Camarines Norte paves its way to sustainable agriculture, renewable energy
- Media Communications
- Feb 23
- 3 min read
Quezon City, Philippines — As the onslaught of the climate crisis continues, steps taken by communities to formulate and implement mitigation and possible solutions have proven important in the fight for a sustainable future. Supporting this, the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) will engage with the people of Camarines Norte through Labo Progressive Multi Purpose Cooperative (LPMPC) and the local government of Labo, to coordinate activities that improve the province’s adaptability to the climate crisis.
Key priorities of the partnership include establishing a sustainable agriculture learning hub with a nursery of open-pollinated varieties, a municipal seed bank, and permaculture practices. LPMPC will serve as the implementer and host organization of Synergy Pilipinas in Labo. Synergy Pilipinas is a network of cooperatives, non-government and people’s organizations, and higher education institutions supported by the development cooperation of the Government of Belgium through the Province of West Flanders. PMCJ is a member organization of Synergy Pilipinas.
Camarines Norte is located in an area vulnerable to the intensified storms of the climate crisis. At the path of typhoons, it sustained damage last January when Typhoon Ada, this year’s first storm, hit the country. In 2025, around 3,600 farmers and fisherfolk in Camarines Norte were affected by Typhoon Uwan.
According to Laica Rayel, PMCJ senior food, land, water, and climate (FLWC) campaign officer, the intensifying climate impacts are now affecting our food security and the country’s ability to produce and grow food. “Typhoon Uwan left more than ₱ 4 billion in agricultural damages last year. That is just one typhoon. As storms get stronger with each year we do not solve the climate crisis, and with our funds for agriculture being stuck in the pockets of the corrupt, a national food crisis is entirely possible.”
Norma Damasco, Chief Executive Officer of the Camarines Norte Federation of Cooperatives (CANOFECO), lamented, ”Our province faces the first and the strongest hits of storms. As a result, our food and livelihood are wiped out, our houses are flooded, and the people are left with nothing. This happens many times of the year. Without proper support to recover and to adjust to climate change, we can really do nothing but rely on each other.”
The “Adaptation to Climate Change through Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Agriculture Striving for Mitigation Co-Benefits”, known as the Synergy Pilipinas, is a cooperation platform of various organizations based in the Philippines (cooperatives and membership-based organizations, non-government and people’s organizations, and higher education institutions) and supported by the Province of West Flanders (Belgium).
“Recognizing the role of local government units (LGUs) in fostering an enabling environment for its stakeholders, we seek to extend our partnership through the engagement of pilot LGUs, which includes the LGU of Labo. The cooperation will also develop an organic marketing hub and implement a Local Climate Information Service (CIS) consistent with smart city concepts,” said Lani Concepcion, Project Manager of Synergy Pilipinas.
PMCJ also joined Camarines Norte Federation of Cooperatives (CANOFECO)’s Provincial Forum on Climate Change and Organic Agriculture. With speakers discussing climate justice and climate finance, the forum hopes to push for formal recognition of the climate crisis, establish a Climate Crisis Action Framework for renewable energy, sustainable farming, and related areas, and call for climate funding to support community institutions in adapting to its effects.
Ian Rivera, PMCJ National Coordinator, said the importance of local work in the fight for climate justice and the campaign for a rapid and just transition to sustainable systems requires the solidarity of all the peoples. “On the ground level, the mobilization of communities, groups, and local government to address the crisis is important to be a unified block in pushing for alternatives and solutions that would actually prepare us to address the climate crisis.” ###
For inquiries, contact:
Christian John P. Argallon
Junior Media and Communications Officer
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice
For other PMCJ-related concerns, contact:
Sheila Abarra
Senior Media and Communications Officer
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice
Viber: +639916692356
WhatsApp: +639380898327
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