First and foremost, my sincerest thanks to all of you for being here with us today at the National Launch of Animal Town, the first-ever mobile game that was created to mobilize finance for nature in the Philippines.

Today is a momentous occasion as we gather here to witness the unveiling of this groundbreaking mobile game application – a mobile game that transcends entertainment, serving as a powerful tool not only to raise awareness and appreciation of nature conservation for climate change resilience, but also a tool for our fellow Filipinos to contribute mindfully to the cause.

Biodiversity is all life on Earth, and we are greatly dependent on it for a number of reasons – economic, for food, water, for health and wellbeing, for protection from climate change impacts, and many more. The Philippines is a biodiversity powerhouse containing some of the world’s most unique and varied assemblage of species. Yet, it is under increasing threat, but we can do something about it.

Today, we gather not just as individuals, but as stewards of our beloved archipelago, united by a common goal: to safeguard the delicate balance of our natural world in the face of climate change. Globally, we have learned that investments for nature are financially viable under traditional financing models and there are emerging transformative solutions such as those that help clear regulatory and legal environments.

Our commitment to conserving the Philippines’ unique and diverse natural resources is unwavering, and today’s initiative takes us a step further. We at the Department would like to explore other mechanisms, veer away from the conventional, and discover innovative ways to mobilize finance for nature. The challenges we face in the realm of conservation and climate change adaptation are immense, and traditional approaches alone cannot suffice.

Today marks a significant milestone in our journey toward sustainability, as we introduce Animal Town, a game designed not only for entertainment, but most importantly to put biodiversity closer to all of us, and kindle appreciation of our rich biodiversity and its critical role in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Animal Town, a fusion of technology, entertainment, education and environmental consciousness, has the potential to revolutionize how we perceive and engage with conservation efforts. As we immerse ourselves in the virtual realms of this game, let us not forget that the impacts extend beyond the digital domain. Through Animal Town, we can contribute to a real-world cause – the protection and restoration of the invaluable Philippine biodiversity.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the developers, partners, and everyone involved in bringing this vision to life. Together, we can redefine how we do biodiversity financing and climate change adaptation, turning our screen time to palpable impact.

May this mobile game ignite a spark within each of us, fostering a sense of responsibility and shared purpose. Let us harness the power of gaming to not only mobilize resources for conservation but also to build a resilient future where our biodiversity and communities thrive despite the challenges of climate change. Maraming salamat po, and let the game for biodiversity awareness, conservation, financing, and climate resilience begin!