Author: pcepsdi_org

PCEPSDI and WWF conduct Action-Planning Workshop for the Sustainable Diner project stakeholders Photo © Pauline Abello / PCEPSDI The participants of the Action-Planning Workshop come from the government, both national and local, the food service industry, the academe, and civil society organisations. Last September 24 and 25, 2018, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines’ The Sustainable Diner: A Key Ingredient for Sustainable Tourism project, together with The Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI), conducted a two-day Action-Planning Workshop at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, Quezon City. Stakeholders from the national and local government, the food service industry, the academe, and other civil society organizations were gathered to determine processes and perspectives which affect the advancement of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) in the food service sector on both the national and local business levels. Photo © Gabriel Villalon / WWF-Philippines Diana Sadili, Project Officer of PCEPSDI, served as the host and moderator for the two-day workshop. The aims of the action-planning workshop were to define the long-term strategic goals of the select national and local government units on the implementation of SCP in the food service industry, to integrate SCP principles in local and national policies and plans, to help address the foreseen hurdles in the project implementation, and to identify opportunities and actions for successful implementation and integration of SCP in the operations of food service establishments nationwide. The workshop produced a draft action plan for the integration of SCP in the food service industry at the national and local business levels. Photo © Gabriel Villalon / WWF-Philippines The two-day action-planning workshop involved a lot of group discussions, where the participants were divided into four groups. Joshua Ladia, Project Officer of PCEPSDI, facilitated the exchange of ideas in one of the groups. The workshop was divided into seven activities, where participants were grouped for seamless discussion and exchange of ideas: Activity 1: Rapid Assessment of Sustainable Consumption and Production in the food service industry at the national and local government unit level Activity 2: Vision and Mission Setting on Advancing SCP in the food service industry Activity 3: Developing Strategic Objectives Activity 4: Developing the Scorecard Strategic Measures and Indicators Activity 5: Identifying and Prioritizing Strategic Actions Activity 6: Identifying and Analyzing Risks and Opportunities Activity 7: Identifying National and Local Policies and Plans to best integrate SCP in the food service industry Photo © Gabriel Villalon / WWF-Philippines  Dominic Diaz of the Hotel & Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP) presented the finance-related risks and opportunities that his group identified and analyzed. Each activity ended with a presentation of group outputs, where the four groups were assigned a specific perspective to tackle: Learning and Growth, Financial, Stakeholders, and Process. The outputs per activity were collected to synthesize the results of the workshop and to come up with the draft action plan for SCP integration in the food service industry. Dr. Neric Acosta closed the workshop by sharing his thoughts on the success of the integration of SCP principles in the food service industry. “We cannot manage those that we cannot accurately measure. This kind of workshop is very important because it allows us to gather and measure data on total consumption, consumption patterns, consumption habits, as well as on the production side – where our food comes from, what kind of products restaurants are selling, which commodities are currently present in the food service industry. Add to that, the waste generated from both consumption and production. That’s a lot of quantitative and qualitative data we need to measure and analyze and if we cannot measure them, we cannot likely manage”, says Dr. Acosta. “When it comes to relating this to environmental protection, protection really comes from valuing, and valuing comes from understanding. You cannot protect that which you cannot first truly value. Together, this is what we, as project stakeholders, need to always remember when we start rolling out our interventions for the successful implementation of SCP in the local food service industry,” he added. Photo © Pauline Abello / PCEPSDI Dr. Neric Acosta, Chairperson of PCEPSDI, closed the workshop by sharing his thoughts on how SCP principles can be successfully integrated in local dining operations. The two-day workshop served its purpose as a dynamic and interactive gathering of key stakeholders involved in the successful implementation of SCP principles not just in the three partner cities of the project – Quezon City, Cebu City, and Tagaytay City – but in the entire country. It just goes to show that when the different sectors of society work together towards a common goal, it is possible to integrate sustainability in the local food service industry and also in all the industries relevant in our country’s economic and sustainable development. The Sustainable Diner project, under World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines’ Sustainable Consumption and Production, is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag.

