His Excellency Luc Veron, Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines; Executives from the AFD; fellow workers in government; ladies and gentlemen: Good morning.

Let me begin by thanking the European Union and the French Government for providing us with another important armor in this ongoing battle against climate change.

Given our archipelagic nature, each locality in the Philippines faces its own unique set of challenges and vulnerabilities.

This is why this financing support worth 4.6 million Euros from the European Union and the French Government is such a fitting solution to our problem.

This will allow us to empower our local government units as we develop climate projects and programs uniquely tailored to their specific needs.

By doing so, we ensure sensitivity to localities and increase the likelihood of achieving the greatest positive impact for our people.

I trust that under the able leadership of Secretary Benhur Abalos, the Department of the Interior and Local Government will oversee the efficient and successful implementation of this program.

On the part of the Department of Finance, we will ensure that this technical assistance will deliver tangible results that benefit both our nation and the global community.

Again, we thank the European Union and the French Government for their crucial support to the Filipino people. We eagerly look forward to seeing this program bear fruit on the ground.

Thank you.