THE Climate Change Commission (CCC) and Prime Infra, a leading infrastructure developer and operator of critical assets, are combining government policy expertise and private-sector capabilities to strengthen climate resilience, ecological stewardship, and local capacity building.
The two parties signed an umbrella Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during a ceremony at the Prime Infra head office recently to strengthen climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.
The partnership will support the implementation of national climate priorities, including the Philippines’ National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
In his message, Prime Infra President and Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Lucci emphasized the importance of integrating climate resilience into the company’s businesses and operations.
‘Whether it is dealing with watersheds and securing water supply for our customers, or addressing emissions through our waste management processes, or ensuring that our projects truly make a positive impact on the communities where we operate, climate resilience is something we take as a central element and very seriously,’ Lucci said.
Prime Infra operates across three core sectors: essential utilities, energy security, and energy transition. Its businesses span water supply, waste management, natural gas, power generation, and pumped storage hydropower, with ecological stewardship and community development forming part of its approach to developing and operating critical infrastructure.
‘The partnership that this agreement fosters is a great combination between the CCC’s leadership in driving the mandate and initiatives of the government and our experience in developing and operating projects,’ Lucci said.
Under the MOU, areas of cooperation include capacity-building initiatives for local government units (LGUs) to strengthen their Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAPs). These efforts also aim to integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation measures into local development plans and programs.
This includes building capacity to access climate financing such as the People’s Survival Fund, building capacity for greenhouse gas inventories, and supporting watershed protection through Prime Infra’s sustainability platform, Prime Kalikasan.
‘The private sector plays a vital role in protecting local communities from the impacts of climate change. Through partnerships that mobilize private sector expertise, resources, and innovation, we can strengthen community resilience and support climate solutions that respond to local needs. By working together, we can turn national climate priorities into concrete action that protects lives and livelihoods,’ CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje said for his part.
The CCC is the country’s lead policymaking body on climate change pursuant to the Climate Change Act of 2009. It coordinates and evaluates government programs on climate change, and works to mainstream climate policies into national, sectoral, and local development planning.
Following the MOU signing, Lucci and Borje also signed the Memorandum of Agreement for Prime Infra’s support of the Philippine Hub at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.