In a historic move for global climate action, the Philippines signed the Host Country Agreement (HCA) with the Board of the Loss and Damage Fund on Tuesday at the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The landmark agreement positions the Philippines to host the Fund’s operations which is aimed at supporting vulnerable communities worldwide affected by climate change.

In her speech, Environment Secretary and head of the Philippine delegation Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga expressed pride in a historic step, underscoring the Philippines’ unique experience as an archipelago frequently impacted by natural disasters.

She said the Philippines has a deep and personal stake in ensuring that the funds for responding to loss and damage become accessible to those who need them the most.

“We, in turn, are fully committed to ensuring its smooth, transparent, and effective operations, and the signing of this agreement establishes the framework and services for the Board to function in the Philippines with the privileges, immunities, and legal capacities essential to fulfilling its mandate,” Loyzaga said.

She said the fund will be critical in addressing the worst impacts of climate change and crucial for affected communities to rebuild, recover, and move toward a resilient future.

Loyzaga cited the recent string of tropical cyclones that hit the Philippines, causing extensive damage to the lives and livelihood of many Filipinos.

“The Philippines is experiencing a historically unprecedented series of extreme weather events. In the past three weeks, we have been struck by four successive tropical cyclones. A fifth has just made a landfall, and a sixth is on the way,” she said.

She added the cumulative impacts of devastation on lives and livelihoods, properties, and ecosystems still need to be fully assessed while the government continues its response and relief efforts.

Loyzaga also conveyed the message of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to the parties, saying that the Philippines’ experiences could serve as a baseline for understanding the urgent needs of climate-vulnerable nations.

“The Philippines may be a test case for the Fund in responding to this unique cumulative loss of lives and damage to critical infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, roads, water and power systems,” she said.

Loyzaga said the Philippine delegation to the COP29 in Baku aims to advance four goals, specifically in the areas of climate finance, adaptation, and just transition, with the signing of the agreement as the fourth goal.

“Please be assured that we stand ready to deliver on this agreement as part of our global commitment to ensuring the most vulnerable can win this race to resilience,” she said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan and COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev expressed gratitude to countries for reconfirming their previous pledges.

He urged more pledges to the fund to meet the urgent needs of climate change victims.

“This progress will allow us to finally turn pledges into real support. That means that funding will be able to flow in 2025,” he said.

The Philippines was chosen as the host country of the Loss and Damage Board in its second meeting in July 2024 in Songdo, South Korea.

On Aug. 28, 2024, President Marcos signed into law Republic Act No. 12019 known as the Loss and Damage Fund Board Act. (PNA)