THE Department of Finance-supervised People’s Survival Fund (PSF) has approved over P127 million in new financing for climate adaptation projects across four local government units in the country.
Established through Republic Act 10174 in 2012, which amended the Climate Change Act of 2009, the fund aims to bridge the gap between climate science and local action, helping vulnerable communities strengthen their capabilities to survive extreme weather events.
At its 24th board meeting last month, the PSF board authorized funding for projects in the cities of Ormoc, Iriga and Kidapawan, and the municipality of Goa in Camarines Sur, bringing total approved grants for the batch to P127.3 million.
The latest approvals bring the number of PSF-supported initiatives to 28 projects, with cumulative financing commitments reaching P1.549 billion, covering full-scale projects and development grants.
The largest allocation of 42.35 million was for a project in Ormoc on flood mitigation through river restoration, watershed management and sustainable livelihood development. It will address recurring flooding caused by overflowing rivers during extreme rainfall and typhoons, which affect dozens of low-lying and coastal communities.
Iriga will receive P32.48 million to support a watershed-based climate adaptation project near Mt. Iriga. The program includes reforestation, organic farming initiatives and training for more than 2,000 farmers, alongside the installation of early warning systems to improve disaster preparedness in upland barangay.
Meanwhile, Kidapawan secured P27.74 million for its ecosystem restoration and disaster readiness program, which will expand forest cover and install early warning systems in hazard-prone areas, particularly those near the Mt. Apo Natural Park.
In Camarines Sur, the municipality of Goa was granted P24.73 million to strengthen its disaster response capabilities through the development of an integrated emergency operations system, real-time weather monitoring and improved community alert mechanisms.
“By combining nature-based solutions with community-led initiatives, we are helping residents manage climate risks more confidently while promoting sustainable livelihoods that protect lives and communities,” PSF Chairman Frederick Go said.
The PSF also approved a set of policy reforms to improve the accessibility and efficiency of the fund. These include measures to streamline processing timelines, enhance project application templates and update prioritization criteria to better align with national climate adaptation strategies.
The board is also set to open its next call for project proposals by April to expand the pipeline of climate resilience initiatives nationwide.