PPP projects, particularly key infrastructure facilities, for LGUs are critical capital assets funded from scarce LGU resources. Therefore, such assets must be protected, preserved and maintained and sustained not only to maximize the economic and financial returns of such LGU investment but more importantly because these facilities provided critical and vital public services and goods that have greater social and economic impacts to constituencies of an LGU.
The threats and risks posed by climate change-related extreme weather conditions and disasters are becoming frequent and increasing that may result into the destruction of many of these vital local infrastructures if not properly attuned or related to environmental, geophysical and climatological conditions where such projects would be established.
The conduct and assessment of critical environmental studies, including climate change and disaster risks and vulnerabilities, biodiversity impact, air/water/noise pollution, geo-hazard threats, land conversion, aesthetic and cultural/historical considerations must be integrated into the project identification, preparation, design, and implementation stages for all proposed LGU PPP projects.
Outputs and results of these studies should serve as inputs to the preparation and formulation of environmental/ resource management plans, climate change and disaster risk mitigation/adaptation measures, land use planning and zoning ordinance enhancements/revisions, and compliance to other environmental laws and permitting requirements such as the EIA system. Plans, programs and activities identified through these studies and assessments should be integrated into the preparation of the project's proposed financial and economic estimates over the project's lifetime.
For sustainability purposes, the new EMB Memorandum Circular 2011-05 mandates the integration of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) concerns in the Philippine EIS System. The new guidelines for MC 2011-05 were formulated to ensure that development projects will anticipate, avoid and mitigate the impacts of natural hazard- and climate-related factors.