Environmental experts pushed for stronger public-private partnerships to address climate change impacts and mitigate other disaster risks several days after the onslaught of Super Typhoon “Carina.”
During a climate change forum organized by the Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST) earlier this week.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary for Finance, Information Systems, and Climate Change Annaliza Teh underscored the need for 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,” Teh said.
“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,” she added.
Teh highlighted the dangerous impacts of climate change, citing that around 2.5 million Filipinos were displaced in 2023 primarily due to disasters.
Last week, Super Typhoon “Carina” enhanced “habagat” and caused intense rainfall and severe flooding in Luzon, leaving 34 dead and dozens more injured.
Teh 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.
PBEST lead convenor and Stratbase ADR Institute President Victor Andres Manhit noted how civil society groups 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,” Manhit said.
Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation President Rene 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 effective implementation, La Salle Institute of Governance senior fellow Dr. Francisco Magno highlighted collaborative governance in the local government sector as a strategy toward more effective disaster mitigation.
“You need input from the local community because of the diversity of the challenges in the different local ecosystems. Because the challenges are different from the hazards. Because we are a diverse country,” said Magno.
