Phl urged to accelerate devʼt of sustainable infra

The Philippines needs to work double time in building sustainable infrastructure given its high vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and weather disturbances, Singapore-based project facilitation office Infrastructure Asia said.

Lavan Thiru, executive director of Infrastructure Asia, said the Philippines is situated in the Pacific typhoon belt, making it among the most vulnerable to climaterelated weather events.

In 2022 alone, he said the total cost of calamities, from typhoons to earthquakes and flooding, reached P29 billion.

He said in an email to The STAR that this “accelerates the need to develop sustainable infrastructure throughout the country.”

In building infrastructure, he said the design and construction should not just withstand challenges posed by climate change or absorb weather disturbances, but must also be done sustainably.

Thiru said this means infrastructure to be built must not add to any future potential problems, but should still serve its basic functions.

“The approach of building climate-resilient infrastructure has and must continue to evolve. Building codes, materials, and construction techniques need to consider potential climate-related risks, ensuring it remains functional during and after such events,” he added.

With government finances facing numerous demands and priorities, he said getting the private sector involved will be crucial in the development of sustainable infrastructure.

According to him, private sector involvement would not just introduce additional funding sources, but also enable the use of more innovative technologies, as well as sharing of risks between the public and private sectors.

“Through mechanisms like public-private partnerships, risks associated with construction delays, cost overruns, or market fluctuations can also be shared,” he said.

To scale sustainable infrastructure in the country, the official said there is a need to develop sustainability standards.

“This will instill investor confidence and accelerate sustainable infrastructure development,” he said.

Furthermore, he said the Philippines could engage alternative funds to supplement existing capital pools.

Investing in existing assets by retrofitting, he added, could also help accelerate development of sustainable infrastructure.

“By retrofitting existing infrastructure or operational assets, industry players can optimize the energy efficiency of the infrastructure and extend their lifespan. This can be implemented by considering energy efficiency solutions in buildings, especially for space cooling,” he said.