THE Philippines is eyeing a partnership with Singapore to strengthen environmental protection and explore innovative solutions.
The Department of Environment Resources (DENR) said on Tuesday that the collaboration would include water resource management, biodiversity conservation, energy transition and reforestation.
This, after Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga and Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam met on August 16 and discussed these matters.
During the meeting, Yulo-Loyzaga and Undersecretary for Integrated Environmental Science Carlos Primo David presented an overview of the department’s Geospatial Database Office’s (GDO) water resource management initiatives.
The presentation included the GDO’s successful mapping of the country’s natural resources, including water bodies, forests and mangrove ecosystems.
The meeting also included representatives from the private sector and government agencies of both countries. They also tackled utilizing advanced technology to address shared challenges, attract international investments and adopt best practices.
Participants of the private sector from the Philippines included Jaime Zobel de Ayala of Ayala Corp., Teresita Sy-Coson of SM Investments, Isidro Consunji of DMCI Homes and chief executive officers (CEOs) of the Manila Water and Maynilad.
CEO of Temasek decarbonization accelerator GenZero and executives from Singaporean companies CarbonSync and Arkadiah were also present.
According to the DENR, the discussion was preceded by the signing of a memorandum of understanding on August 15 between Yulo-Loyzaga and Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu Hai Yien.
The agreement also enables the Philippines and Singapore to cooperate on climate action in order to meet emission reduction targets through the development of high integrity carbon credits while supporting reforestation and community development.
Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. were also present. Tharman, meanwhile, was accompanied by Fu, Singapore’s Ambassador to the Philippines Constance See, members of the Singaporean Parliament and other senior government officials.
The DENR assured continued gains against the impacts of climate change through the possible cooperation of both countries.
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