The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) received a Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) Quality Assurance and Review (QAR) Approval Certification for Fiscal Year 2027 from the Climate Change Commission (CCC) along with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), signifying the Council’s commitment to climate-responsive and disaster-resilient public health.

The CCET QAR is a mechanism that enables the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives among government agencies. Through this, agencies identify and propose climate change adaptation and mitigation Programs, Activities, or Projects (P/A/Ps) for the annual budget call. At the same time, this also provides a reference to measure progress in relation to the agencies’ identified initiatives.

Led by the DOST-PCHRD’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in Health (DRR-CCAH) Program team, the Council presented its proposed climate-tagged initiatives focusing on the development of science-based solutions and innovations to identify major climate-related diseases contributing to morbidity and mortality, ensure food security and proper nutrition during disasters, and advance science and technology-driven innovations toward building resilient health systems through R&D.

“The DOST recognizes the interconnectedness of climate change adaptation and disaster preparedness,” said DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr., stressing the need for an integrated approach in addressing climate change. “The Council’s DRR-CCAH Program’s efforts approved by the CCC and DBM in the CCET QAR reflects this key strategy that will bring greater impact towards the Philippines  National Adaptation Plan 2023-2050,” he added.

The issuance of the approval certification not only serves as a prerequisite for government agencies to ensure alignment between their budgets and the national climate goals, but also stands as a testament to DOST-PCHRD’s resolve – driven by the DRR-CCAH Program’s sustained compliance efforts – to embed climate and disaster resilience at the heart of health research and development in the Philippines. By securing this certification, the DOST-PCHRD reaffirms that investments in climate change adaptation are also investments in strengthening the country’s capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, safeguarding communities where health risks and hazard vulnerabilities converge.