Author: pcepsdi_org

Green Productivity. Green Purchasing. Green Philippines. The mantra of the GP3 Movement goes beyond mere words to action when the Kalikasan GP3 Expo Conference happened last July 23 – 25 at the SMX Convention Center Taguig, SM Aura Bonifacio Global City. Convening environmental and sustainability advocates and practitioners from a wide range of publics — government, professionals, businessmen, the youth, and the general public, it deemed the expo cum conference a success. On its fourth staging this year, the KP3 Expo and Conference 2015 has provided a much appreciated twist to the advocacy of greening, thus effectively bringing an otherwise new global message of caring for the environment on a level that resonates down to the Filipino public’s very roots. By integrating the ancient Filipino values and traditions that define racial relationship with the land and one’s surroundings, the KP3 goal of graduating into a movement has taken shape and momentum. Through a skillfully orchestrated menu of activities organized by the newest GP3 partner, the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA), the recently held expo cum conference was able to further engage the Filipino’s inherently green propensity through a variety of sensory experiences– the visual arts through the “My Best Shot Contest,” gastronomic delights through the “Katutubong Lutuin Culinary Contest,” and intellectual creativity through the “Pinoy Greencentrics: Green Technology Invention Contest”. The KKK Expo 2015 carried 50 exhibitors from varying categories of business activities, from green building construction and supply, green transport and energy, green technology and manufacturing of eco-products, and eco-tourism and travel. Included among the exhibitors are the Green Choice Philippines Seal of Approval holders namely: Amon Marketing Corporation, Holcim Philippines,Inc., Palmeco Philippines Inc., Plantex Solutions Manufacturing, Inc., Mariwasa Siam Ceramics, Inc., and Cemex Philippines. The Kalikasan GP3 Conference has served as an effective platform for the promotion of Sustainable Consumption and Production with the staging of three (3) track conference- the Green Business and Green Consumerism Conference, Green Tourism Conference, and the Green Building and Sustainable Construction Conference. Environmental champions and experts from Europe and Asia and local environment specialists shared knowledge and experience in building up resiliency to changing climate conditions and strategies for greening production processes, cleaning up technologies, and greening the supply chain. – S.A. MABLE

Ritzi Ronquillo of Holcim Philippines (third from left) together with (Left to Right) Mr. Albert Magalang of Climate Change Office, Atty. Ann Claire Cabochan of DTI-Bureau of Philippine Standards, Sec. J.R. Nereus Acosta,PhD of Office of Presidential Adviser of Environmental Protection and Laguna Lake Development Authority, and Mr. June Alvarez of PCEPSDI Holcim Philippines renews its Green Choice Seal of Approval for the General Purpose Cement Excel and Masonry Cement Wall Right product. Ms Ritzi Ronquillo, Vice President of Corporate Communication received the Green Choice Seal of Approval in behalf of the Holcim Philippines during the ceremonial awarding at the Cultural and Networking Night of the Kalikasan GP3 Expo Conference 2015 on July 23, 2015 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier. The Green Choice Seal of Approval is awarded by the National Ecolabelling Programme-Green Choice Philippines to products and services that meets the NELP-GCP standards based on the ISO 14024-Type 1 Environmental Labeling. This Programme is chaired and co-chaired by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENR- EMB) respectively.

