LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA - Marking a new chapter as it approaches its twentieth year, the ASEAN Centre of Biodiversity (ACB) welcomes Dr. Jerome L. Montemayor as its new Executive Director. The oath-taking ceremony was held at the ACB Headquarters on 19 May.

“We will continue to celebrate the different natural and cultural treasures of ASEAN,” the new leader said in his acceptance speech. In his term, he committed to “build bridges, foster partnerships, and nurture collaborative initiatives, programmes, and projects and ensure that local voices are heard and empowered. We will serve the needs of the ASEAN Member States in their pursuit of their respective biodiversity conservation and climate action programmes, towards the attainment of the ASEAN Biodiversity Plan.’’ 

Atty. Jonas R. Leones, Chairperson of the ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment (ASOEN) and the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and International Affairs, administered the oath. In his opening message, Atty. Leones said, “Today is a celebration of the numerous accomplishments of the ACB under the guidance of the Centre’s former leaders while anticipating a new chapter of achievements through the vision and competent direction of its incoming leader.” He also highlighted the strong and longstanding partnership and cooperation between the Philippines and the ACB. Addressing Dr. Montemayor, Atty. Leones said “we confidently look forward to more fruitful years of pushing for nature conservation, as we continue working with the ACB—with you at the helm.”

Ms. Clarissa C. Arida, former Acting Executive Director and now Senior Director for Programmes, also welcomed Dr. Montemayor. “We are confident that this is the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for us at the ACB. We look forward to more significant wins, not only for the ACB and the AMS, but ultimately for ASEAN biodiversity,” she said.

As part of the oath-taking ceremony, Director Arida handed over the ACB flag and a living moss plaque representing the ASEAN biodiversity and ecosystems that the ACB continues to protect and conserve. This token not only represents the responsibility of leading the ACB but also the trust, dedication, and continued commitment to the Centre’s mission and values. 

Dr. Montemayor succeeded Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim as executive director of the ACB. 

Introducing the New Leader 

Dr. Montemayor is a development professional with over three decades of experience in social development work in the fields of public education improvement, sustainable development, conservation management, and climate action initiatives throughout the Philippines and Asia. Before joining the ACB, he was the Executive Director of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE), the first grant-making organisation for civil society environmental initiatives in the country. He is also a renowned expert scientist on Philippine peatlands.

Under the guidance of the Governing Board of the ACB, Dr. Montemayor is responsible for crafting and pursuing the Centre’s vision and mission, translating these into strategic goals and operational activities. His role also includes ensuring the sustainability of the Centre through effective resource mobilisation, planning, and strategic development, as well as establishing networks with external organisations. 

About the ACB

Established in 2005 as a response to the pressing issue of biodiversity loss, the ACB is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to fostering cooperation and coordination among the ASEAN Member States. It works closely with regional and international organisations to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity while ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from these invaluable natural resources.

Recently, the Secretariat of the Convention for Biological Diversity has chosen the ACB as one of the 18 regional and subregional technical and scientific cooperation support centres for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Plan.