Cayetano backs PH hosting of global climate loss and damage fund board
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday backed an agreement formalizing the Philippines’ hosting of the governing body of a global fund designed to help climate-vulnerable countries recover from typhoons, floods, and other impacts of climate change.
The Senate Committee Report 97, which Cayetano signed along with other senators on September 9, allows the country to host the Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, under a measure principally sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.
The Philippines was selected in 2024 to host the Fund’s Board and Secretariat over seven other countries, a role that takes on greater significance as the country ranks first in the WorldRiskIndex for the fourth consecutive year and faces a moderate-to-strong El Niño that could intensify before the end of 2026.
Created to assist developing countries particularly vulnerable to climate change, the Fund may support immediate humanitarian needs as well as recovery, reconstruction, rehabilitation, displacement, relocation, and other losses caused by extreme weather and slow-onset climate impacts.
The agreement complements Cayetano’s long-standing push for stronger disaster preparedness and rehabilitation as extreme weather places greater pressure on Filipino communities.
The senator is consistent in pushing Senate Bill No. 105, or the proposed Emergency Response Department (ERD) Act, which seeks to establish a dedicated department responsible for year-round disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation.
“We have to seriously address this ‘new normal’ of extreme weather in the country,” he said.
“Magaling na tayo sa relief programs, pero sa rehabilitation at disaster management, mahina pa,” he added.
As of March 2026, the Loss and Damage Fund had received $822 million in pledges from 27 parties, with around $591.71 million already transferred.
Hosting the Fund’s Board is also expected to strengthen the Philippines’ participation in international cooperation on climate finance, adaptation, and resilience while building local capacity and bringing the Fund’s operations closer to countries most exposed to climate impacts.
Cayetano has maintained that while disasters cannot always be prevented, government can limit their impact through sustained preparation and investment in resilient communities.
“We may not be able to stop disasters but we can empower ourselves with knowledge, training, education, equipment, tools, and the right infrastructure to cope with disasters so many lives would not be lost and there would be less devastation,” he said.
Filipino Version
PH hosting ng global climate loss and damage fund board suportado ni Cayetano
Suportado ni Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano ang kasunduang pormal na magbibigay-daan sa Pilipinas na maging host ng governing body ng isang pandaigdigang pondo para tulungan ang mga bansang bulnerable sa climate change na makabangon mula sa mga bagyo, baha at iba pang epekto ng pagbabago ng klima.
Nitong September 9, nilagdaan ni Cayetano at iba pang senador ang Committee Report 97 para sa kasunduang nagbibigay-daan sa Pilipinas na maging host ng Board ng Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage.
Sa ilalim ito ng panukalang pangunahing inakda ni Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Napili ang Pilipinas noong 2024 bilang host ng Board at Secretariat ng pondo matapos talunin ang pito pang bansang naghangad na maging host nito.
Malaki ang kahalagahan nito para sa Pilipinas na nanguna sa 2025 WorldRiskIndex bilang pinaka-risk-prone na bansa sa mundo sa ikaapat na magkakasunod na taon. Nakatutok din ang bansa sa epekto ng moderate hanggang strong El Niño na maaaring lumala bago matapos ang 2026.
Layunin ng Loss and Damage Fund na tulungan ang mga developing country na higit na vulnerable sa climate change. Maaari itong maglaan ng pondo para sa agarang humanitarian needs, recovery, reconstruction, rehabilitation, displacement, relocation at iba pang pagkalugi at pinsalang dulot ng matitinding weather events at iba pang pangmatagalang epekto ng climate change.
Kasabay nito, muling iginiit ni Cayetano ang pangangailangan para sa mas matibay na disaster preparedness at rehabilitation sa bansa.
Patuloy na isinusulong ng senador ang Senate Bill No. 105 o ang panukalang Emergency Response Department (ERD) Act, na magtatatag ng hiwalay na kagawaran na tututok sa disaster preparedness, response, recovery at rehabilitation sa buong taon.
“We have to seriously address this ‘new normal’ of extreme weather in the country,” wika ni Cayetano.
“Magaling na tayo sa relief programs, pero sa rehabilitation at disaster management, mahina pa,” dagdag niya.
Nitong March 2026, nasa $822 milyon na ang pledges para sa Loss and Damage Fund mula sa 27 parties, habang $591.71 milyon na ang nailipat sa pondo.
Inaasahang magbibigay rin ng dagdag na oportunidad sa Pilipinas ang pagho-host nito upang mapalakas ang partisipasyon ng bansa sa international cooperation para sa climate finance, adaptation at resilience, gayundin ang lokal na kapasidad sa pagtugon sa mga sakuna.
Para kay Cayetano, maaaring hindi tuluyang mapigilan ang mga sakuna ngunit maaaring mabawasan ang pinsala nito sa pamamagitan ng tuloy-tuloy na paghahanda, pagsasanay at pamumuhunan sa matitibay na komunidad at imprastraktura.
“We may not be able to stop disasters but we can empower ourselves with knowledge, training, education, equipment, tools, and the right infrastructure to cope with disasters so many lives would not be lost and there would be less devastation,” wika niya.
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