QUEZON CITY – The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE), through its Biodiversity, Ecosystems, Research, and Development Services (BERDS), actively took part in the National Validation Workshop for the Global Environment Facility (GEF)–8 Green and Resilient Cities (GRC) Project, held from June 10 to 12, 2025.
Organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the three-day event aimed to finalize the proposed six-year GRC project. The initiative is set to receive a STAR (System for Transparent Allocation of Resources) allocation of USD 13 million under the GEF’s 8th cycle.
The GRC project seeks to promote integrated and systems-based strategies focused on biodiversity conservation, nature-based solutions, and low-carbon urban development. Pilot implementation is planned in six key cities across the country: Baguio, Caloocan, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao, and Quezon City.
MENRE was represented by Chief Science Research Specialist Annie D. Dumamba and Senior Science Research Specialist Walid Y. Iskak. They joined fellow stakeholders in validating the proposed project activities under four major components and in identifying potential implementation challenges.
Discussions highlighted the importance of tailoring the project to the unique needs of the pilot cities while aligning with global priorities such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). Updates were also presented on the current status of the project document, with key inputs expected to be finalized before submission to the GRC Project Board by the end of 2025.
The workshop drew national and regional officials, city government representatives, and technical experts. Among the key participants were DENR Assistant Secretary for Biodiversity Marcial C. Amaro Jr., DENR Undersecretary Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, and UNDP advisors, along with representatives from DENR’s various bureaus, including the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau and the Biodiversity Management Bureau’s Caves, Wetlands and Other Ecosystems Division.
The collaborative effort signals the government’s commitment to sustainable urban development and climate resilience, anchored in biodiversity protection and ecosystem-based approaches.