PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, November 11, 2021, called for the strengthening of public-private collaboration in addressing inclusion and sustainability challenges brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic and the prevailing climate change.

During the virtual 2021 Apec Business Advisory Council (ABAC) dialogue with economic leaders, Duterte highlighted the need to improve digitalization and literacy in rural communities, establishment of a national Social Protection Floor (SPF) and facilitating developing economies' transition to a low-carbon economy as key areas of collaboration.

He said promoting digital literacy especially among vulnerable groups in the digital economy “will help increase the economic productivity of marginalized groups under the new normal.”

He noted the need to establish the necessary infrastructure for accessible, stable and affordable energy supply in remote communities.

Duterte said the establishment of a national SPF will address the loopholes in social protection programs that were highly exposed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“An SPF will guarantee a minimum set of social security benefits for all, including workers in the informal sector and gig economy,” he said.

Duterte also urged the developed countries to help poor countries adapt and mitigate the adverse consequences of climate change, including climate finance, technology transfer and development and capacity-building.

"In the interest of climate justice, we need these to transition to climate-smart development and adapt to and mitigate the worsening effects of climate change," he said. (SunStar Philippines)