Environment Secretary Lito Atienza announced the approval of a P182.5-million grant from the German Technical Cooperation to fund a three-year project that would develop strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change on the country.

At the soft launching of the project in Quezon City, Atienza said that the project would be an essential help to the Philippine government’s efforts to address climate change.

Atienza said the grant will finance an information and education campaign to raise people’s awareness on the effects of climate change, reforestation, and biodiversity conservation measures, among others.

“Since the Philippines is one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, the strategies that will be developed under the project are expected to increase the communities’ resilience to natural disasters, thus preventing loss of lives and properties,” Atienza said.

GTZ officials who attended the soft launch include Dr. Uwe Scholz, program adviser; Dr. Walter Salzer, program manager; and Pit Heltman, counselor.

President Arroyo last Jan. 19 signed Executive Order 774 reorganizing the Presidential Task Force on Climate Change in an effort to strengthen the government’s effort to mitigate the impact of climate change on the country’s environment. Under the reorganized task force, President Arroyo serves as chairman, with her Cabinet as members.

“The GTZ-funded project can also strengthen the implementation of solid waste management, wherein the DENR is the lead agency of the task group,” Atienza said.

Atienza has already formed a project steering committee and a technical working group to ensure effective implementation of the German-funded project.