In his opening remarks, Dr. Christian Scheld, President of GPCCI, highlighted the importance of environmental governance and sustainable development amid growing climate-related challenges. He emphasized DENR’s vital role in safeguarding natural resources and noted the IMPACT Dialogue Series as a valuable platform for advancing regulatory reforms through collaboration between government and industry.
The session featured Atty. Jonas R. Leones, Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs of DENR, who provided updates on the Department’s regulatory modernization agenda, digitalization initiatives, and sustainability policies. He outlined efforts to streamline permitting and compliance processes, improve administrative efficiency, strengthen environmental accountability, and support sustainable investments while maintaining robust environmental safeguards.
Key topics covered included:
- Digitalization and streamlining of mining permitting processes under DAO No. 2025-17;
- Environmental compliance guidelines for emerging renewable energy technologies, including floating solar and offshore wind projects;
- Implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act to support waste reduction and circular economy initiatives; and
- Developments in ESG-related policies, including sustainable forestry investment guidelines and sustainability reporting frameworks.
Following the presentation, Mr. Yves Aguilos, Head of Government Affairs and Data Protection Officer of GPCCI, moderated the discussion, where participants raised questions on investment facilitation, sustainability initiatives, regulatory reforms, EPR implementation, ESG reporting, renewable energy development, and opportunities for public-private collaboration in sectors such as waste management, biodiversity conservation, water resources, and critical minerals.
The session concluded with closing remarks from Ms. Marie Antoniette Mariano, GPCCI Vice Chairperson of the Policy and Advocacy Committee, who thanked DENR and participants for the productive exchange and underscored the importance of continued stakeholder engagement in advancing sustainable investment, climate action, and a transparent regulatory environment.
The dialogue highlighted DENR’s ongoing efforts to modernize environmental governance through digitalization, streamlined processes, and sustainability-driven policies, while providing the business community with a platform to share perspectives and explore opportunities for collaboration.
