From Policy to Governance Practice: An Implementation Assessment of the Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP) in Misamis Oriental, Philippines
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2026.024Keywords:
Climate action, Local climate governance, Resilience, Sustainable developmentAbstract
This study addresses the limited empirical evidence on the implementation of Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAPs) at the municipal level in the Philippines. While LCCAPs are mandated nationwide, few studies systematically examine the institutional and governance factors that influence their effective execution. This study explores how local governments translate climate initiatives into action by assessing the implementation of LCCAPs in nine municipalities of Misamis Oriental, Philippines. Anchored in Policy Implementation Theory, it examines how institutional support, personnel attributes, financial resources, and community participation shape climate resilience at the local level. Using a mixed-methods design, the study gathered data from 72 LCCAP Technical Working Group members and conducted Focus Group Discussions. Spearman’s Rho revealed strong positive relationships among all variables, with community engagement showing the highest association with successful implementation (ρ = 0.91), followed by institutional robustness (ρ = 0.88), personnel attributes (ρ = 0.77), and funding support (ρ = 0.68). Findings highlight that visionary local leadership and active citizen engagement drive progress in implementation. However, sustaining technical capacity and establishing a dedicated LCCAP office remain key challenges. Strengthening institutional coordination, climate financing mechanisms, and participatory governance can accelerate climate resilient development in Philippine municipalities.
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