Aside from writing this weekly column, I am also currently an advisor for an international organization on low carbon transport. And part of the work that we do, in partnership with the Philippine government, is to push for sustainable mobility or a mobility that is efficient, equitable, and more importantly, less harmful to our environment; definitely an issue that has become more pronounced in these pandemic times. Suffice to say that the needed legislation to institutionalize clean and green transport is moving, including the standardization of electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem. But it is a slow process, notwithstanding the pandemic, with the House version still consolidating related proposed bills and the Senate version having just passed the committee level. This is understandable, as low carbon transport will need to overhaul a global transport model that has been ingrained in our economies.
And so it is good to hear of local private initiatives pushing not just for sustainable mobility but even more, for a sustainable economy. An online event was held recently, attended by environmental advocates from civil society organizations (CSOs) calling for stronger partnerships with the private sector and government to address environment issues and climate change impact. Organizers of the event are people I know and respected in their fields—Dindo Manhit of the Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute (ADRi) and Dr. CP David of the Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBest), who I am working with on another venture. Also notable were the participants, and allow me to mention some of them: Ms. Yoly Crisanto of Globe Telecoms and Ms. June Cheryl Cabal-Revilla of the Metro Pacific Group; Ludwig Federigan of the Young Environmental Forum; Ms. Nazrin Castro of The Climate Reality Project Philippines, and Renato Redentor Constantino of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities. Such a mix of CSOs, the youth, environmentalists and big business would guarantee that this issue would penetrate a broad sector of society.
The event presented a good understanding of the mindset of the private sector amid this global crisis. One is in the area of resilience and sustainability. Dr. CP would sum up the situation at hand: “During these highly unusual times, the role of businesses and even of CSOs are most needed.” Despite their collective setbacks, the private sector is driven to move forward but now with the basic difference of moving with global sustainability standards and frameworks. In terms of such self-imposed standards and its impact on their operations, this will definitely cost more, at least for now; but it will mean more, in the long run. It is not just about profit and not just seeing the economy back, but rather seeing a future where businesses as well as the overall society will thrive in a more sustainable manner. Aligned with the private businesses are CSOs as well as NGOs, which current schools of thought now consider as even part of our public administration system. These entities no doubt strengthen our political will to achieve social goals and serve as an alternative to weak or inadequate democratic institutions.
The truth, however, is that the private sector is moving in an environment wanting of government direction and incentives. Always being mentioned publicly as the call of the private sector are incentives and in some industries subsidies, especially in this situation we are in now. But even more important for the private sector is giving them clarity, therefore the predictability of the roadmap that the government intends to take. And such clarity needs not be just on macro policies but governance in its simplest forms, such as the ease of doing business and reducing the so-called red tape. Give the private sector this room to move and the clarity of direction they need to take, and they will respond.
Governments with policies and regulatory authority will always have that continuing interplay with the private sector, ensuring the needed co-existence that will benefit the country. Beyond this are shared interests, among which is the quest for sustainable development, especially in these times of uncertainty. A responsive private sector, with initiatives such as this event, is clearly making the right steps to achieve this goal.
Thomas “Tim” Orbos can be reached via e-mail: thomas_orbos@sloan.mit.edu