After more than 20 years of advocating for the passage of the Sustainable Forestry Management Act in Congress to no avail, the Forestry Management Bureau (FMB), a unit of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is pushing with urgency the signing of an Executive Order that would help achieve, to a significant degree the national vision of sustainable Philippine forests. Establishing a national system for wood certification, according to FMB Director Ricardo Calderon would achieve the twin goals of legality and sustainability in the management of the country’s forests, whether primary, residual, secondary, or plantation. Calderon, speaking before an information and awareness seminar conducted by the Philippine Center for Environment Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI) in partnership with the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), a Swiss-based international forestry certification group, would, in the absence of a Congressional act, enable the Philippine wood industry and allied businesses to cope with anticipated competition in the wake of ASEAN integration this 2015. A PEFC-modeled wood certification system which is a requirement for ASEAN integration has been pilot tested by the FMB in identified forests in the islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao and proven feasible, according to Fe Oliveros of said office. The FMB’s successful piloting of the chain of custody certification process recommended by the PEFC is the basis for the DENR endorsement of the signing of an executive order creating a multi-stakeholder National Governing Body that would start the process of consultation among government, private business, forestry professionals, and local people’s organisations with the view of crafting a National Forestry Certification system that is participative, socially acceptable, and adapted to Philippine realities. The PEFC is one of two international groups engaged in the promotion and implementation of forestry certification system which advocates for a bottom-up formulation process in the crafting of national forestry certification systems. PEFC Chief Executive Officer Ben Gunneberg and other officers of the group is in the Philippines for an information and awareness campaign among government forestry agencies, forestry professionals, businessmen, and environmental groups. June Alvarez, Executive Director of PCEPSDI, principal seminar organizer, says that the forestry seminar is a pre-event activity of the Kalikasan GP3 Expo and Conference on Climate Smart Businesses and Green Consumerism that opened on June 23-25, 2015 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.  S. A. MABLE

Mr. Mark Tan, President of PalmEco Tech. Ltd (3rd from left) receives the Green Choice Seal of Approval together with Atty. Cabochain of DTI-BPS (1st from Left), Mr. Albert Magalang of Climate Change Commission (2nd from left) and Mr. June Alvarez of the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc (1st from right). PalmEco Tech Ltd.’s PalmEco Board has surpassed stringent screening by the National Ecolabelling –Green Choice Philippines, receiving the Green Choice Seal Approval on July 23, 2015 during the Kalikasan GP3 Expo Conference Staging held at the SMX Convention Center SM, Aura Premier. Mr. Mark Tan, PalmEco Tech Ltd.’s president also served as one of the speakers of the event where he introduced the Palmeco Philippines Corporation as a Green Building Material. The NELP-GCP awards the seal to products and services that meets the set criteria and has sustainable practices from extraction of raw materials up to disposal.

  The Mutual Recognition Agreement between then National Ecolabelling Programme-Green Choice Philippines and the Taiwan Green Building Material Label has been sealed on October 17 2014 held at Taipei, Taiwan represented by the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Inc., and the Environment and Development Foundation & Taiwan Architecture & Building Center respectively, another milestone for promoting and strengthening ecolabelling around the globe. This MRA opens opportunity for increased Trade on construction materials with National Ecolabelling Programme-Green Choice Philippines and Taiwan Green Building Material Label Seal of Approval. With the increasing demand for construction materials coupled with the demand for green construction materials brought by the rising of green and intelligent buildings, the agreement will allow easy recognition of ecolabelled construction products between the two parties making the process of certification faster. Moreover the MRA opens new opportunity for green construction materials with NELP-GCP Seal of approval to easily access the international market. Present in the MRA Ceremonial Signing are Mr. June Alvarez , Executive Director of PCEPSDI; Ms. Lih-Chyi Wen , Deputy Director, Green Trade Project Office-Ministry of Economic Affairs; Dr. Wen-Ching Chen, Ph. D., Gen. Manager, Environment and Development Foundation); Dr. Ning Yu, and Mr. Osamu Uno (Chairman, Eco Mark Japan).

The youth is the key to a sustainable future. On July 25, two hundred twenty-two (222) youth from seven (7) universities gathered for the Rethink: What on Earth Are You Doing Symposium held at the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex Auditorium. This event aims to encourage the youth to rethink their impact to the environment and to take environmental actions. These actions need not to be complex; it may start from a very simple act such energy and water efficient practices at home. Present in the Symposium is NELP-GCP Programme Manager, Engr. Maureen Grace Lebria who has imparted to the participants the National Ecolabelling Programme- Green Choice Philippines. With her as speakers are Dr. Eric Punzalan of the Dela Salle University, Ms. Cassandra Deluria of One Million Lights Philippines, and Mr. RodneGalichaof the Climate Reality Project. It has been an engaging symposium where students conveyed intentions to change their behavior towards sustainable consumption and environmental protection. Ideas on how they will do this were captured through their rethink pledges which can be accessed at the https://www.facebook.com/pcepsdi.rethink the Rethink Campaign Official Facebook Page. Rethink Campaign is campaign that the targets the youth engagement on environmental action specifically sustainable consumption. This campaign has been made possible through the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Inc., University of Sto. Tomas Faculty of Arts and Letters (ABSC) Student Council, and the Quanta Paper Corporation.

