From The Chairperson

Message from the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees

As we reflect on Fiscal Year 2024–2025, we do so with a deep sense of responsibility, humility, and resolve. The past year has once again underscored the urgency of our mission: to protect and sustain the Philippines’ unique and fragile ecosystems while empowering communities who stand as their first and most vital stewards.

The environmental challenges confronting our country continue to intensify. Climate-related disasters, biodiversity loss, and mounting pressures on land and marine resources have become increasingly complex and interconnected. Yet amid these realities, the Foundation for the Philippine Environment remains steadfast in its commitment to principled grantmaking, inclusive partnerships, and community-centered conservation. This Annual Report bears witness not only to the challenges we face, but also to the collective strength, innovation, and perseverance of our partners across the archipelago.

Throughout the year, FPE supported initiatives that advanced biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods, particularly in key conservation areas. These efforts were grounded in science, strengthened by traditional ecological knowledge, and driven by the conviction that environmental protection and social equity must go hand in hand. Our partner organizations—many of them community-based and grassroots in nature—continue to demonstrate that lasting environmental outcomes are achieved when local voices are heard, respected, and empowered.

The Board of Trustees recognizes that good governance is essential to sustaining public trust and institutional credibility. In FY 2024–2025, we continued to strengthen oversight mechanisms, uphold transparency and accountability, and ensure that FPE’s resources are managed with the highest standards of integrity. These efforts are crucial as we navigate a rapidly changing development and funding landscape while remaining faithful to our founding mandate.

This year also marked a period of reflection and learning for the Foundation. We assessed our strategies, engaged in dialogue with partners and stakeholders, and examined how FPE can remain responsive and relevant in the face of evolving environmental and social realities. Such reflection is not a sign of uncertainty, but of maturity—an acknowledgment that adaptive leadership is necessary to meet the demands of our time.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I extend our deepest gratitude to our partners, donors, advisors, and allies who continue to walk with us in this shared endeavor. We likewise recognize the dedication of the FPE Management and Secretariat, whose professionalism and commitment underpin the Foundation’s work on the ground and beyond. Their efforts ensure that our vision is translated into meaningful and measurable impact.

As we look ahead, FPE remains committed to fostering collaboration, championing environmental justice, and supporting initiatives that protect our natural heritage for present and future generations. The road ahead is challenging, but it is one we face with hope—guided by shared values, collective action, and an unwavering belief in the capacity of Filipinos to care for the environment we all depend on.

May this Annual Report serve not only as an account of our work, but as a reaffirmation of our shared responsibility to protect the Philippine environment.