TAGBILARAN City, under the leadership of Mayor Jane Yap, has embarked on a transformative journey towards climate resilience through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Caritas Australia.
The ceremonial signing took place on December 13, 2023, at the Bohol Tropics Resort, marking a significant step in the implementation of the five-year project, Climate Action Partnership in Asian Cities (CAPACities).
Mayor Yap, with the City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Officer Gerard Lavadia, and representatives from CRS and Caritas Australia, including Mr. Jonas Tetangco and Ms. Ma. Concepcion Chin Nobleza, Head of Programming at CRS, participated in the MOU signing.
CAPACities, a five-year initiative, is designed to fortify the inclusive climate change governance and adaptive capacity of Tagbilaran City. The project aims to support the local government in formulating, financing, and executing effective climate change adaptation and mitigation activities.
Mayor Yap expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “This collaboration is a significant milestone in our city’s journey towards climate resilience. Through CAPACities, we aim to not only fortify our city against climate impacts but also ensure that our efforts are inclusive, accountable, and well-communicated to our citizens.”
The project is structured around three key outcomes: first, climate change stakeholders have strengthened capacity, multi-stakeholder engagement and partnership coordination;
second, Tagbilaran City LGU implement inclusive and accountable Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) policies; and finally, improve two-way communication and feedback with citizens around CCA issues.
The MOU signing signifies a collective commitment to addressing the challenges posed by climate change and working towards a sustainable and resilient future for Tagbilaran City.
The partnership with CRS and Caritas Australia is expected to bring valuable expertise and resources to the city’s efforts in climate change adaptation and mitigation.