Quezon City’s Green Public Procurement (GPP) Task Force Completes the Advance Course Trainings for the GPP for Quezon City Project – a 10YFP SPP Programme Photo © Pauline Abello /PCEPSDI PCEPSDI Executive Director Mr. June M. Alvarez and Programmes & Project Director Engr. Maureen Grace V. Lebria with the GPP Taskforce and GPP4QC Project Team Quezon City’s inter-department GPP Task Force has completed the last capacity building training towards green purchasing on a local government setting on August 9-10, 2018 held at St. Giles Classic Hotel. The GPP Taskforce was formed to implement the GPP4QC Project activities and to provide necessary information to deliver project results that can be replicated in other local government unit. The series of training for the GPP Taskforce aims to guide them through the discussions on factors affecting the deterioration of the environment, it’s ill impact to the community and what the Taskforce can do about it, being the core group of the Green Public Procurement (GPP) initiative of Quezon City. The GPP Taskforce have gone through awareness seminars, trainings and workshops that will help them reduce Greenhouse Gases (GHG) in line with the Quezon City’s commitment to Deadline 2020, a response to the C40 Cities to the Paris Agreement, it aims to reduce GHG emissions through low carbon projects. The four Advance Course Trainings was spearheaded by the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI) in partnership with Quezon City Local Government through the Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD), co-implementers of the UN Environment 10 Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) for Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) Project entitled “Establishment of Green Public Procurement (GPP) for Quezon City fir the Promotion of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in the Philippines” dubbed as the GPP4QC Project. As the project targets to establish and implement a GPP Program in Quezon City and present the programme in an LGU setting. It also targets to develop a Policy Guideline and Framework, and to develop green products specification that can be used in purchasing products and contracting services for the local government. Following Quezon City’s priority, the policy guideline and framework is on-going and being reviewed by the Quezon City stakeholder. While the GPP4QC prioritized four products with the highest impact in terms of GHG reduction which includes food packaging, event, computers and laptops, and auto vehicles. The GPP4QC at its closing phase and the continuation of the Green Procurement Project for Quezon City lies on the hand of the GPP Taskforce. The Philippine Center for the Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI) has offered assistance to the Taskforce on their GPP initiative even after the implementation of the GPP4QC Project. The organization hopes that even the project closes, the GPP initiatives’ achievement on the implementation of the GPP4QC Project will flourish and continue towards its purpose to promote green purchasing and Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in the country. To know more about the Green Public Procurement (GPP) Updates please like our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/PCEPSDI/ and search for the #GPP4QC or message us at gpp4qc@gmail.com.  

Capacity Building for Quezon City Suppliers and Supply Chain held on August 1, 2018 at the Quezon City Public Library Photo © Pauline Abello / PCEPSDI PCEPSDI Programmes & Projects Director Engr. Maureen Grace V. Lebria with the QC Suppliers and Supply Chain and GPP4QC Project Team. As Quezon City Stakeholders, the GPP Project held a Capacity Building Activity for their Suppliers and Supply Chain held on August 1, 2018. The Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI) recognizes the direct impact of Green Public Procurement (GPP) to Quezon City suppliers and supply chain’s role in the project, a capacity building activity was held to align them with the local government’s support unto the initiative. The activity includes an introduction on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) and Green Public Procurement to make them further understand the relevance of the project to the government, community and the environment. The Green Procurement initiatives from the ASEAN region was also featured to align that there are already established programmes which are already in different levels. The event invited QC suppliers and supply chain of particular products from the following industry: food packaging, computers and laptops, events and motor vehicles. These products were based on the result of the product prioritization study. The selected products will help reduce Greenhouse Gases (GHG) in line with the Quezon City’s commitment to Deadline 2020, a response to the C40 Cities to the Paris Agreement, it aims to reduce GHG emissions through low carbon projects. It was also the chance to present the draft technical specification for environmentally friendly products to the stakeholders whose comments are valuable to the feasibility of the draft specification. The success of the event was made possible with the assistance of the General Procurement Office and the Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD), co-implementers of the UN Environment 10 Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) for Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) Project entitled “Establishment of Green Public Procurement (GPP) for Quezon City for the Promotion of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in the Philippines” dubbed as the GPP4QC Project. To know more about the Green Public Procurement (GPP) Updates please like our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/PCEPSDI/ and search for the #GPP4QC or message us at gpp4qc@gmail.com.

