The Department of Finance (DOF) led a project implementation-capacity building workshop on September 30, 2024 to streamline the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) process for local government unit (LGU) beneficiaries and fast-track the country’s actions towards climate and disaster risk resilience.

“With this collaboration with our development partners here with us today, we are confident that these sessions will enable the streamlining of the PSF process for our beneficiaries, thereby improving the timeliness of project implementation,” Chief of Staff, Undersecretary, and PSF Alternate Chair Maria Luwalhati Dorotan Tiuseco said.

“We envision the PSF to be the standard of locally-led adaptation funds in the world, and that the Fund may truly live up to its name––the People’s Survival Fund,” she added.

The workshop is specifically aimed at addressing the realities and challenges faced by LGUs in complying with the technical and financial documents for successful project implementation.

During the workshop, the PSF Board Secretariat briefed LGU beneficiaries on the PSF policies and processes i.e. onboarding, documentary requirements, project implementation modifications, additional funding, and project development grant guidelines.

Meanwhile, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) gave an overview of its roles in the PSF process, including reviewing and evaluating proposals, developing accreditation guidelines, promoting the PSF, and developing criteria to prioritize the use of the Fund.

It is likewise mandated to conduct the Climate Rationale Review and Evaluation (CRRE) of project proposals submitted for PSF.

Finally, the Commission on Audit (COA) provided their latest review on the Performance Audit for the National Climate Change Action Plan which includes the PSF. This highlights the good practices and areas of improvement to further scale up access of LGUs in accessing the Fund as well as advancing its current operations.

The COA recommended conducting continuous awareness campaigns to improve the uptake of the Fund and strengthening the technical capacity of eligible proponents through regular capacity-building.

CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje, representatives of the PSF Board from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), and Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) were present at the workshop.

“[I]t’s time for us to show our dedication and our commitment to climate justice. I’m very happy and encouraged that you’re all here and you want to contribute to adaptation and resilience,” Secretary Borje said.

He further emphasized that with the PSF, the government is able to witness faster application and faster movements on disbursement.

Local chief executives in attendance were Mayors Jenry Montante of Kitcharao Agusan del Sur and Damian Luzon Jr. of San Jose Northern Samar.

Participants also consisted of PSF focal persons from the Provincial Government Units of Ilocos Norte, Mountain Province and Sarangani; and the Municipalities of Besao, Bobon, Borongan, Cabagan, Catanauan, Cortes, Gerona, Maramag, Mondragon, Kitcharao, Pambujan, Rosario, San Francisco, and San Jose.

Development partners from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) also joined the event as a window of opportunity to gauge the current status of the Fund and identify potential areas of collaboration.

The workshop was hosted by DOF with support from the UNDP through its Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities Against Disasters and Climate Change (SHIELD) Programme.

Since its establishment, the PSF has already fully committed PHP 1 billion to a total of 19 LGUs.

To date, 13 LGUs have been given grants to implement local adaptation projects, while 6 LGUs’ proposals have been given approval to access the sub financing window of at least PHP 2 million for Project Development Grant.

The DOF as the PSF Secretariat is working towards the replenishment of the Fund and securing the augmentation of at least PHP 1 billion from the national budget as a commitment of the government to scale up climate finance at the local level.