because of continuing population increases and environmental degradation).
            Larger and costlier impacts of climate change come in the form of increased occurrences of extreme weather events that challenge or overwhelm the design and resiliency of man-made structures and systems. While many adaptation options are available to reduce the vulnerability of settlements, most LGUs have so little capacity to deal with current problems on housing, sanitation, water, and power. Usually, dealing with climate change risks is beyond their means due to lack of financial resources, weak institutions, and inadequate or inappropriate planning. But successful climate change adaptation cannot happen without locally based, technically competent, and politically supported leadership.

            Given this, apart from encouraging LGUs to be more creative in sourcing funds for their development projects, we are pushing for the full localization of strategies and implementation to realize our goal of creating sustainable communities.
            These localization measures include, among others, the review of traditional zoning, zoning incentives, green planning and building standards, ease of regulations and codes to encourage green and sustainable designs, and disaster risk management.
            It is assumed, however, that such localized strategies are aligned with national policy on land use. As always, rational, holistic, equitable allocation, management, and development of the country’s limited land resource must be assured.
            Again, allow me to cite my Makati experience. Under my leadership, Makati City has been successful in mainstreaming sustainability principles and green advocacies in its programs and projects. One of the results is that Makati City has a growing number of investors and visitors that continue to flock to the city.
            A healthy and clean environment is undoubtedly a key factor in investor decisions to do business, or even reside, in Makati City. Similarly, Makati’s new administration has committed itself to continually transform itself into a green city. In fact, it is firm in its decision to incentivize the adoption of green technologies and green building practices in private property development.
            The other essential part of climate change adaptation is risk reduction and mitigation of impacts. Under MDG-F 1656, HUDCC represents the Philippine government in a joint programme with the UN system to directly collaborate with an LGU in piloting implementation.
            The pilot LGU under this programme with HUDCC and UN-habitat is Sorsogon City in the Bicol region. Being tested is the integration of Climate Risk Reduction (CRR) in the local development plans and processes, the enhancement of the LGU’s capability to manage and administer the plans, the provision of coping mechanisms and how these maybe adopted nationally.
            Consistent with the participatory and multisectoral approach, the programme targets the creation of climate change resilient communities. At the same time, all the learnings will provide more bases for the review of disaster risk management plans, land use and comprehensive development plans.

            Now let me note that it is not only in adaptation where urgent action is required. In the field of mitigation lies the huge opportunity to push emissions reduction together with sustainable development. Instead of being treated as separate from a country's development programs, mitigation must be integral to the building of resilient communities and economies in the regions.
            Resilience and vulnerability are critical factors that will largely determine future energy choices. Taking into account water risks, extreme weather events and more, we must keep in mind that resilience is a fundamental principle as we rethink the way we produce and consume energy.
            Unless the intervention is an integrated one, our efforts in developing resilient and adaptive communities will come to naught.
            The first summit for provincial LGUs held in Legazpi City was able to bring together and secure the commitment of multi-stakeholders. Let this second summit, the Visayas leg, not only do as much locally but firmly establish climate change adaptation as integral to national policy.
            Thank you.
            Mabuhay po ang bansang Pilipinas!
            Mabuhay po tayong lahat!