Asean Tribune

The battle against climate change will be won or lost in Asia and the Pacific. As Asia and the Pacific’s climate bank, the Asian Development Bank is adopting new and innovative strategies to help combat this challenge, including a new energy policy, aligning our operations with the Paris Agreement, and helping to ensure a Just Transition from coal power to clean, renewable energy, that leaves no one behind.

 

Transcript

ADB is Asia and the Pacific’s climate bank

 

We are deploying new, innovative strategies to meet the challenge of climate change

 

Revamping ADB’s energy policy

 

Helping to transition from coal to clean energy

 

Aligning our operations with the Paris Agreement

 

Committing to a Just Transition—ensuring nobody is left behind

 

And committing to a doubling of our climate adaptation funding

 

Which is vital for protecting the poor and vulnerable

 

Climate change is the most critical battle of our lifetime

 

And that battle will be won or lost in Asia and the Pacific.

 

 

 

Source: Asian Development Bank

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (6 October 2021) — The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Director General for South Asia Kenichi Yokoyama yesterday met with Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to express ADB’s support for the country’s development and its coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination drive.

“The pandemic created a difficult environment for the country with the loss of lives and livelihoods, especially among those working in small and medium-sized enterprises, tourism, and in the informal economy,” said Mr. Yokoyama. “Sri Lanka has made remarkable progress on expanding vaccination, and this will reduce negative impacts of the pandemic and support a faster return to more normal economic activity.”

Sri Lanka imported more than $150 million worth of vaccines with support from ADB’s Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program. The program also helped the country import medical equipment and personal protective equipment during the early part of the pandemic.

During his 10-day visit to Sri Lanka, Mr. Yokoyama also met with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. They participated in a virtual groundbreaking ceremony for the Jaffna Sea Water Desalination Plant, which was supported by a $210 million ADB loan and will provide safe drinking water to 300,000 people living on the Jaffna peninsula and nearby islands.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Government of Sri Lanka and ADB for the 55th Annual Meeting of ADB’s Board of Governors was signed in Colombo on 29 September by Secretary, Ministry of Finance, and ADB Alternate Governor for Sri Lanka S. R. Attygalle and Mr. Yokoyama. Finance Minister and ADB Governor for Sri Lanka Basil Rajapaksa was present during the occasion. ADB Secretary Muhammad Ehsan Khan joined virtually from Manila. The Annual Meeting is scheduled to take place in Colombo from 2 to 5 May 2022.

Mr. Yokoyama will visit several ADB-funded projects in the coming days, including the Wind Power Generation Project in Mannar, which is Sri Lanka’s first large-scale renewable energy plant; the Port Access Elevated Highway Project, which provides a direct link to the port of Colombo from the expressway network; and the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program, which aims to improve access to water resources for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes in the North Central, Central, North Western, and Eastern Provinces. He will also visit the ADB-supported molecular polymerase chain reaction laboratory at the Colombo East Base Hospital established in 2020 to strengthen Sri Lanka’s health response against COVID-19.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

 

 

 

Source: Asian Development Bank

Close to 4,000 informal sector workers in Rizal province received cash-for-work and livelihood assistance amounting to P15.6 million from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Labor Secretary Silvestre ‘Bebot’ Bello III led the awarding of salaries worth P12.9 million to emergency employment beneficiaries and livelihood assistance worth P2.7 million to ambulant vendors in Ynares Event Center, Antipolo City on Monday.

Over 3,000 informal sector workers received their wages worth P4,000 each for their 10-day community work under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

In his message, the labor chief encouraged the workers to use the Department’s assistance wisely. He also instructed for the allotment of over 1,000 additional TUPAD beneficiaries in Antipolo.

Under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program, meanwhile, 97 ambulant vendors received ‘Negosyo sa Kariton’ (Nego-Karts) to augment their existing livelihood undertakings.

Antipolo City Mayor Andrea Ynares thanked the labor department led by Secretary Bello and the Rizal Public Employment Service Office for the assistance to the local government since the start of the pandemic.

Among those who benefited from the DOLE assistance, she added, are drivers, solo parents, and women workers.

Bello also led the awarding of safety seal certifications to V&F Ice Plant and Cold Storage, Inc.; Biba Cakes and Pastries; and Republic Cement and Building Materials, Inc. to confirm their compliance to government-mandated safety and health protocols against COVID-19.

Ana Teresa Gomez, Human Resource Development Head at V&F Ice Plant and Cold Storage, Inc. in Antipolo said the company applied for the safety seal to protect their workers and customers.

She lauded the convenient application process and shared that the company’s branches in Visayas and Mindanao are also applying for the voluntary certification.

Gomez said some of the safety protocols that they observe are temperature checks, frequent hand washing, social distancing, and the use of disinfectant foot baths and safety measure signages in the company premises.

 

 

Source: Department Of Labor and Employment Republic Of Philippines