of the Verde Island Passage, Philippines - weADAPT

climate change vulnerability assessment of the verde island passage, philippines
Tourism sector
Policy and implementation mechanisms were identified,
all of which could address climate change impacts but
will bring in other benefits in pursuit of environmental
management, such as the following:
• Strictly implement existing laws at both the national
and municipal levels.
• Develop sustainable financing mechanisms, such as
implementing user fees in other areas and covering
recreational activities other than scuba diving.
• Strengthen existing organizations and management
bodies.
• Increase technical expertise on survey and
monitoring of underwater resources at the local
level.
Recommendations that directly deal with climate
change impacts were also provided by inter-agency
workshop participants:
• Include CC adaptation strategies in all AIPs.
• Convene all major stakeholders of the tourism
industry to formulate an adaptation plan in dealing
with CC, to include resort owners, boat operators,
and tourism-related associations.
• Provide incentives for community/PO to get their
involvement and commitment.
• Develop reader-friendly information materials and
multimedia IEC materials on climate change.
Foreshore development
Many of the management recommendations for
foreshore area management deal with institutional
changes within the current government set-up
as well as completion of baseline and monitoring
records. National government agencies are being
asked to issue policies that will mandate LGUs to
manage their respective foreshore areas. LGUs are
recommending that foreshore area management be
devolved to them, so that they can appropriately issue
a moratorium on Foreshore Lease Agreements (FLA).
Should management remain within the DENR, LGUs
recommend stricter monitoring, shortening of FLA
periods, and revocation of agreements for those that do
not comply with the FLA conditions.
Following is a list of management recommendations
being made for national government agencies.
Recommendations specific to addressing climate
change include the following:
• Implement adaptive building design to address
accelerated sea level rise and storm surges.
• Allocate budget for addressing climate change
impacts.
• Institutionalize Task Force on Climate Change at all
levels of government.
Within the mandate of LGUs, a number of
recommendations emerged that may address climate
change impacts but can result in other benefits as well:
• All LGUs should create and designate MENRO.
• Implement mangrove reforestation.
• Translate policies, plans, etc. for action by barangay
chairpersons.
• Strictly enforce the building code.
• Strengthen LGU-NGO partnerships.
• Include upland stakeholders in CRM planning and
activities.
Specific to management of foreshore areas are as
follows:
• Devolve FLA approval to LGUs, so the latter can
issue moratorium on FLAs.
• DILG to mandate LGUs to manage foreshore areas.
• DENR should monitor FLAs.
• Revoke agreements between leases and
government for non-compliance of terms.
• Shorten FLA term for foreshore areas that are titled.
• Encourage owners to undertake mangrove
reforestation.
• Revoke titles of abandoned foreshore areas.
• Amend existing policies, resolutions, etc. to specify
rules on foreshore areas.
In order to address foreshore area management
more effectively, participants recommend undertaking
research in the following areas:
• Complete physical inventory and socio-economic
profile of foreshore areas.
• More research on coastal erosion.
• Complete inventory of environment-related policies.
Health and food safety
People’s health an be compromised by abrupt changes
in atmospheric temperature, accelerated sea level
rise and saltwater intrusion into groundwater sources.
Immediate negative impacts can occur to livelihood
and income, food security, health, education, human
settlement and housing.
• Have health and safety in the climate change
adaptation framework and strategy of the lead
mandated agency (DOH, LGU).
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