The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), represented by Executive Director Angelo Kairos Dela Cruz, and the De La Salle University Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance (DLSU-JRIG), represented by DLSU Vice President for Research and Innovation Dr. Raymond R. Tan, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the De La Salle University Manila on Tuesday, May 27, affirming their commitment to ensure the effective utilization of climate finance.
“This is more than forging a partnership, it’s a testament to our shared commitment of advancing inclusive climate resilience and sustainable development at all levels of governance,” says DLSU-JRIG Director Dr. Francisco A. Magno.
ICSC and DLSU-JRIG aim to redesign the Climate Finance Accountability Initiative (CFAI) local tracking toolkit to equip local government units, civil society, and the academe with the necessary capacities to ensure that climate finance is utilized effectively, tailored to the Philippine context and emerging issues on climate finance. The toolkit will integrate data on Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET), and locally validated information on climate-related spending.
“When stakeholders can see and question how funds are allocated and spent, we become partners in the solution rather than passive and uninformed beneficiaries,” Dela Cruz stressed.
This collaboration also aims to contribute to further strengthening commitments under the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP), where both ICSC and DLSU currently serve as representatives.
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Photos (c) Gabe Algar/ICSC
