Stakeholders from the government, private and civil sectors, and the academe discussed climate change issues and actions in a forum organized by the Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST) on Monday, July 29. (Photo courtesy of PBEST/Facebook)
MANILA, Philippines — The government should strengthen and utilize public and private partnerships to address climate issues and mitigate impacts following the series of calamities in the country, environmental experts said in a climate change forum on Monday.
According to Annaliza Teh, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary for Finance, Information Systems, and Climate Change, a transparent government is crucial in strengthening partnerships and ensuring that climate measures are carried out.
“Forging strong collaboration is crucial for advancing climate action and enhancing disaster resilience. The Philippines remains committed to adopting a whole-of-nation approach.
“This collective effort underscores our dedication to safeguarding vulnerable communities, promoting sustainable development, and securing a resilient future for all Filipinos amidst escalating climate challenges,” said Teh.
Teh also noted that 2.5 million Filipinos were displaced in 2023 mainly due to disasters. This year, heavy floods and landslides brought by Typhoon Carina, the southwest monsoon or habagat, and Tropical Depression Butchoy caused major floods and landslides in different parts of the country, leaving casualties and damage to properties and livelihood.
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Many areas were also declared under a state of calamity while some schools postponed their opening of classes to give way to rehabilitation of damaged classrooms and other school facilities.
Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST) Lead Convenor and Stratbase ADR Institute President Dindo Manhit said that private and civil society organizations are essential in addressing climate change.
He added that they use PBEST “as an effective, impactful driver and environmental arm, echoing not only the government’s initiatives but also bridging the gap between public and private services geared towards the green transition [and] movement in our country.”
Furthermore, according to La Salle Institute of Governance Senior Fellow Dr. Francisco Magno, initiatives and insights from local government units are important in determining what climate measures to strategize.
“You need input from local community because of the diversity of the challenges in the different local ecosystems. Because the challenges are different than the hazards. Because we are a diverse country,” said Magno.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his 3rd State of the Nation Address highlighted the importance of climate change mitigation strategies, citing that “the economic agenda cannot and will not ever be incompatible with our climate change agenda.”
The President also underscored the importance of partnerships of government and private offices in achieving “sustainable and liveable communities.”
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Young Environmental Forum Founder Luwdig Federigan also noted that resilience and accountability should go hand in hand in achieving the full effort of climate measures.
“While resilience is about the capacity to withstand and recover from extreme weather events, accountability ensures that the actions taken to achieve resilience are transparent, just, and effective. Both resilience and accountability are crucial in protecting our communities, efficiently using resources, learning from past experiences, and ensuring sustainable and reputable recovery,” said Federigan.
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