Malacañang on Monday said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has adopted nature-based solutions as part of the government’s broader push to address flooding and reduce disaster risks across the country.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the DENR, under Acting Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna, has joined the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in implementing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s whole-of-government approach to flood mitigation.
“Alinsunod sa whole-of-government approach ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa pagtugon sa problema ng baha sa bansa, ang Department of Environment and Natural Resources, sa pangunguna ni Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna, ay nakiisa na rin sa iba’t ibang ahensya kagaya ng DPWH at ng MMDA,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.
Castro said the DENR signed Administrative Order No. 2026-30 on June 29, formally adopting the International Union for Conservation of Nature Global Standard for Nature-Based Solutions.
The order also directs the mainstreaming and institutionalization of nature-based solutions across DENR policies, plans, programs, projects, and activities.
“Bilang tugon ng DENR sa kautusan ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., nilagdaan ng ahensya noong June 29 ang Administrative Order 2026-30 na pormal na nag-adopt sa International Union for Conservation of Nature, o IUCN Global Standard for Nature-Based Solutions, o NbS at nagtatakda ng mainstreaming and institutionalization ng NbS sa lahat ng mga polisiya, plano, programa, proyekto at aktibidad ng DENR,” Castro said.
Under the order, the DENR established a national framework to expand ecosystem-based interventions that are expected to help reduce disaster risks, secure water supply, restore degraded land and coastal areas, and support communities.
“Sa ilalim nito, itinatag ang isang national framework upang palawakin ang mga ecosystem-based interventions na inaasahang makakabawas sa panganib na dulot ng iba’t ibang sakuna, at magsisiguro sa supply ng tubig, at magre-restore ng mga nasirang lupa at baybayin. Naghahatid din ito ng benepisyo sa mga kabahayan,” Castro said.
Castro said nature-based solutions are intended to deliver practical benefits to communities, including fewer flooding days, reduced damage from disasters, cleaner water for drinking and farming, and new livelihood opportunities from restored ecosystems.
“Para sa mga karaniwang Pilipino, ang NbS ay nangangahulugan ng mas kaunti na araw ng pagbaha at bawas sa pinsalang dala nito, mas malinis na tubig para sa inumin at pagsasaka, at mga bagong oportunidad sa kabuhayan mula sa mga naibalik na ecosystem,” she said.
Malacañang said the initiative forms part of the administration’s continuing efforts to combine infrastructure works with environmental restoration in addressing the country’s flooding problem.