FSI’s Mabini Dialogue Spotlights ASEAN’s Bioeconomy Prospects
Atty. Elpidio V. Peria shares his expertise on biodiversity and the potential of a regional bioeconomy.
MANILA 08 April 2025 — The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) held the second session of its Mabini Dialogue Series (MDS) in 2025 titled “Safeguarding ASEAN’s Natural Wealth: The Role of Biodiversity in Regional Growth.” The event took place on 4 April 2025 at the Department of Foreign Affairs’ temporary headquarters at DoubleDragon Tower, Pasay and was livestreamed on FSI Philippines’ Facebook page.
The MDS featured Atty. Elpidio V. Peria, a lawyer and biodiversity policy specialist, who delivered a comprehensive presentation tracing ASEAN’s biodiversity potential within the broader context of global environmental governance and economic transformation. Drawing on his experience in treaty negotiations and policy work, Peria stressed the urgency of repositioning biodiversity not only as a conservation issue but also as a foundation for regional economic strategy. He described how ASEAN functions as an intermediary between global biodiversity agreements—such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF)—and national policy through layered coordination at international, regional, and local levels.
He also explored the growing relevance of digital sequence information (DSI), referencing the newly launched Cali Fund for benefit-sharing from the use of genetic data. ASEAN states, he said, could expand their participation in the bioeconomy through mechanisms such as access and benefit-sharing (ABS) agreements. Drawing on examples from Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, Peria pointed to early models of bioindustry focused on genetic resource use for health, manufacturing, and sustainable production.
Looking ahead to the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship in 2026, he proposed two declarations for consideration: one on establishing an ASEAN Bioeconomy Strategy and another on integrating natural capital accounting into financial systems. As part of the bioeconomy proposal, Peria outlined a plan for a regional roadmap that would identify bioindustry niches for each member state, link them to global value chains, and set goals for turning biodiversity conservation into sustainable, income generating industries. These efforts, he suggested, could support the development of biodiversity-based industries while promoting biodiversity finance instruments that link natural wealth to economic value.
Participants of the Mabini Dialogue included attendees from the FSI, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), members of the diplomatic corps, government agencies, biodiversity research institutions, civil society organizations, the academe, alongside virtual participants from Philippine foreign service posts.
The recorded video of the Mabini Dialogue is available in this link: bit.ly/mabinidialogue-040425
FSI is the training and research agency attached to the Department of Foreign Affairs. It was created under Presidential Decree No. 1060 and its remit was expanded by Republic Act No. 7157. The FSI Board is chaired by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, with the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the FSI Director General, the President of the University of the Philippines (UP), and the President of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) as members. END
FSI Director General Noel Francisco Fernandez III presents the Certificate of Appreciation to Atty. Elpidio V. Peria.