MANILA, Philippines — Environmental experts are pushing for stronger public-private partnerships (PPPs) to address the impact of climate change and mitigate other disaster risks, several days after the country suffered from the onslaught of Super Typhoon Carina.
In a climate change forum organized by the Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Annaliza Teh urged the government to strengthen its cooperation and partnership with the private sector and civil society organizations.
“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.
“Central to this approach is transparent governance, which ensures accountability and effective implementation of initiatives to mitigate climate impacts and build resilience across the nation.”
Teh highlighted the dangerous impacts of climate change, citing that around 2.5 million Filipinos were displaced in 2023 primarily due to disasters.
She further said climate change is projected to impact 7.6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product by 2030, submerge 16.9 percent of national islands by 2100, and exacerbate water shortage by 2040.
Spearheading a more collaborative approach to climate resilience, PBEST Lead Convenor and Stratbase ADR Institute president Dindo Manhit emphasized how civil society groups such as PBEST can engage both the public and private sectors by aligning its advocacies with national objectives.
“We 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,” said Manhit.
Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation president Rene “Butch” Meily echoed Manhit’s sentiments, calling for further collaboration among sectors, especially in disaster risk response.
“Much of the Philippine economy is privatized. Whether it’s water, energy, (telecommunications), logistics – these are all private companies. Therefore, we need to work with the government. We try to use the core expertise of our companies in all these different phases: preparedness, response, and recovery,” said Meily.
To ensure their effective implementation, La Salle Institute of Governance senior fellow Francisco Magno highlighted collaborative governance in the local government sector as a strategy toward more effective disaster mitigation.
“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.
Young Environmental Forum founder and chief strategic advisor Ludwig Federigan also echoed the need for coordinated efforts across governments, communities, and stakeholders to make resilient cities capable of enduring the threats of climate change.
“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 ensuringsustainable and reputable recovery,” he said.
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