OVER THE LAST 3 DAYS, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DENR) GATHERED OVER 300 LEADERS AND DECISION-MAKERS FROM ALL SECTORS: GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE SECTOR, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND ACADEME TO FACILITATE THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND SHARE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES TOWARDS THE IDENTIFICATION OF STRATEGIES AND PRIORITY ACTIONS FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE 2022 DENR MULTISTAKEHOLDER FORUM WAS CONCEPTUALIZED TO INSPIRE FURTHER ACTION AND ENGAGE THE WHOLE OF SOCIETY IN A PROCESS THAT WILL LEAD TO STRATEGIC IMPACT AND ACTIONS TOWARDS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT’S MISSION.
OVER THE COURSE OF THREE DAYS, WE HAVE HEARD FROM DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS EXPLORED OPPORTUNITIES FOR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP, IDENTIFIED ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS TOWARDS BUILDING A RESILIENT PHILIPPINES.
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ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT, I’D LIKE TO EXTEND MY SINCEREST GRATITUDE TO OUR HONORABLE GUESTS AND SPEAKERS WHO GRACED THIS 2022 DENR MULTISTAKEHOLDER FORUM, MOST ESPECIALLY TO HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT FERDINAND ROMULDEZ MARCOS JR., WHO REITERATED US THAT THE ENVIRONMENT AND RESILIENCE OF OUR COUNTRY, AS WELL AS ADDRESSING THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ARE ON TOP OF THE NATIONAL AGENDA, AND IT BEHOOVES US ALL TO WORK TOWARDS THOSE DIRECTIONS AND WE HOPE FOR YOUR CONTINUED COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION IN THESE AREAS.

THROUGHOUT THIS FORUM, WE HEARD FROM EVERYONE, AND WE HOPE YOU WILL NOT TIRE FROM SHARING YOUR IDEAS AND YOUR IDEALS WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE DENR DOES NOT HAVE A MONOPOLY AT ALL ON KNOWLEDGE, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUOUSLY LEARN AND ADAPT IN THIS VOLATILE, UNCERTAIN, AND COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT.

THE FORUM IS THE FIRST STEP TO CONSTRUCT A BIG PICTURE THAT WILL UNITE ALL OF OUR EFFORTS UNDER AN UMBRELLA OF SHARED VALUES.

WE HOPE THIS WILL ACCELERATE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF KEY PROGRAMS. FIRST, AS I HAVE MENTIONED ON THE 1ST DAY, THE NATIONAL NATURAL RESOURCES GEOSPATIAL DATABASE, THEN CALIBRATION AND STREAMLINING OF OUR ORGANIZATIONAL PROCESSES, PEOPLE, AND PRODUCTS, AND THE STRENGTHENED COLLABORATION WITH ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROTECTION, CONSERVATION, ENHANCEMENT, AND REGENERATION OF OUR COUNTRY’S ECOSYSTEMS, AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT SOLELY RELY ON THEM FOR OUR SURVIVAL.

THIS FORUM HAS UNDERSCORED THAT INCLUSIVE, SCIENCE-BASED, RISK-INFORMED, AND EQUITABLE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS ARE INTEGRAL TO THE KIND OF NEXUS GOVERNANCE WE NEED.

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE SHARED YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE IN HELPING IDENTIFY WHERE WE SHOULD GO, OUR PRIORITY AREAS, OUR ACTION AREAS MOVING FORWARD.

THESE THREE DAYS HAVE BEEN CRITICAL TO THE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP WE ARE PURSUING OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS. I’D LIKE TO SAY THAT WE WILL BE PUBLISHING AN ACCOUNT OF THESE PROCEEDINGS AND WILL SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT WE HOPE WOULD CAPTURE WHAT EVERYONE HAS SHARED WITH US, BOTH SPEAKERS AS WELL AS THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN US TOO MUCH OF THEIR TIME IN TERMS OF THE BREAKOUT SESSIONS.

AND WITH THAT, I’D LIKE TO CLOSE THIS FORUM, THANKING YOU VERY MUCH FOR STICKING WITH US THESE 3 DAYS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING PATIENT, AND WE HOPE THAT CONVERSATIONS WOULD CONTINUE.

MARAMING SALAMAT PO. ###