This exploratory study focuses on the Philippine government’s response to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in distress, especially in the Middle East using social media platforms. It examines the level of social media adoption by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in protecting Filipino nationals abroad. The popularity of social networking sites among Filipinos, including DFA officials and staff, played a vital role in influencing the institution’s move toward social media adoption. Key informant interviews were conducted with 10 officials, case officers, and staff at the DFA home office and Foreign Service Posts in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from June to July 2019. While Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can be effective tools for speedy communication between the DFA and OFWs, the DFA faces several challenges such as budgetary constraints, lack of human resources with ICT skills, and verifying reports, among others. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the indispensable role of social media platforms in communicating with OFWs and in extending assistance to those in distress. Hence, the DFA may consider the formulation of an agency-wide social media strategy and collaboration with other migration authorities on social media-anchored projects.

The significance of local actors in regional integration was reaffirmed in November 2018 upon the adoption of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Smart Cities Network (ASCN) Framework. The ASCN is envisaged as a collaborative platform where member cities can discuss and resolve the challenges brought about by rapid urbanization. It can thus be said that it fundamentally espouses the role of city diplomacy as an important means and end in the successful realization of sustainable urbanization. In the Philippines’ case, the involvement of Manila, Cebu, and Davao as pilot cities is mainly catalyzed by two factors, namely, the need to address the interests of their communities and as an expression of solidarity with other ASEAN cities. Further, the participation of these local government units (LGUs) in diplomatic activities at the regional level primarily focus on economic, cultural, cooperative, and representative dimensions. To effectively address enforcement-related challenges, LGUs may undertake capacity-building activities, advance a whole-of-society approach, tap new financing schemes, ensure project continuity, and expand the ASCN to include other cities.

The prevailing issues in the Green Climate Fund on implementation and governance can be seen as symptoms of the ills of the international climate finance architecture. These are compounded by the inadequate financial support provided by developed countries to developing countries and the low volume of funding channelled to adaptation projects. Evidently, the cited issues highlight the need to fully integrate the principles of justice and equity into the global climate change regime. Thus, this policy brief discusses the key challenges related to climate finance, and outlines several options and considerations on improving the Green Climate Fund operations using a climate justice lens. This paper intends to take a more normative and ethical discussion on the topic of climate finance.

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