THE board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) will hold its ninth meeting in the Philippines starting Wednesday, with members expected to review and approve the first batch of grant-based funding requests under the Barbados Implementation Modalities, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
FRLD is a global financial mechanism created to help vulnerable developing nations recover from the unavoidable, destructive impacts of climate change. The World Bank acts as the temporary trustee and hosts the fund’s secretariat.
The grants will come from an initial $250-million allocation for country-led projects.
The Philippines has submitted its own proposal for review — the Archipelagic Loss and Damage Responses from Local to National Recovery project — which, if approved, will fund ecosystem restoration, livelihood recovery, community financing and stronger local governance in Catanduanes and Sarangani from 2027 to 2032.
The meeting will bring together board members, government officials, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to finalize policy and operational frameworks for providing timely, predictable and accessible financial support to climate-vulnerable developing countries.
The agenda includes funding arrangements, the Results Measurement Framework, the Country Support System, the Barbados Implementation Modalities, resource mobilization and replenishment, and preparations for the second High-Level Dialogue.
A separate session will be held for civil society organizations to support transparent and participatory decision-making.
Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said the meeting is critical to advancing the fund’s operations.
“Decisions made during these sessions are vital to the continued operationalization of the fund, as the board works to build the institutional and operational foundations needed to protect vulnerable developing countries,” Cuna said.
He added that the fund represents international cooperation and shared responsibility, and is crucial for developing countries facing increasing climate-related risks.
The FRLD entered its operational phase at the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) and closed its inaugural funding call on June 15.
Established at COP28, the fund provides financial support to developing countries for recovery, reconstruction and long-term resilience against climate-related losses and damage, including those caused by extreme weather events, sea-level rise, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.
The Philippines was selected to host the FRLD Board in 2024, and has since hosted several meetings, including the seventh board meeting in October.
The country is also using its 2026 Asean chairmanship and the momentum from the recent UN climate talks in Bonn to advance support for vulnerable communities, said the DENR.
