Manila: The Climate Change Commission (CCC) on Monday affirmed its support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s call for predictive governance, highlighting the alignment of this approach with the government's existing climate policies.
According to Philippines News Agency, CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje emphasized the critical role of science, risk assessment, and long-term planning in public decision-making. He noted that predictive governance is increasingly seen as a measure of effective governance, not just by institutional responses post-crisis, but by anticipating risks to prevent disasters.
President Marcos, in his 5th State of the Nation Address, underscored a shift from reactive to predictive governance, enhanced by digital tools. He detailed the establishment of a nationwide disaster response network, which includes disaster resource centers across Luzon, the Visayas, and a forthcoming center in Mindanao. This network, supported by numerous hubs, spokes, and last-mile facilities, ensures relief goods reach affected areas within 24 hours, facilitated by mobile power units and an emergency communications system.
Borje indicated that Marcos's address aligns with the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023-2050, the Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan (NDCIP), and the National Climate Risk Management Framework (NCRMF). These policies aim to bolster the government's climate risk anticipation and embed scientific evidence into public decision-making processes.
The NAP, the country's inaugural long-term climate adaptation strategy, seeks to mitigate climate vulnerability by embedding adaptation into national and local policies. Concurrently, the NDCIP and NCRMF outline the Philippines' climate commitments and provide a science-based approach to risk management.
Borje described these policies as crucial governance instruments, enhancing the government's ability to integrate evidence into planning and align investments with national priorities. He noted that predictive governance is part of a larger transformation in public institutions, aiming to ensure that science and foresight guide today's decisions for a resilient future.
The CCC pledged continued collaboration with national and local government agencies, the private sector, and civil society to strengthen science-based planning and multi-risk governance, aspiring to evolve predictive governance into a prescriptive approach that ensures informed decision-making for the Philippines' future.
