Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan underscored the critical role of public-private partnership projects in bolstering disaster resilience in the Philippines at the 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.
In his remarks at the opening ceremonies Tuesday, the head of the National Economic and Development Authority said the need for climate-resilient infrastructure is critical in the wake of ongoing environmental challenges.
“Limited fiscal space, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitates developing our governance framework for public-private partnerships to finance climate-resilient infrastructure,” said Balisacan.
He noted that while many existing PPP projects focus on physical and digital connectivity, upcoming initiatives will address crucial areas such as water supply, flood control, and irrigation infrastructure, ensuring the economy can adapt to climate change.
NEDA undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos, who spoke on pre-disaster planning, focused on the need for “pre-disaster planning and preparedness are key to faster and less costly recovery.”
Meanwhile, assistant secretary Roderick M. Planta shared insights on the government’s commitment to increasing spending on resilience. “We are working on establishing a national standard for infrastructure resilience,” he added, reflecting the Philippines’ proactive stance in tackling disaster risks.
In his address to the regional disaster risk reduction forum, President Ferdinand Marcos emphasized the need for enhanced investments in disaster risk reduction. “Sustained and predictable data and financing would help address disaster risks better,” said President Marcos as he urged developing countries, particularly those most vulnerable to climate change, to have improved access to financial resources.
President Marcos also announced that the Philippines would host the fourth Loss and Damage Fund Board meeting in December 2024, a pivotal event aimed at managing funds to support climate-vulnerable nations.
With the theme “Surge to 2030: Enhancing Ambition in Asia-Pacific to Accelerate Disaster Risk Reduction,” the APMCDRR convened a diverse group of stakeholders, including government representatives, civil society, and academia, to accelerate efforts in mitigating disaster risks in alignment with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. This framework serves as a crucial international guideline for reducing disaster-related losses and enhancing community resilience.
