Ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

I wish to acknowledge the Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines, His Excellency Luc Veron;

His team from the European Union; we have our Technical Partners for the Green Economy Programme in the Philippines – the German Agency for Technical Cooperation or GIZ, the United Nations Development Programme, Expertise France, and the International Finance Corporation; Thank you very much.

Our partner national government agencies, local government units, the private sector groups, our DENR officials, our colleagues and guests.

At the onset, I would like to express that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is deeply grateful for the support being extended by the European Union to the Government of the Philippines towards our shared social, economic and environmental progress.

I was privileged to be present at the visit of the EU President, Ursula von der Leyen, when she first visited our President and our signing was celebrated by the President in a very grateful fashion.

Equally important to mention today is that we are ready now to embark on this new chapter of our collaboration. Today manifests our shared vision that promises transformative outcomes for the Philippines – a truly Green Economy.

At its core, the Green Economy heralds a new era where economic growth aligns harmoniously with the environmental stewardship and social inclusivity. By prioritizing sustainable practices and being mindful of the utilization of natural resources throughout their lifecycles, we can co-generate prosperity and resilience that benefits both present and future generations. These may serve as the foundation for co-benefits as well in climate change adaptation and mitigation as we need to intersect and align both these purposes.

Embracing green practices fosters resource efficiency, waste reduction, energy conservation, and optimizes natural resource use. This not only supports the conservation of our environment but also enhances our global competitiveness while fostering self-reliance and sustainability. Transitioning to a Green Economy creates a wealth of opportunities for job creation as well. From renewable energy to sustainable agriculture and eco-tourism, new avenues for employment will emerge as part of a truly just transition that can address unemployment while fostering innovation and skills development aligned with the trajectory of the emerging global market for the Green Economy.

Critically, as I mentioned earlier, a Green Economy provides us with both adaptation and mitigation strategies to address the impacts of climate change. For a country facing extreme weather events and the potential for environmental degradation, enhancing resilience is fundamental. The present administration clearly recognizes this, and this is why our President has directed the accelerated implementation of adaptation actions to fortify the imperatives and priority areas outlined in the Philippine National Adaptation Plan (NAP) of 2023 to 2050.

May I also say that the President and the cabinet have been presented with the Nationally Determined Contributions Implementation Plan (NDCIP), and on that note, we are now trying to cascade both the NAP and the NDCIP down to different sectors as well as to the local government level.

Ultimately, the benefits extend beyond the economy, impacting our own public health and well-being. A cleaner environment translates into a certain quality of life that is long-desired tangible health benefits for Filipinos, promoting public health outcomes and enhancing overall well-being. Let us not forget the imperative to preserve and enhance our rich biodiversity – a treasure of global importance. By safeguarding ecosystems and promoting sustainable resource management, we ensure the preservation of our natural heritage for generations to come.

At a time marked by interconnected global challenges and cascading risks, transition to a Green Economy allows the Philippines to navigate complexities – and opportunities – brought about by many challenges.

Allow me then, here to introduce briefly – and this is also a shared task with Ambassador Luc – the Green Economy Programme in the Philippines (GEPP).

GEPP operates on three distinct levels: Firstly, through Government Policy Dialogue Platform at the national level, and we’ll mobilize expertise to facilitate policy formulation and promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Secondly, GEPP works with Local Government Units to drive a circular economy transition and introduce innovation in order to accelerate this. We recognize that LGUs are pivotal in driving the circular economy, providing fertile ground for innovative and scalable solutions across the landscape.

Lastly, GEPP creates better conditions for private sector investment. It also addresses the development and stabilization of our Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). It supports waste reduction strategies and circular solutions. All of these will be expounded during the program.

Most of all, GEPP is about people. It is about enabling and empowering local governments and communities; engaging the private sector, technical expertise and civil society groups; and creating pathways towards innovations for sustainable development. From city to city and municipalities down to communities, GEPP will mobilize stakeholders, engage them strategically across both sectors and scales.

I believe that GEPP represents a comprehensive effort towards inclusive growth through climate and disaster risk management but also can unlock the full potential of the circular economy and its contribution to resilience and reducing risk.

Finally, let me just be clear about this – this is not just about the Philippines. We aim to lead with an example of what can be achieved with genuine collaboration. And for that, we are grateful to all the partners.

To conclude, I urge all stakeholders to join us in this collective endeavour. I am looking forward to the commitment that you must express, hopefully, to drive meaningful change towards Green Economy.

Let us seize this opportunity to build a brighter, greener future for the Philippines and for the future generation of Filipinos around the world.

Thank you very much. ###