Photo © Pauline Abello / PCEPSDI PCEPSDI Programmes & Projects Director Engr. Maureen Grace V. Lebria with the QC Department Heads and GPP4QC Project Team. As the Green Public Procurement Project for Quezon City is at its implementation phase.  A Capacity Building activity for the Quezon City Department Heads was held on July 12, 2018. The activity aims to have the Department Heads be more involved and updated on the project’s status on the development of technical specification and draft guidelines and framework for green procurement. The activity includes a brief introduction on the concept of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), and Green Public Procurement (GPP).   Quezon City has been always supportive with the Green Procurement initiative. In line with this, the QC inter-department GPP Task Force has been focused on the implementation of the project is as supportive as their department heads who attended the capacity building for green procurement. The event also featured to raise awareness on the green public procurement project for Quezon City. Another is to share that there are existing green procurement programmes in the ASEAN region to escalate the relevance of the project not just in a national level but in an international level. The success of the event was made possible through the assistance of the partnership of the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI) with Quezon City Local Government through the Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD), co-implementers of the UN Environment 10 Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) for Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) Project entitled “Establishment of Green Public Procurement (GPP) for Quezon City for the Promotion of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in the Philippines” dubbed as the GPP4QC Project. To know more about the Green Public Procurement (GPP) Updates please like our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/PCEPSDI/ and search for the #GPP4QC or message us at gpp4qc@gmail.com.

QC Vice Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte delivers the Keynote Address at the Advancing Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) on Dining and Purchasing The first Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) on Dining and Purchasing Conference was held on July 4, 2018. This event was a conference in partnership with the Green Public Procurement (GPP) Project for Quezon City implemented by the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI) and the Sustainable Diner Project: A Key Ingredient to Sustainable Tourism spearheaded by WWF-Philippines and PCEPSDI. The event focuses on the establishment and integration of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) on the dining and purchasing scenario in the Philippines through the parallel afternoon session on policy dialogue and information session. Atty. Digo (GPPB) and Engr. Lozano (DBM-PS) with the PCEPSDI GPP4QC Team and QC Stakeholders at the GPP4QC Information Session The GPP Project for Quezon City focuses on establishing the SCP initiatives in the operation and system of their stakeholders specifically the barangay officials and national government agencies residing in QC. The invitation was also extended to other local units around Quezon City. Atty. Jerry Digo of the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) and Engr. Julieta Lozano of the Department of Budget and Management – Procurement Service (DBM-PS) discussed the status of Green Procurement in the government. Atty. Digo presented the Green Public Procurement Roadmap and Engr. Lozano shared the GPP implementation in the procurement of 10 common use supplies and equipment in the government. The Sustainable Diner Project’s Policy Dialogue While the Sustainable Diner Project focuses on gathering insights on the advancement of SCP and policy recommendations in the food service industry. A policy dialogue has been conducted with the Food Service Sector stakeholders. To know more about the projects of the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI) kindly send an e-mail at greenchoicephilippines@pcepsdi.org.ph or all us at 631-2151 or 727-5787.

The Green Public Procurement (GPP) for Quezon City (QC) held its 3rd Advance Course Training for QC’s inter-department GPP Task Force on June 21-22, 2018 at Days Hotel, Tagaytay. PCEPSDI Executive Director Mr. June M. Alvarez and Programmes & Project Director Engr. Maureen Grace V. Lebria with the GPP Taskforce and GPP4QC Project Team The 3rd Advance Course Training for the Green Public Procurement (GPP) Taskforce was finally held on June 21-22, 2018 at Days Hotel Tagaytay. The Advance Course Training was programmed for the GPP Task Force to know more about the technical aspect of the GPP for QC project. This include the presentation of product prioritization result, strategic planning, development of technical specification for environmentally friendly criteria, drafting a policy framework and guideline, and the upcoming activities as the project is at its closing phase. The GPP Task Force had a look back on their responsibilities as stated on Office Order No. 57 Series of 2012, a resolution creating the Green Public Procurement Team to monitor and supervise the GPP Project of Quezon City. This is in preparation for their monitoring strategy when the project has finally closed and if they have decided to fully implement the Green Public Procurement in Quezon City. Photo © Pauline Abello / PCEPSDI Ms. Sandee Recabar of Climate Change Commission on the opportunities of GHG Mitigation on Green Procurement One of the training’s highlight is when Ms. Sandee Recabar of the Climate Change Commission has presented the opportunities of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) mitigation on Green Procurement. Another is the workshop on drafting a technical specification for a product using life cycle considerations. The GPP Taskforce was able to identify criteria with specific means of verification and relevance to the product itself and in the environment. The workshop was meant to have them experience the basic process of drafting a technical specification which is deemed important being a scientific process of addressing and considering the environment on their procurement processes. The Advance Course Trainings was spearheaded by the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI) in partnership with Quezon City Local Government through the Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD), co-implementers of the UN Environment 10 Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) for Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) Project entitled “Establishment of Green Public Procurement (GPP) for Quezon City for the Promotion of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in the Philippines” dubbed as the GPP4QC Project. To know more about the Green Public Procurement (GPP) Updates please like our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/PCEPSDI/ and search for the #GPP4QC or message us at gpp4qc@gmail.com.

