METRO Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) partnered with the Climate Change Commission (CCC) to address climate change and promote climate resilience in the country.
The partnership will explore opportunities for capacity development on climate change adaptation and mitigation, MPIC said in a statement.
It will also look to boost the knowledge base of stakeholders in climate change, foster collaborative research and policy development projects, and provide technical assistance and knowledge sharing.
“Sustaining contributions to essential services can only be done with a commitment to climate change protection,” MPIC Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Manuel V. Pangilinan said. “We will work closely with the commission and offer our full support. The primary focus of our efforts is to minimize our carbon footprint.”
According to MPIC, the partnership with the CCC is part of the company’s efforts to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG 13 on climate action.
“We recognize our responsibility to shape a better world for Filipinos amidst the challenges of climate change. Together with CCC, we are not only minimizing our environmental impact but also laying the foundation for a more resilient future,” MPIC Executive Vice President and Chief Finance, Risk & Sustainability Officer Chaye A. Cabal-Revilla said.
The CCC is the highest policy-making body for climate change efforts in the Philippines. It coordinates, monitors, and evaluates government programs and action plans related to climate change.
“The benefit of private-public partnerships is for the government to focus on planning, policy, and regulation. In turn, this gives the private sector the ability to do what it does best — increase service quality and efficiency,” CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje said.
MPIC is one of three key Philippine units of First Pacific, the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT Inc.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
