2nd Manila Bulletin Sustainability Forum – Malcolm Theater, UP College of Law
November 21, 2023
Keynote Speech: DENR Secretary Antonia Loyzaga
Delivered by: DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations – Mindanao Joselin Marcus Fragada
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Salutions ~
Earlier, I was interviewed by Manila Bulletin and asked me what the government will do in terms of sustainability. The motto now is “If not now, when,” is very timely because as mentioned earlier, the students, the youth, for that matter have a very vital role to the potential of our environment and natural resources.
Today, I ask of you one thing, try to pick up something that you can relate and you think is important to your life. Your contribution as individuals is more vital than a group.
In my presentation this morning, I will provide an overview of the country’s vulnerability to climate and disaster risks. Following that, I’ll highlight the DENR’s role in working towards the overarching goal of environmental sustainability and the robust Public-Private Partnerships as drivers of sustainability. Lastly, I will share ways by which the youth can be more engaged and how the DENR has been able to provide opportunities for the youth to become active partners in creating a positive impact on the environment.
The Philippines, located within the Pacific Ring of Fire and typhoon belt, has consistently ranked among the countries at most risk to climate change and disasters. It frequently faces hazards like typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.
The country is experiencing increased temperatures, sea level rise, climate and weather patterns resulting in extreme weather events, i.e., drought, flooding, heat waves, typhoons that pose human health risks – in terms of air and water quality, COVID-19, and the likes. The country’s vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proactive and sustainable measures to mitigate the impacts of these hazards and build resilience.
In recent years, the Philippines has consistently ranked among the top 10 countries most at risk to disasters. Given the various efforts to reduce the country’s risks, we still topped the list in the 2023 World Risk Index.
I started in government 15 years ago and I think we were not the top yet who were affected by these disasters but over the years, because of climate change and global warming, we are no. 1 which I don’t think is a very prestigious statistic. But it is important to know that although we are the most affected, we are not a part of the top 10 contributors to climate change and global warming.
Considering scenarios as “plausible futures” rather than precise predictions, it’s evident that increasing temperatures, primarily driven by rising Co2 levels, pose significant challenges. Future emissions are expected to contribute to additional warming, and in the next two decades, the global average temperature is projected to reach or surpass 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
Achieving temperature stabilization requires a transition to net-zero Co2 emissions. As global warming increments, regional shifts in mean climate and extremes become more widespread and pronounced. Projections indicate that climate change will heighten the severity of impacts on both natural and human systems, leading to increased regional variations.
The Philippine climate extremes report of 2020 highlights a generally consistent warming trend, with the expectation that warming will intensify. Simultaneously, a prevailing drying trend is expected to escalate over time. These insights underscore the urgency of adopting sustainable practices and mitigating climate change for a more resilient future.
The Philippine Climate Extremes Report 2-2- shows a generally spatially warming trend. We will continue to warm, and that warming will continue to increase. There is also a general drying trend which is expected to increase.
The country’s loss and damage risks on sectoral damages, projections show that by 2050: projected 9-21% decline in productivity, with up to 85% of vital land at risk from typhoons, floods, and droughts; marine fisheries may see a 24% reduction in potential catches; approximately 60% of local government units in 64 coastal provinces and municipalities, affecting 13.6 million Filipinos, may require relocation; with a predicted sea-level rise of one meter by 2100, the country could lose 90, 000- 140, 000 hectares of land, impacting 60% of the surface area and 74% of its 108 million inhabitants; the reduction of storm surge protection services, valued at USD 4 billion annually, further exacerbates the challenges ahead.
The impacts of climate-induced disasters have resulted in loss of lives and properties. Other impacts are: migration in coastal areas where 90% of our urban centers are located; health issues; and damage to public infrastructure. The Philippine Country Climate and Development Report projects infrastructure damage, productivity losses, and business interruptions will impact GDP by 7.6% by 2030, 13.6% by 2040, and 18-25% by 2050. These are compounded with the insufficient proper support mechanism in place as the government and its partners try to cope accordingly.
As discussed in the 2023 United Nations General Assembly, we’re still far from reaching the global net zero goal and Sustainable Development Goals where its targets are essential to ensure a sustainable and equitable future for our planet. It underscores the need for accelerated and collective efforts on a global scale. • Addressing this urgent issue requires a whole of government and whole of society approach. Reducing carbon emissions, promoting renewable energy, or addressing social and economic inequalities, is a shared responsibility to steer our course towards a more sustainable trajectory. It’s a reminder that individual and collective actions are paramount in shaping a future that aligns with these essential goals.