With Boracay finally shutting down for a six months moratorium period due to continuous environmental degradation, thus affecting one of the country’s key sources of tourism revenues, the Department of Tourism (DOT) steps up to develop a roadmap for advancing sustainable tourism in the country, by assisting the tourism sector shift to resource use efficiency and increase their cost savings, while decoupling tourism growth from carbon emissions. Through DOT’s four-year project ‘Transforming Tourism Value Chains (TVC) to Accelerate More Resource Efficient, Low Carbon Development, in partnership with the Paris-based UN Environment Programme (UNEP), a sound agenda for sustainable tourism and low-carbon growth will be developed through a series of workshops for the tourism value chain.                                                                                                                                           Usec. Marco Bautista of the Department of Tourism “Sustainable Tourism should pave the way for a more environmentally-responsible Accommodation and MICE sector in the country, in response to climate change adversities and the challenge for a more competitive and resilient tourism industry, under the new National Tourism Development Plan 2016-2022,” said the newly-appointed DOT Under Secretary Marco Bautista during the opening of the 3rd Workshop of the project. Group Picture of Day 1 Participants to Workshop 3 of the Tourism Value Chain Project Group Picture of Day 2 Participants to Workshop 3 of the Tourism Value Chain Project Held last May 30-31, the 3rd project workshop was participated by hotel and resort owners and managers, its supply chain, tourism operators and researchers, NGO, sustainable tourism advocates, LGU tourism and environment officers, as well as MICE organizers. Highlighting this workshop is the presentation of the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Cost Model (GACMO), an essential tool for the Accommodation and MICE sector to shift to more sustainable, resilient and competitive business. Earlier, the first and second project workshops came up with Philippine tourism value chain mapping, tourism hotspots analyses and short listing of solutions, with Iloilo and Metro Manila as project areas. These workshop results will be used as inputs for the National Sustainable Tourism Roadmap. Organized by DOT’s project partner Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Inc (PCEPSDI), the workshop highlighted the discussion on how the government, business, and civil society can collaborate and create a favourable context for collective action in improving the sustainability of the Tourism value chain in the Philippines. Participants also actively contributed inputs to the Low Carbon and Resource Efficiency Roadmap in the Philippines, which will be implemented in the following years of the project. The workshop likewise collated how businesses could evaluate, compare, and select options to improve their environmental performance and reduce Climate Change related emissions. Technical Consultant Jorgen Villy Fehann of the UN Environment-University of Denmark Partnership reiterated the need for tourism entities in the Philippines to join the Global action on climate change, through its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). From left right, Mr. Kiko Velhagen of PCEPSDI, Dr. Alvin Culaba of De La Salle University, Jorgen Villy Fehann of the UN Environment Programme-Denmark Technical University Partnership (UNEP-DTU), Mr. June Alvarez PCEPSDI Executive Director, Pablo Montes of UNEP, Mark Barthel and Claire Kneller from Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). UN Environment representative Pablo Montes said, “Tourism industry in the Philippines is one that has been a lot of progress in the topics that we covered during the workshop mainly, and with this Sustainable Tourism, how to address climate change, how to mitigate climate change emissions, and how to be more resource efficient. There is a strong political back up or leadership and a lot of institutional frameworks to facilitate and actions on Sustainable Tourism. There is also a lot of activity from the businesses that can be tap on to look further and increase the ambition in terms of how the Tourism Value Chain can lead and be more low carbon and resource efficient.” Mr. Neil Rumbaoa, Vice President for Marketing for SM Hotels and Conventions Corporations commented “One of the learnings I’ve got from the workshop is that obviously, we don’t have time, the world is changing. Climate has changed already and unfortunately for us, we cannot recover more what has been lost so to speak. What we can do now is to make it better and incorporate best practices in our operations so that we can mitigate to the events of climate change. And it is very scary not just for our industry but for humanity, just like one of the speaker said, ‘It would be nice if we leave Earth, better for our children’”. To know more about this technical assistance project, and how you may gain benefits from sustainable tourism, you may reach the TVC Project Officer, Mr. Kiko Velhagen at tvc4relcd@gmail.com, or call at 727-5787 for project details.