The Philippines and the State of Qatar have pledged to leverage each other’s strengths and expertise in building the skills and capacities of key stakeholders, including local communities, to adapt to and mitigate climate change and its impacts.

Climate Change Commission (CCC) Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje thanked His Excellency Ahmed Saad N. Al- Homidi, the State of Qatar’s Ambassador to the Philippines, for Qatar’s continuing support to the Philippines over the years.

Borje recognized Qatar’s partnership with the Philippines, citing that continued support, including climate change initiatives, would be an important dimension of bolstered, mature and modern bilateral relations.

“We are working closely with Qatar in line with President Marcos’ vision to address the climate crisis through collaboration with the international community. Qatar’s expertise and support can greatly benefit the Philippines to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change,” Borje said in a news release on Monday.

Highlighted in the discussions were potential areas of cooperation between the two countries, and the need to establish a formal cooperation agreement focusing on technical assistance and policy development, particularly in areas under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The CCC extended an official invitation to Qatar to become a member of the contact group “Empowering Nurtured Alliance for Climate Action and Transformation,” or ENACT.

The ENACT is the CCC’s coordination mechanism with development partners and embassies to facilitate regular dialogue and enhance the exchange of ideas and best practices between the two nations on climate-related issues.

Al-Homidi emphasized Qatar’s long-standing relationship with the Philippines and conveyed their willingness to further cooperate in achieving the country’s climate agenda.

“The Philippines is a very important country for Qatar, and we want to explore engagement opportunities to make the bilateral relationship stronger. Our countries are working on signing a memorandum of understanding that will benefit both of us and serve as a catalyst for more bilateral partnerships,” Al-Homidi said.

The Philippines and the State of Qatar affirmed the importance of strengthening partnerships and working together towards transformative climate action.

For more information on the Climate Change Commission’s climate mainstreaming activities, visit https://climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPHL. (PNA)