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Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga (front row, third from left) is standing alongside H.E. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore (front row, fourth from left) during a luncheon hosted in his honor at The Peninsula Manila on August 16, 2024. Also in the front row (from left) are H.E. Constance See, Ambassador of Singapore to the Philippines, Hon. Grace Fu, Singapore Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, Hon. Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr., Secretary of the Philippines’ Department of National Defense, Hon. Raphael P.M. Lotilla, Secretary of the Philippines’ Department of Energy, and H.E. Medardo G. Macaraig, Ambassador of the Philippines to Singapore. Behind them are members of the Singaporean Parliament, senior government officials, and prominent figures from the Philippine private sector, including Mr. Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Ms. Teresita SY-Coson, Mr. Isidro A. Consunji, Mr.Gerardo Borromeo, the Chief Executive Officers of Manila Water and Maynilad, Frederick Teo (Chief Executive Officer of Temasek GenZero), and executives from Singaporean companies CarbonSync and Arkadiah.

The Philippines and Singapore reinforce their commitment to deepening collaboration and exploring innovative solutions for inclusive and climate resilient development through water resource management, biodiversity conservation, energy transition, and reforestation.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga hosted the President of the Republic of Singapore H.E. Tharman Shanmugaratnam on 16 August 2024 and brought together representatives from the private sector and government agencies of both countries to discuss efforts in sustainable development, leveraging technology to address shared challenges, attract international investments, and adopt best practices.

This discussion was preceded by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on August 15 between Secretary Loyzaga and Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, H.E. Grace FU Hai Yien. The agreement facilitates cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. It enables both countries 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.

At the event, DENR Secretary Loyzaga and Undersecretary for Integrated Environmental Science Carlos Primo David presented an overview of the DENR Geospatial Database Office’s (GDO) water resource management initiatives. The presentation showcased the achievements of the GDO in mapping the nation’s natural resources, including water bodies, forests and mangrove ecosystems.

Department of Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla and Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. were also in attendance. President Tharman was accompanied to this occasion by Minister Grace Fu Hai Yien, Ambassador Constance See, members of the Singaporean Parliament, and other senior government officials.

The Philippines private sector was represented by Mr. Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Ms. Teresita Sy-Coson, Mr. Isidro A. Consunji, Mr. Gerardo Borromeo and Chief Executive Officers of the Manila Water and Maynilad. Frederick Teo, Chief Executive Officer of Temasek decarbonization accelerator GenZero, and executives from Singaporean companies CarbonSync and Arkadiah were also present.

As these strengthened ties continue to evolve, the DENR and its Singaporean counterparts will work together to ensure their partnership yields tangible gains against the impacts of climate change for both nations and sets a benchmark for science-informed bilateral and public-private cooperation in the area of environmental stewardship. ##