by Elvy T. Estacio, RPCO-CAR InfoACE, with notes from Johnwayne Tosay (DA-PRDP Cordillera I-PLAN)

To strengthen Abra’s agricultural resilience to climate change, planners and agriculturists from the province’s local government units convened in Bangued, Abra from November 12 to 15, 2024.

The workshop, facilitated by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Coordination Office-CAR (RPCO-CAR), focused on updating Abra’s Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) to integrate Climate-Risk Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) findings.

The PCIP is a strategic three-year plan that identifies investment opportunities and interventions, serving as the basis for funding subprojects under the DA-PRDP, other government agencies, and the private sector.

Participants were introduced to the Planners Portal, a tool that generates crucial data, including vulnerability maps and templates summarizing climate risks for agricultural commodities. The updated plan emphasizes incorporating risk profiles for municipalities and enhancing value chain upgrading strategies by integrating climate adaptation measures.

Dr. Lynn J. Talkasen, from the Benguet State University (BSU) Center for Geoinformatics, presented CRVA findings for key commodities in Abra, such as coffee, mango, rice, and corn. The study highlighted the vulnerabilities of various municipalities to climate risks, offering valuable insights to guide development interventions.

OIC Provincial Agriculturist Cris Gulloy emphasized the value of the workshop.

“This activity is an excellent opportunity for municipal planners to learn about the CRVA findings and use this knowledge to enhance their plans, ensuring climate-resilient interventions for their communities,” Gulloy said.

Echoing this sentiment, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Santos Bernardez noted the PCIP’s critical role as a reference for both municipal and provincial planners.

“The resulting outputs of the workshop will be consolidated to align municipal priorities with the province’s overall development plans,” he said.

Abra’s updated PCIP is set to be finalized and approved by the Provincial Development Council (PDC) in the first quarter of 2025. This effort follows the successful integration of climate considerations into PCIPs from other Cordillera provinces, including Kalinga, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, and Mountain Province. ###