The University of the Philippines Institute of Government and Law Reform (IGLR), successfully hosted a forum entitled “Green Financing Reforms: Empowering Private Sector Participation for Sustainable Growth”, a side event to the 2025 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting. The event convened policymakers, financial sector leaders, sustainability advocates, and representatives from international organizations to explore green financing opportunities and discuss how policies can foster sustainable investments. The event was well-attended, with nearly 200 participants present.
In the opening remarks, Dean Darlene Marie Berberabe of the UP College of Law emphasized the critical role of financing in achieving sustainability goals and encouraged stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors in driving green investments.
The keynote address was given by Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) who underscored the government’s commitment to strengthening green financing mechanisms.
The panel was moderated by Atty. Ephyro Luis Amatong, Former Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Program Director of the Sustainable Approaches to Financial, Economic and Robust (SAFER) Growth Program at UP IGLR. The panel focused on mechanisms to enhance private sector engagement in sustainable investments. The panelists were SEC Commissioner McJill Bryant Fernandez; Asst. Governor Lyn Javier, of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP); Undersecretary Maria Luwalhati Dorotan-Tiuseco of the Department of Finance (DOF); and Senior Assoc. Director Pinky Padronia of the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP).
After the panel discussion, Prof. Rowaldo Del Mundo from the UP College of Engineering introduced the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Calculator, a tool designed to help businesses and financial institutions assess the carbon footprint of their investments.
The event’s reactor Mr. Rey Guarin, an independent practitioner on sustainable finance, stressed the need for public-private collaboration in scaling green investments.
The event concluded with Prof. Jacqueline Joyce Espenilla, Director of the IGLR, who delivered the closing remarks. She highlighted the growing integration of sustainability in policymaking and finance, and stressed the importance of collaborative action in addressing environmental challenges.