LOS BAÑOS, Laguna (PIA) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has reaffirmed its commitment to support biodiversity conservation in the Philippines, following the appointment of Dr. Jerome Montemayor as new executive director of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB).
During the oath-taking ceremony for Montemayor on May 19, DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Jonas Leones highlighted the enduring partnership between the department and the ACB in advancing regional biodiversity efforts.
“Through the DENR, the Philippine government has worked closely with the ACB on various initiatives such as the ASEAN Heritage Parks Programme, biodiversity data information generation and sharing through the ASEAN Clearing-House Mechanism and ASEAN Biodiversity Outlook, Capacity Building and Training, Communication, Education, and Public Awareness, strategic partnerships, and alignment of policies according to the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity,” Leones stated.
Additionally, DENR and ACB continue to champion policy integration and sustainable development by collaborating closely on the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan which reflects a shared regional vision and tailored action plans aligned with ASEAN priorities.
The plan aims to halt biodiversity loss and promote the conservation and sustainable use of the region’s rich natural resources complementing the global targets set under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, in which the Philippines is a signatory.
Recently, the DENR and ACB have also expanded their collaboration to include efforts in climate change mitigation and adaptation, integrating biodiversity considerations into critical development sectors like agriculture, health, and business.
Leones said that the initiatives are focused on protecting coastal and marine areas, while actively involving youth, women, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities in conservation efforts.
He then proudly shared that DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, through a series of meetings, has actively engaged with the ACB to strengthen the Philippines’ climate and biodiversity agenda, as the country prepares for the ASEAN chairship in 2026.
“The meeting culminated in articulating a collective vision and strategic direction for advancing biodiversity and climate action, the “Race to Resilience” (R2R) strategy. This campaign encapsulates a collective vision and a call to action for ecological and social resilience,” he said.
According to the DENR, the Philippines has embarked on the “30×30” initiative, a global target to protect 30% of the world’s land and marine areas by 2030 which involves the establishment of new protected areas and the implementation of effective area-based conservation measures, including the recognition of Indigenous territories.
The DENR undersecretary presided over the oath of office of Montemayor and both equally expressed continued cooperation in nature conservation in the years ahead. (AM/PIA-4A)
