MPIC Showcases Conservation Efforts at UN Biodiversity Conference

Metro Manila, Philippines, 28 November 2024 – Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) joined environment officials and advocates from over 190 countries across the globe at the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16) in Cali, Colombia.  As a private sector representative from the Philippines and a leading conservation advocate representing the ASEAN business sector, MPIC showcased its sustainability and biodiversity conservation model as one of the 27 global case studies highlighted under the Positive Incentives Collaborative Project that was launched during the COP16. Recognized as an example among ASEAN companies, MPIC’s approach aligns closely with the goals set forth in the ASEAN Biodiversity Plan and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM GBF), demonstrating the crucial role of private sector involvement in advancing regional and global biodiversity goals.

ASEAN Side Event: Road to Living in Harmony with Nature

During the ASEAN Side Event titled “Road to Living in Harmony with Nature: The ASEAN Way,”      MPIC’s Chief Finance, Risk, and Sustainability Officer, June Cheryl Cabal-Revilla, spoke about the company’s role in supporting regional and global  biodiversity goals. “MPIC is committed to preserving and restoring our planet’s natural ecosystems,” said Cabal-Revilla. “We are honored to represent the Philippines and the ASEAN business community at COP 16, sharing our commitment to achieving the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. By implementing responsible, science-based conservation practices, we strive to create lasting benefits for both communities and ecosystems.”     

In the same event, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the ASEAN Member States (AMS) launched the ASEAN Biodiversity Plan, an important milestone for ASEAN.

Acknowledging the vital role of the private sector, ACB Executive Director Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim in her opening remarks said, “Our success now lies in the power of inclusive and collective action – a whole-of-society approach that allows us to pursue economic development without compromising environmental sustainability. This is now the ASEAN way and we would like everyone to be a part of it.”

ACB-MPIC Collaboration at COP16

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and MPIC co-presented the ASEAN Pavilion at COP 16, providing a platform for sharing knowledge, strategies, and conservation efforts among ASEAN member states and partners. The ASEAN Pavillion became an active hub for awareness-raising events and for both formal and informal meetings of the AMS with various leaders and stakeholders, including the non-ASEAN Parties, indigenous peoples, local communities, youth, private sector, and academe.

Under this partnership, MPIC also supported the participation of  a Filipino youth delegate under the ASEAN Youth for Biodiversity Programme (AYBP), to join the discussions, adding a fresh perspective to the dialogue on biodiversity from a generation that will inherit the outcomes of today’s decisions.

Manuel V. Pangilinan, President and CEO of MPIC, emphasized the company’s resolve for sustainability, saying, “The core mission of our work with ASEAN is to protect the region’s rich biodiversity and nurture a culture of environmental care. This recognition of our biodiversity initiatives as a global best practice further proves that public-private collaborations, done with care and intention, can reshape our world.”

The two-week conference convened over 15,000 delegates, including environmental officials from ASEAN nations, and was opened by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and Colombia’s Environment Minister, Susana Muhamad. Key themes of the conference included biodiversity financing, roles of indigenous communities, and progress on the 23 targets of the KM GBF, which outlines goals for 2030, such as protecting 30% of the world’s land and seas, reducing harmful subsidies, and restoring degraded ecosystems.

Highlighting the Role of Private Sector in Biodiversity Conservation

MPIC’s case study, chosen among ASEAN companies for its comprehensive biodiversity approach, highlighted the importance of private sector involvement in biodiversity financing—a theme echoed throughout COP 16. The conference focused on challenges in funding biodiversity efforts, calling on private and financial sectors, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders to contribute to global biodiversity funds, including the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund.

MPIC’s participation at COP 16 reaffirms its dedication to sustainable development and biodiversity conservation, supporting the global pursuit of harmony between human activity and natural ecosystems.

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About Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (“MPIC”)

MPIC is a leading Philippine company with investments in power, toll roads, water, transportation, healthcare and real estate. The Company seeks to create long-term value for all its stakeholders through responsible and sustainable investments that contribute to national progress and improve the quality of life in the communities it serves.

MPIC and its group of companies are making a difference in the lives of millions of Filipinos, powering commerce and households, connecting people and places, delivering clean and safe water, and making world-class healthcare available to all.

For further information please contact:

Melody del Rosario
Vice President, PR & Corp. Comms (MPIC)
Cel. No. 0918 96356