ISANG MAGANDA AT MAKAKALIKASANG ARAW SA ATING LAHAT!

AS EARLY AS 2008, MEMBER-PARTIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY BEGAN DISCUSSIONS ON PROMOTING BIODIVERSITY IN URBAN SETTINGS. THEY RECOGNIZED THE HUGE IMPACT OF CITIES IN THE AREAS OF PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION, WASTE GENERATION, POLLUTION, AND HABITAT LOSS.

THE GOAL OF HAVING SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES WAS REITERATED AS GOAL NUMBER 11 AMONG THE 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS OF THE UNITED NATIONS.

IN THE PHILIPPINE SETTING, AMBISYON NATIN 2040 MIRRORS EVERY FILIPINO’S ASPIRATION OF HAVING STRONG FAMILY AND COMMUNITY TIES, A COMFORTABLE LIFESTYLE, AND A SECURE FUTURE.

THE PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT MEDIUM TERM PLAN 2017 TO 2022 LAYS OUT THE PLANS FOR ACHIEVING THE AMBISYON NATIN 2040 GOALS FOR A HEALTHY AND RESILIENT ENVIRONMENT FOR THE FILIPINOS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES IS AT THE HELM OF REALIZING THESE PLANS BY ENSURING ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY AND A CLEAN AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, WHICH INCLUDES SUSTAINED BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES.

WHILE OUR FOCUS IS LARGELY DIRECTED AT MANAGING NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS, WE ALSO NEED TO ADDRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF ENHANCING OUR URBAN ECOSYSTEMS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A QUALITY AND LIVABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR URBAN DWELLERS.

THUS, WE ENVISIONED IN THE PHILIPPINE BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN 2015 TO 2028 THE INCREASE IN THE PROPORTION OF GREEN SPACES IN 5 LARGEST CITIES. THEY ARE THE QUEZON CITY, CEBU CITY, DAVAO CITY, CALOOCAN CITY, AND THE CITY OF MANILA.

THE REALIZATION OF THIS VISION OF BIODIVERSITY-FRIENDLY GREEN CITIES IS CRUCIAL SO AS TO BRING NATURE CLOSER TO URBAN COMMUNITIES FOR ENHANCED HUMAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
WE MUST TURN OUR CITIES FROM MERE HUBS OF COMMERCE TO HABITATS THAT ARE GREEN, BIODIVERSITY-FRIENDLY, AND TRULY HABITABLE.

I COMMEND THE METRO PACIFIC INVESTMENT CORPORATION, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT OF QUEZON CITY, AND THE BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT BUREAU FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP TO CREATE MODEL BIODIVERSITY-FRIENDLY AND GREEN COMMUNITIES — URBAN ENVIRONMENTS WITH IMPROVED LIVABILITY.

WE WELCOME THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE METRO PACIFIC INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF QUEZON CITY WITH HIGH HOPES THAT IT WILL TRIGGER MORE COLLABORATIONS TO ACHIEVE THE QUALITY ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ALL DESIRE FOR OUR CITIES.

MARAMING SALAMAT AT MABUHAY PO TAYONG LAHAT!