As a rapidly developing country, the Philippines faces many challenges including unsustainable consumption and production practices, increasing waste generation, and the need to build capacity to reduce, reuse, and repurpose waste. • 61,000 metric tons of solid waste are generated daily and it is estimated that 12-24% of which are plastic. Studies by our development partners estimate that we use more than 163 million plastic sachets, 48 million plastic sando shopping bags, and 45 million plastic labo or thin-film bags daily. 33% of all these is disposed of in landfills and dumpsites and around 35% is leaked into the oceans and the environment. • In a 2019 World Bank study, it was reported that around 70% of the material value of plastics is lost to the Philippine economy each year, equivalent to a value loss of USD 790-890 million per year. Circularity, therefore, is not just linked to environmental sustainability — its processes can yield system-wide benefits beyond resource efficiency and emissions reduction. Strategic waste management policies and practices can provide stable livelihoods, impact economic growth, enhance food and water security and disaster resilience.
The Philippines is in pursuit of the right combination of science and technology, policy, and practice. Just as we are discovering the true value of our natural capital, the science, engineering, technology, and innovation that support circularity are within reach. By tapping in to expertise both nationally and internationally, the material value of plastics may also be realized. Policy coherence and partnership synergies can unlock its full economic value and drive the establishment of a green and blue economy.
There must be convergence and unity of purpose involving many stakeholders from other government agencies, large corporations, local government units, and other sectors. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, on which the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022 or EPR was based, faced many implementation challenges. Its core principles must now be reinforced considering the evolving context of climate change and the depletion and competition for natural resources.
The government enacted the EPR law to strengthen the integration of ecological solid waste management and resource conservation and recovery in the country by institutionalizing the EPR mechanism and providing a platform for the private sector to improve the way it conducts its business, in pursuit of a circular economy.
The Climate Change Commission is the lead policy-making body of the government tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate the government’s programs towards a climate-resilient and climate-smart Philippines and to ensure that climate change is mainstreamed in national, local, and sectoral development plans. • Section 5 of Republic Act 9729 or the Philippine Climate Change Act of 2009 states that the President chairs the Commission. In this administration, the Environment Secretary is his official representative.
The DENR’s climate change adaptation and mitigation programs can be seen in seven (7) priority sectors – forest, land, biodiversity, water and mineral resources, urban air quality, and ecological solid waste management. • Activities are carried out through our network of regional, provincial and community offices throughout the 16 regions of the country; 4 staff and 2 line bureaus; and 6 attached agencies. • Executive Order 22 s. 2023 created the Water Resources Management Office under the DENR to harmonize all government efforts and regulatory activities to ensure availability and sustainability of the country’s water resources.
The agency continues to lead coherence, convergence, and synergy to ensure that climate change mitigation and adaptation measures are carried out through a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach.
The Philippine Government instituted the Cabinet Cluster on CCAM-DRR chaired by the DENR for effective integration of policies and programs on risk management, DRR, and sustainable development.
The NEDA, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and DENR have been working together to institutionalize natural capital accounting in the Philippines with a roadmap of its implementation by 2040.
The Geospatial Database office was created through DAO 2023-01 to promote the use of technology in gathering science and evidence-based information. • Local governments and multi stakeholder collaboration is being made possible through Project TRANSFORM, which will be discussed later.
The DENR is working towards climate resiliency at the local and community levels, especially in climate vulnerable areas, by involving community-based organizations in reforestation and women’s organizations in biodiversity-friendly enterprises.
DENR is currently pushing for adoption of nature-based solutions which are sustainable for both the environment and the communities.
Additionally, we are tapping the capacities of various stakeholders from the national and municipal levels on programs and projects to sustain blue and green economies.
