PASAY CITY – Public-private partnership (PPP) projects are critical to bolstering disaster resilience in the Philippines, particularly in developing climate-resilient infrastructure, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan emphasized during the opening of the 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR).
Speaking at the event on October 15, 2024, Balisacan highlighted the country’s “limited fiscal space,” especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing the need to leverage PPPs to finance crucial infrastructure projects.
“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,” he said.
While most of the current PPP projects focus on physical and digital connectivity, Balisacan revealed that “major water supply, flood control, and irrigation infrastructure projects are also in the pipeline to meet the economy’s growing needs while ensuring climate-change resiliency.”
The conference, held in Pasay City, also featured key addresses from NEDA officials.
NEDA Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos emphasized the importance of pre-disaster planning to reduce recovery costs, stating, “Pre-disaster planning and preparedness are key to faster and less costly recovery.”
Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary Roderick M. Planta shared the government’s commitment to increasing resilience spending over time. He also noted ongoing efforts to establish national standards for infrastructure resilience.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who also attended the event, underscored the importance of boosting disaster risk reduction investments.
He called for enhanced financing mechanisms to support disaster preparedness, particularly in developing countries.
“Sustained and predictable data and financing would help address disaster risks better,” the President said, highlighting the need for increased access to resources for developing nations, including small island states and landlocked countries.
Additionally, Marcos announced that the Philippines would host the fourth Loss and Damage Fund Board meeting in December 2024.
The board manages funds to assist climate-vulnerable developing countries in responding to losses associated with climate change, both economic and non-economic.
The 2024 APMCDRR, themed “Surge to 2030: Enhancing Ambition in Asia-Pacific to Accelerate Disaster Risk Reduction,” brought together leaders from governments, civil society, and the private sector to accelerate disaster risk reduction efforts in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
The Sendai Framework aims to significantly reduce disaster risks and losses in lives, livelihoods, and assets worldwide. It serves as a comprehensive guide for countries like the Philippines to implement proactive measures to mitigate disaster impacts.
