Today, Slovenian Ambassador Smiljana Knez visited the Office of Civil Defense to discuss how the two countries can work together to improve disaster preparedness, climate resilience, and energy sustainability. She was joined by Undersecretary Ariel F. Nepomuceno, the OCD Administrator, along with Assistant Secretary Carlos Bathan and Directors Caesar Agnir Jr., Harry Barbers, and Dominic Almelor.
Ambassador Knez highlighted how the Philippines has done a good job managing typhoons and floods, but she also pointed out how climate change is making these natural hazards more intense and unpredictable. “Our floods hit our economy hard and served as a real wake-up call,” she said. “Currently, we tend to spend more on damage control than on prevention. Resilience only becomes a priority after disasters strike. It’s important we put more into mitigation and adaptation, and show solidarity through initiatives like the Loss and Damage Fund. Slovenia was quick to pledge support because we believe in working together on these issues.”
She also talked about Slovenia’s efforts to make its military more environmentally friendly. This includes projects to cut emissions, switch to renewable energy, and use electric vehicles during exercises. Slovenia is even exploring self-sufficient hybrid systems for military infrastructure, showing their commitment to sustainability.
Usec Nepomuceno acknowledged the Philippines’ resilience but stressed that there’s still a lot of work to do on infrastructure. Despite progress in raising awareness about retrofitting buildings and strengthening critical infrastructure, funding remains a challenge. “We understand how vital resilient structures are,” he said. “Finding ways to finance these upgrades is key to protecting our communities from natural hazards.”
Ambassador Knez also shared Slovenia’s role on the international stage, especially within the UN Security Council, where climate security is gaining more recognition. “Climate security is now seen as a critical issue for global stability,” she explained. “Many countries in Africa and Asia are pushing for it to be included on the agenda because their populations are most at risk.”
Both sides agreed to keep working closely—sharing knowledge, best practices, and exploring new projects. The Philippines is also pushing ahead with its clean energy plans, including shutting down more coal plants and expanding solar and geothermal energy. “We’re moving toward more sustainable energy sources,” Usec Nepomuceno said. “Solar is becoming our go-to because it’s cost-effective and reliable, and we’re also looking into geothermal and wind.”
They also talked about Slovenia’s efforts to make military activities greener, like using electric vehicles and reducing pollution during NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) exercises. Both sides are excited about future visits and working together more to strengthen this partnership.
The meeting wrapped up with a shared goal: support vulnerable communities and build societies that are resilient, sustainable, and better prepared for whatever natural hazards come their way.
