Tagum City, Philippines
This case study is linked to our resource guide, Strengthening the Asian City Climate Project Pipeline.
Tagum is a coastal component city in the province of Davao del Norte, located in the Davao Region with total population of 425,741. Spread across 195.8 square kilometres, it serves as the provincial capital. The city is divided into 23 'barangays' – the term given to the smallest administrative division in the Philippines, equivalent to a village, district, or ward – and sits at an elevation of approximately 24 meters above sea level.
Tagum City has a diverse economy with significant contributions from agriculture, commerce, and industry.
Climate-related project: Carport Roof Mounted Solar and Retrofitting of Trade Center project
Project overview
Carport Roof Mounted Solar is a climate resilience and sustainability project which is currently in the planning and preliminary design stages. It involves site assessments, feasibility studies, and the development of initial design concepts.
The Retrofitting of Trade Center project focuses on upgrading the existing infrastructure of the Trade Centre in Tagum, to improve water management and its climate resilience. The project is currently in preliminary design stage.
Project objective
The Carport Roof Mounted Solar project aims to reduce GHG emissions while reducing electricity expenditures. This will completely cover the electrical power needs of the city hall building.
The Retrofitting of Trade Center project aims to enhance the building, using blue-green roofs that will impact the microclimate of the city, with positive effects on water management, reduced heat stress, and improved health conditions and biodiversity. It will provide shade and remove heat from the air through evapotranspiration, reducing temperatures of the roof surface and the surrounding air. It will also collect water for reuse. The city will convert the roads into bike lanes and walkways to meet the needs of the busy Center. Spaces will be reclaimed from vehicles to not only reduce emissions, but to also provide sufficient spaces for green recovery and creating opportunities for our micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to operate despite the pandemic.
Barriers for robust project preparation
Technical challenges, namely the capability to conduct feasibility studies, as well as identifying appropriate solar technologies and integrating them into existing structures.
Financial constraints such as securing upfront capital for green infrastructure investments, especially with the focus on green roofs and energy-efficient retrofitting.
Knowledge gaps such as a lack of local expertise in the implementation of blue-green roofs and sustainable energy technologies.
Regulatory and permitting issues including delays or complexity in obtaining approvals for infrastructure changes or modifications to public spaces.
Type of technical assistance needed/expected from the GAP Fund
Carport Roof Mounted Solar
Feasibility studies, technical assistance for solar energy system design, cost-benefit analysis, and financial structuring
Support in identifying suitable solar technologies and reliable suppliers
Retrofitting of Trade Center
Feasibility studies, expertise in sustainable architecture and climate-resilient infrastructure
Assistance in the design, implementation, and maintenance of blue-green roofs, including knowledge-sharing on best practices for water management and heat mitigation
Funding support for green building materials and integration with the city's urban development goals
Lessons learned when preparing the Expression of Interest (EOI) form for the GAP Fund
Useful aspects
Clear guidelines and the structured framework for project preparation helped identify the necessary steps and information needed
Support from local stakeholders helped align project goals with community interests and needs
Challenges
Complexity in aligning the technical and financial aspects of the projects with the fund's requirements
Limited capacity in preparing detailed, data-driven proposals, especially related to cost-benefit analysis and environmental impacts
Next steps
The city needs access to the following:
Further technical assistance to refine both projects such as expert support in conducting comprehensive energy audits, solar system designs, and implementing innovative blue-green roof designs; and
Best practices and case studies of similar projects to ensure high-quality implementation.
Additionally, the city needs to secure funding for both projects (with potential support for the installation of solar systems and retrofitting works), while:
Attracting investors using GAP Fund support, leveraging co-financing, and expanding the scope of projects; and
Exploring opportunities for international partnerships in sustainable infrastructure and urban development.
Key recommendations for other cities
Engage stakeholders early in the process, to ensure broad support and alignment with local priorities;
Seek expert assistance in the initial stages of proposal preparation, to overcome technical and financial barriers; and
Ensure that the EOI includes detailed projections of environmental, social, and financial impacts to increase chances of funding.
Explore our resource guide Strengthening the Asian City Climate Project Pipeline, or read our other case study on Jambi City, Indonesia.