The town of Olongapo in the Philippines, UN conduct climate study

Manila Bulletin: In line with the city government’s objective to strengthen its capacity in addressing climate change, Olongapo Mayor James Gordon Jr., together with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region III Director Florida M. Dijan, recently entered into a partnership with United Nations (UN)-HABITAT-Philippines represented by Project Coordinator Maria Adelaida M. Mamonong.

Through the collaboration between Olongapo and UN-Habitat, a Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment will be conducted and results of the study will be used to advance the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) of the city.

UN-HABITAT, the UN agency for human settlements, has identified Olongapo City as one of its pilot local government units in the Philippines to help in strengthening its governance structures, engaging stakeholders and providing integrated strategies to mitigate and adapt climate change through improved planning and management.

Gordon created a Technical Working Group (TWG), headed by City Planning Office Engineer Marivic Nierras, to oversee the project. The TWG will supply the technical inputs during the data gathering, workshops and related activities while the UN-HABITAT Philippines will provide consultants, financial assistance and technical support in terms of capacity assessment, disaster and climate change vulnerability in local plans.

...Adaptation is a response to climate change seeking to reduce the vulnerability of biological systems to climate change effects. Climate change adaptation is important in developing countries which are predicted to bear the brunt of the effects of climate change....

An aerial view of Olongapo, US Navy photo