The French government, a known advocate of environmental protection, and its partner companies can help the Philippines guard the environment by providing technical assistance and other means of support.
Environmentalist Senator Loren Legarda made the call on the French government as well as on Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) as she said there is a need coming from the Philippine government to continue the protection and conservation of around 107 protected areas (PA) in the country.
"It would help greatly if the French government can select which PA can be assisted, and to ensure that communities in that protected area helped in protecting," Legarda said at an environment-related discussion hosted by French Ambassador to the Philippines Michèle Boccoz at her Manila residence Thursday night.
At the same time, the senator said, the French government as well as ADB and AFD could provide "sustainable livelihood programs for the communities in those areas."
Legarda also wished that the 10 existing environmental laws could be reviewed and that the French government and its partner could help not just in capacity building but also by providing the equipment the communities need.
"The government is already providing LGUs (local government units), but it's never enough... . I think that assistance from the French government in terms of technical assistance and capacity building, and actual equipment needed by local communities will help us a lot," she said.
ADB and AFB are known to provide financial assistance to combat worsening effects of climate change and to protect the environment.
In fact, ADB announced last year its intention to spend 100 billion US dollars in climate finance by the year 2030, with the Philippines as one of the countries where the initiative would roll out, Anne Marchal, one of ADB board of directors said in the same event.
Meanwhile, AFD finances and supports transitions towards a better world, according to its country director for the Philippines Benedicte Gazon.
"We seek to protect global commons or global public goods. In other words: we are promoting a stable climate, biodiversity, peace, as well as gender equality, education and healthcare," Gazon said.