Project TRANSFORM or Transdisciplinary Approach for Resilience And Environmental Sustainability Through Multi Stakeholder Engagement piloted in Ormoc City, Leyte
The project engages the whole of society in implementing initiatives to improve community resilience, alleviate poverty, promote public-private partnerships, and forge stronger multi stakeholder collaboration
It will support the DENR’s Resiliency Framework for ENR by delivering environmental, social and economic gains for local governments nationwide
The project is a testament of the DENR’s continuing commitment to build disaster resiliency and environmental sustainability through partnerships with local governments and the private sector
DENR partners for Project Transform:
1.Energy Development Corp. for nature-based solutions in Ormoc City; developed with DENR 5 modules to strengthen LGUs existing programs in biodiversity, greenhouse gasses (GHG) accounting, financial literacy, disaster management and nature-based solutions;
2. GNPower Mariveles Energy Center Ltd. Co or GMEC for mangrove propagation and protection in the province of Bataan; aimed to enhance the province’s resiliency amid natural disasters and climate change impacts, and for the protection of the endangered pawikan,
3. SM Prime Holdings, through its sustainability initiatives, will provide funding for mangrove planting activities and will continue to build resilient infrastructure by allocating 10% Capital Expenditure per development.
Ormoc City was chosen as the pilot area for the implementation of Project TRANSFORM. The project will provide higher level solutions to raise ecological integrity and improve socio-economic conditions of the city and its surrounding municipalities
Nature-based solutions will be adopted to address hazards such as landslides, drought, decrease in crop yield, heat stress, and loss to life. NBS- restoring forest soil control, restoring forest for water supply and to stop run-off, expanding urban green spaces, and stopping storm surge with sea walls and mangroves.
Bataan pilot areas: Orion, Limay, Mariveles (May 2023); Municipality of Abucay and city of Balanga were included as project recipients in August 2023
BakalBataan is a flagship project for mangrove propagation and protection of the provincial govt of Bataan in cooperation with DENR, San Miguel Corporation, GNPower Mariveles, SM Prime Holdings, EDC, LGU Orani, and Tubo-tubo Fisherfolks Association which aims to protect the coastlines, sustain marine biodiversity, develop livelihood opportunities and promote eco-tourism.
GMEC will provide P7 million for the project
In the 2023 Earth Day celebration last May, entitled “Invest in our planet, Invest in our Youth,” the department emphasized the important role of the youth in addressing the climate emergency. Over 150 high school and college students from Metro Manila attended and I called on young Filipinos to take an active role in crafting innovative solutions to the climate crisis.
The Philippine Statistics Authority’s report in May this year shows that the youth population in the Philippines, ranging from 15-24, accounts for 28 percent of the Philippine population.
The DENR values the power of the youth in bringing new ideas and innovations into climate solutions. As the environment degrades over time due to natural and manmade actions, the youth are the ones that should understand the value of sustainable use of natural resources and environmental protection, as it will impact them and the future generation the most.
You are the generation who are immersed most on technological advancements, which can be vital in coming up with sustainable development, such as the transition to green energy. When empowered, young people can build climate resilience and adaptive capacity in their own communities to enable sustainable response against the impacts of climate change.
The DENR implemented transformation climate interventions, such as workshops, school-to-school transdisciplinary learning, and provision of learning materials about the environment, among others.
These interventions are trans-disciplinary, time-sensitive, and targeted to young Filipinos. These will be discussed further in the presentation. We are also conducting youth-focused initiatives that connect decision makers with youth leaders to boost climate action by showcasing youth-led climate resilient initiatives and solutions.
I believe that the initiative should start in everyone’s lives, including young people’s lives. Climate change is both a result of natural and manmade actions. Therefore, in our own simple ways, we have to be mindful to not exacerbate the challenge our environment is facing right now.
These are some of the initiatives we can do in our home, school, and community in general: lowering our carbon footprint by shifting to vehicles that do not produce gasses, such as bicycles; tree planting in backyard, vicinity of campuses, and participating in government-led projects; and recycling reusable materials for greater use.
In our department, we are coordinating with high schools and college universities, where we conduct a Youth Resilience Program and other youth engagement activities. We also accept students through On-the-Job Training Program and expose them to environmental activities such as the eco-trip, to say the least.
“Youth for Life” takes off from the “Environment for Life” advocacy of the DENR. This is an adaptation of the pronouncement by Pres. Marcos that “the preservation of the environment is the preservation of life.”
I urge you to step into the forefront of the sustainability movement. Your energy, passion, and innovative thinking are powerful catalysts for positive change. Embrace opportunities to engage in environmental initiatives, whether it’s through activism, volunteering, or joining youth-led organizations. Be the driving force behind sustainable practices in your communities, schools, and beyond. Your actions today contribute not only to a healthier planet but also to a more resilient and sustainable future for generations to come. Remember, the small steps you take today can lead to giant leaps for a sustainable tomorrow.
Thank you very much and good morning.
