The Climate Change Commission (CCC) has strengthened its carbon offsetting program, the Net Zero Challenge (NZC), with the help of the local government unit (LGU) of Paete, Laguna and the National Power Corporation (NPC).

In a news release on Friday, the commission stated that CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert Borje expressed appreciation to Paete Mayor Ronald Cosico and the local government for their sustained partnership over the past three years during their meeting on July 31.

He emphasized the importance of working closely with LGUs and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) in driving community-level climate action.

The NPC owns and manages Caliraya-Lumot Watershed, the site of NZC.

“Local governments are at the frontline of climate action. Strengthening our partnerships with LGUs like Paete and with government corporations like NPC helps ensure that national climate policies translate into real, community-driven solutions on the ground,” Borje said.

“The Net Zero Challenge is proof that cross-sector collaboration can deliver impact and inspire action.”

For his part, Cosico conveyed the LGU’s ongoing support for the NZC, emphasizing how the partnership has enhanced Paete’s local climate initiatives.

He also raised community challenges, particularly those caused by typhoons and other extreme weather events, and discussed the LGU’s plan to update its Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP).

In response, Borje assured the LGU of the CCC’s continued technical assistance in the updating of the LCCAP as he reiterated the CCC’s commitment to expanding capacity-building efforts and technical collaboration to help scale the progress of the NZC in the region.

These efforts are aligned with the Philippine government’s commitment to pursue climate resilience and sustainable development at all levels, with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. consistently highlighting the critical role of local governments in achieving national climate goals.

This visit marks another step forward in operationalizing the CCC’s commitment to localized and inclusive climate action.

By reinforcing the LGU-GOCC partnership model, the CCC aims to demonstrate that the NZC can deliver both measurable carbon reduction and tangible co-benefits for communities.

The program also serves as a model for implementing the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and related climate strategies across the country.

The NZC was launched in the Caliraya-Lumot watershed in 2023 in partnership with the LGU of Paete and NPC.

This program aims to translate key national climate policies such as the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), the National Strategy Framework on Climate Change (NSFCC), and the NDC into grounded climate action through nature-based solutions and inclusive community engagement. (PNA)