The country’s health and food safety experts as well as environmental policy planners assembled at the “Greening the Food Services Forum-Workshop” last March 10, 2011 at the Kabalikat Conference Hall, DENR Building, Quezon City. The forum-workshop was organized by the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Inc which is the administrator of the National Ecolabeling Programme-Green Choice Philippines. They discussed how greening the food service industry in restaurants, fast foods outlets, canteens and catering services will help the public avoid food and water-borne diseases brought about by eating out in fast foods outlets, canteens and restaurants. National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) Executive Director Emilia Aguinaldo presented the government’s Solid Waste policies for food services while University of the Philippines-National Health Institute (UP-NHI) Executive Director Dr. Lulu Bravo discussed on the issues and concerns of the Food-borne diseases. Also present was Ruby Apilado of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute who discussed on the Standards on Food Nutrition. Last resource speaker for the day was Mr. Chito Macapagal, VP for Corporate Affairs of Unilever Philippines who talked about the company’s initiatives in nutritional labeling and waste management. The forum came up with agreements on 5 major considerations for the development of environmental guidelines for ecolabeling the food services in the country: 1)solid waste management 2) water effluent 3) energy use 4) Nutritional Labeling 5) Food safety. Key representatives from SM Group of companies, Ayala Foundation, Pasig City and Quezon City Government had shown strong interest to implement the ecolabeling of their food service tenants and business establishments. Representatives of the Food and Drug Administration, World Health Organization, Department of Health, Food and Nutrition Council, Drugstores Association of the Philippines, Diabetes Association of the Philippines, Philippine Nurses Association, Ecolab Philippines, Kimberly Clark Philippines each gave their inputs for the proposed technical working group who will work on the guidelines. Promotional activities were also presented to advocate with the public a food and health safety campaign to food service providers and establishments. Eco-labeling is the process of putting a seal to products and services having shown environmental performance leadership. Consumers will be assured of high-quality and environmental compliance of the product or service, having undergone a rigid evaluation process before the seal is awarded. The holder of the seal is subject to periodic environmental audit which assures the public of continuous environmental leadership of the product or service. The Philippines has the “GREEN CHOICE “seal as its national eco-label.

As part of the Earth Day Celebration and the worldwide effort to educate people on the environmental value of Green Business and Ecolabeling, Sta. Rosa- and Binan-based business establishment owners and company officials attended “Green Business and Ecolabeling Seminar”, organized by the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI) and the GenTwoFifteen Development Foundation, Inc. (GDFI) in coordination with the City government of Sta. Rosa on April 20 at the Sta. Rosa City New City Hall Multipurpose Room. Participants were oriented on the ecolabelling and green procurement programs as a twin strategy to promote sustainable production and consumption. They were also introduced to the Green Purchasing Alliance Movement (GPAM), an organization of green procurement advocate, and were encouraged to partake in the green purchasing advocacy. The seminar is a response to the increasing demand for environmental programs on products and services when the recent Typhoons Ondoy and Peping and the current El Niёo Phenomenon in the country? all born out of climate change? resulted to destruction and catastrophe. Environmental programs target business and industrial zones where many environmental pollutants come from, just like in Sta. Rosa City, an emerging business and industrial zone next to Mega Manila. The activity oriented and encouraged participants to engage in Green Business by providing them an overview of the ecolabelling and green procurement programs. It also showcased in a mini-exhibit some green technologies that aim to lessen the alarming environmental impacts of climate change. The seminar furthermore presented the National Eco-labelling Programme-Green Choice Philippines (NELP-GCP), a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)/ Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) programme and an ISO 14024 application that is voluntary, third party declaration, and multiple-criteria-based. NELP-GCP aims to encourage clean manufacturing practices and consumption of environmentally preferable products and services. The Green Choice Philippines (GCP) is the government’s response to the need to alter consumer preferences and practices to initiate a demand for environmental responsibility from all sectors of society. It intends to guide consumers to choose environment-friendly products and to encourage manufacturers to produce and supply products that have less harmful impacts on the 41 business owners and company officials participated in this free admission seminar. JM Embate