Philippines : Climate Resilience and Green Growth in the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape - Demonstrating the Eco-town Framework

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Water-based natural resources management

Energy / Energy efficiency and conservation

Industry and trade / Small and medium enterprise development

Transport / Road transport (non-urban)

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban policy, institutional and capacity development - Urban water supply

The Philippines is highly vulnerable to impacts of climate change. In 2011, the country ranked highest in the world in terms of vulnerability to tropical cyclones and the third in terms of population's exposure to floods and droughts. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) estimated that economic losses from typhoons, floods and landslides in 2011 amounted to 59.2 billion Pesos. Enhancing climate resilience of economy and adaptive capacity of populations is thus crucial for sustainable development.

Climate change-induced economic losses are particularly high in urban and peri-urban areas largely because of increasing fragility of urban ecosystems and low adaptive capacity of communities. The need for developing ecologically stable and economically resilient urban areas or "eco-towns" has been widely recognized but the concept has not been demonstrated. The Philippines National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) anchors on building eco-towns at the local level. The demonstration of the eco-town framework while pursuing green growth will not only address the impacts of climate change of communities but also aims for sustainable development and poverty reduction.

The proposed TA seeks to pursue strategies for green growth and climate resilience in the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape. It was chosen as a pilot because of its (i) high bio-physical vulnerability to climate change impacts, (ii) high levels of urban poverty, population density and settlements in most vulnerable locations, (iii) its high demonstration potential to the rest of the country in terms of mainstreaming and eco-town development.

The TA has strong linkages to the ADB Country Partnership Strategy 2011-2016 and its thematic assessment paper on climate change and disaster risk reduction, which recognises the urgent need to increase the resilience of the Philippines to climate change and natural disasters while harnessing opportunities for greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation. Besides contributing to the objective of strengthening capacity of national and local institutions, the TA closely aligns with various sector ASRs in terms of increasing resilience to climate stresses (agriculture and natural resources sector), promoting use of renewable energy (energy sector), and enhancing water sanitation through effective waste management (urban development sector).

The TA builds on vulnerability assessment methodologies developed under ADB-funded RETA 6420 and various disaster risk reduction projects undertaken in Metro Manila and other surrounding areas. It will also promote synergies with ADB lending programs such as the proposed Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management (INREM) project aimed at restoring critical watersheds in four upper river basins. The TA will also promote synergies with other projects funded by GIZ (Adaptation to climate Change and Biodiversity project), Global Green Growth Institute, and AusAID (disaster risk reduction projects). However, the proposed TA is considered necessary as no other development partner is involved in demonstrating an eco-town framework in the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape.

Enhanced climate resilience and green growth in the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape.

Improved ability of LGUs and other stakeholders in the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape to to mainstream climate resilient and green growth options into development programs, plans and policies.

Baseline information on greenhouse gases (GHG) collected, and current and future vulnerabilities assessed.

Locally appropriate adaptation and GHG mitigation measures identified, analyzed, and prioritized.

Pilot demonstration areas selected and gender-equitable adaptation and mitigation measures implemented.

Climate change knowledge products developed and key stakeholders trained in economic evaluation of natural resources

Baseline information on GHG collected, and current and future vulnerability of LGUs to climate change assessed. Sectoral vulnerability assessment reports and GHG inventory submitted in June 2014.

Stakeholder consultations were held to discuss locally appropriate GHG mitigation and adaptation measures.

Cost-benefit analysis of selected mitigation and adaptation measures was conducted by March 2015. Reports on pilot activity plan and ecosystems valuation were submitted in March 2015.

Green growth roadmap for upper Marikina watershed was prepared in February 2015.

11 pilot activities were completed. Several knowledge products were prepared.

All outputs were achieved as of 30 September 2015.

In September 2011, the Government of the Philippines (the Government) through its Climate Change Commission (CCC) requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for capacity development technical assistance (CDTA) to conduct a pilot study on the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape as a demonstration site for the Eco-Town Framework as espoused in the Philippines National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP).

A series of meetings took place from October 2011 to February 2012 between CCC and the ADB to clarify the outcomes and outputs of the proposed CDTA. Meetings with other government departments also took place. ADB circulated a draft TA concept paper for comment by various stakeholders. A consensus emerged on the need to demonstrate eco-town framework in the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape. A memorandum of understanding was signed with the Vice-Chair of CCC in May 2012, agreeing to the core elements of the TA (impact, outcome, outputs, implementation, cost, financing arrangements, and terms of reference of consultants).