The Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) will hold its ninth meeting from July 8 to 10, 2026, at the Asian Development Bank headquarters in Mandaluyong City. Hosted by the Philippines through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the gathering brings together board members, climate experts, civil society representatives, and government officials to strengthen support for developing nations hardest hit by climate change.
Participants will discuss key policies and operations, including putting the Barbados Implementation Modalities into practice, funding arrangements, resource mobilization, and how to make aid more timely and accessible. The agenda also includes a high-level dialogue and consultations with civil society to ensure transparency and inclusive decision-making.
DENR Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna noted that the meeting is critical to turning global promises into real help for vulnerable communities. “Decisions here will build the foundations needed to protect countries that face the worst climate risks despite contributing the least to emissions,” he said.
As ASEAN Chair for 2026, the Philippines continues to push for better links between international commitments and local needs – a priority the country highlighted at recent UN climate talks in Bonn.
The Philippines has also submitted its own project proposal for review: the ALON (Archipelagic Loss and Damage Responses from Local to National Recovery) Project. If approved, it will run from 2027 to 2032 in Catanduanes and Sarangani, combining ecosystem restoration, livelihood support, community financing, and better local governance to build resilience.
Established to assist climate-vulnerable developing countries, the FRLD covers both economic and non-economic losses from extreme weather and slow changes like rising sea levels. This is the second time the Philippines has hosted the fund’s board, following a meeting in Pasay City in late 2025.
