September, 15 2025
As the Philippines continues to grapple with the twin challenges of rapid development and intensifying climate impacts, the call for climate-resilient infrastructure has never been more urgent.
On November 6, 2024, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and with support from the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection (BMUV), convened the SIPA PH Policy Brief and Technical Reports Launch in Pasig City.
The event marked a milestone for the Sustainable Infrastructure Programme in Asia (SIPA) by showcasing how Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can be integrated into infrastructure planning and policy.
The event brought together government agencies, development partners, the academe, civil society, and local leaders – demonstrating strong multi-sectoral collaboration. Representatives from NEDA, DENR, DPWH, Butuan City Government, and academic institutions such as the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and Caraga State University joined the discussions, while OECD experts participated virtually.
Their collective insights underscored how NbS can play a central role in safeguarding communities, strengthening ecosystems, and supporting inclusive economic growth. The event was attended by participants in person, with two of the aforementioned speakers from the OECD attending virtually, from the following organizations:
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ Philippines);
- National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Central Office – Infrastructure Staff (IS);
- Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Office – Environment and Social Safeguards Division (ESSD), and Bureau of Design (BOD);
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Central Office and attached agencies – Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), Climate Change Service (CCS), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), Forest Management Bureau (FMB), and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA);
- National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST);
- University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB) – College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAf); UPLB Foundation, Inc. (UPLBFI);
- University of the Philippines Diliman – Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM);
- Ateneo De Manila University -Ateneo Institute of Sustainability;
- DPWH Regional Office XIII – Planning and Design Division (PDD);
- Department of the Interior and Local Government Regional Office XIII – Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division (LGMED)
- Butuan City LGU – City Executive Management Department (CEMD), City Environment and Natural Resources Department (CENRD), City Planning and Development Department (CPDD); and the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) (City Council);
- Caraga State University - Engineering and Construction Office;
- Father Saturnino Urios University - Engineering & Technology Program
- ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability Southeast Asia Secretariat (ICLEI SEAS)
- Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED)
The launch also unveiled a set of SIPA Policy Briefs and Technical Reports, the culmination of more than two years of stakeholder consultations, technical workshops, and collaborative research.
These documents outline actionable recommendations to help national agencies and local governments incorporate ecosystem services into policies, programs, and infrastructure pipelines.
Interactive sessions gave space for technical experts, policymakers, and local officials to exchange perspectives in a roundtable discussion on mainstreaming NbS at both local, regional, and national levels, providing a clear picture of how ecosystem services can inform land use and infrastructure design in Caraga and beyond.
As the event closed, WWF Philippines reaffirmed its mission: to support national and local partners in advancing infrastructure pathways that are sustainable, inclusive, and climate-smart.
With continued collaboration, tools like SIPA PH NbS Toolkit Manual can help ensure that development progress strengthens both people and the planet. Looking ahead, the WWF SIPA Team will publish the Policy Briefs and Technical Reports and make them accessible on its website, alongside an interactive map portal currently being developed with WWF US. Maps and datasets from the spatial analyses will also be shared with agency partners and interested stakeholders to ensure continued learning and application.
