The Philippines has earned international recognition for advancing transparency and participation in climate governance. The Climate Change Commission’s (CCC) Project IMPACT (Inclusive Monitoring and Participation for Accountability in Climate Transformation) received the top award under the Climate and Environment category at the 2025 Open Gov Challenge during the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
Among 20 global commitments, Project IMPACT stood out for its citizen-centered approach to managing climate finance, positioning the Philippines as a global leader in open and participatory climate action.
Empowering Citizens Through Data and Participation
Designed with inclusivity in mind, Project IMPACT allows citizens to track, analyze, and engage in climate-related investments. The platform integrates geo-tagged data visualization, social media-style feedback, and offline access, ensuring that communities—even in remote areas—can participate in climate monitoring.
The system closes the feedback loop by enabling citizens to report issues and receive official government responses. This direct engagement enhances transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in public climate spending.
CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje underscored the importance of accessible climate finance data, saying: “Every peso spent for climate response must be traceable, effective, and responsive to people’s needs.”
Strengthening Climate Governance Through Collaboration
Project IMPACT builds on the Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) system established under Joint Memorandum Circular 2015-01 by the CCC, Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Supported by UNDP and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), the initiative will be piloted from 2026 to 2028 in four climate-vulnerable provinces under the National Adaptation Plan.
The recognition also reflects the Philippines’ broader commitment to open government, reinforced by Executive Order No. 31 institutionalizing the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP).
By empowering citizens to take part in monitoring and shaping climate action, Project IMPACT transforms transparency into trust, and participation into progress toward a more resilient and sustainable future.
