Philippines: one in ten local governments has natural disasters response plan

By Raisa Serafica

Seven years after the Climate Change Act of 2009 was passed, only one in ten local government units (LGUs) in disaster-prone Philippines has complied with the law's requirement of drafting local climate change action plans (LCCAP).

Republic Act Number 9729 assigns LGUs to be on the frontline of formulating and implementating plans that will increase the capacities of communities to mitigate the effects of climate change.

As of July 2016, however, only 160 LGUs – or less than 10% of the total 1,700 LGUs – have LCCAPs in place.