PH gov’t reaffirms commitment as host country for ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

MUNTINLUPA CITY (PIA) – The Philippine government, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), has reaffirmed its commitment to work closely with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) in safeguarding the nation’s rich biological heritage for future generations.

During the ACB’s 20th founding anniversary celebration in Muntinlupa City on September 25, DENR Undersecretary for Legal and Administration Ernesto Adobo Jr. said the Philippines “takes great pride” in being a partner of the Centre since its establishment.

“We reaffirm our commitment to work closely with the Centre and with our fellow ASEAN member states to ensure that the biological heritage of our region—one of the most diverse on Earth—remains protected for generations to come,” Adobo said.

He emphasized that the ACB plays a critical role in uniting the region to address pressing environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change, and unsustainable resource use.

“For the past twenty years, the ACB has stood as a unifying platform for ASEAN member states, policymakers, scientists, communities, and development partners. Together, you have nurtured partnerships that remind us that the conservation of biodiversity is not the work of governments alone, but a shared responsibility across sectors,” the undersecretary added.

The ACB dates back to 1998, when the 10 ASEAN Member States, including the Philippines, launched the ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC) Project with funding support from the European Union. Recognizing its potential to sustain gains and respond to regional biodiversity challenges, the member states agreed to establish the ACB in 2005. Since then, the Philippines has hosted the ACB and its headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna. The Host Country Agreement was ratified on September 1, 2006, and subsequently concurred by the Senate on September 14, 2009.

Looking ahead, the ACB is set to support the Philippines as it assumes the ASEAN chairmanship in 2026.

“The Philippines will chair ASEAN next year. We are preparing for this to support the country and to be an important partner of the government as it takes on the ASEAN chairmanship,” said ACB Executive Director Dr. Jerome Montemayor in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency CALABARZON.

Montemayor highlighted the ASEAN Summit as a key platform for the ACB to engage member states and development partners in advancing biodiversity conservation, promoting sustainable use of biological resources, and ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from biodiversity.

“The participation of the ACB in ASEAN bodies has been vital in promoting and reporting the Centre’s programs and accomplishments, which further inspires our ASEAN member countries to strengthen and expand their biodiversity initiatives,” he said.

Over the past two decades, the ACB, through its partnerships with governments and private institutions, has restored and protected 108,879 hectares of forest, implemented 29 conservation projects worth USD 59.5 million since 2014, and invested more than USD 22 million in biodiversity conservation and livelihood programs.

It also oversees 69 ASEAN Heritage Parks—national parks and nature reserves recognized for their outstanding wilderness and biodiversity values—14 of which are located in the Philippines.

Montemayor expressed optimism that ACB’s multi-sectoral approach on mainstreaming biodiversity bears a more progressive and greener ASEAN region. (CH/PIA-Laguna)