Category: News & Announcements

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.

WWF, PCEPSDI, and DOT conduct Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Inception Workshop for the Local Food Service Industry Photo © Pamela Luber / WWF-Philippines The participants of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Inception Workshop come from the government, both national and local, the food service industry, and civil society organisations. Last February 13, 2018, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines’ The Sustainable Diner: A Key Ingredient for Sustainable Tourism project hosted a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Inception Workshop at the New DOT Building in Makati City, in partnership with The Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI) and the Department of Tourism – Philippines (DOT). The particular workshop focused on the application and implementation of LCA in the context of the local food service industry, which is one of the major project outputs requiring the full cooperation of stakeholders from the government and the private sector. Photo © Pamela Luber / WWF-Philippines  Dr. Alvin Culaba (DLSU) and Mr. June Alvarez (PCEPSDI) equipping the participants with LCA basics and methodologies in relation to its application for the local food service industry. The LCA Inception Workshop is a one-day workshop on the fundamentals and the importance of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) based on ISO 14040 International Standards and ISO 14024 Standards – Ecolabelling Guiding Principles and Procedures. It also introduces the National Ecolabelling Programme – Green Choice Philippines (NELP-GCP) and its process among participants. Photo © Pamela Luber / WWF-Philippines Ms. Melody Melo-Rijk (WWF-Philippines) introduces The Sustainable Diner project and its objectives to key stakeholders. Undersecretary Rolando Cañizal of the DOT’s Administration and Special Concerns Sector (DOT-ASC) opened the workshop by officially welcoming the participants, followed by an introduction on The Sustainable Diner project, discussed by Ms. Melody Melo-Rijk, WWF’s Project Manager for Sustainable Consumption and Production in the Philippines. Mr. June Alvarez, President and Executive Director of PCEPSDI, shared with the participants his knowledge on sustainable consumption and production in order to level everyone’s understanding of the concept as well as their expectations from the workshop. Dr. Alvin Culaba of the De La Salle University conducted the bulk of the workshop on LCA, starting with an introduction to the process, its application to the local food service industry in relation to the tourism industry, and a discussion on the various simplified methodologies associated with LCA. The afternoon session covered the main workshop activity, which involved having the participants split into four groups, each coming up with an LCA on their assigned food service category. The workshop ended with an in-depth discussion on Ecolabelling and Green Choice Philippines conducted by Ms. Maureen Grace Lebria, PCEPSDI’s Programme Director. Photo © Pamela Luber / WWF-Philippines  Mr. Dino Calderon (WWF-Philippines) and Mr. Muneer Hinay (WWF-Philippines) sharing their workshop activity results and LCA application to the rest of the participants. All in all, it was a very fruitful whole-day session where participants got to immediately apply all the principles they learned in the morning, seeing its relevance to their respective departments and units, and inspiring everyone in the room to collaborate for the implementation of sustainable consumption and production in the country’s tourism industry. The Sustainable Diner project, under WWF-Philippines’ Sustainable Consumption and Production, is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag.​

PCEPSDI and WWF promote Sustainable Consumption and Production in the Philippine Food Service Industry Photo © Pamela Luber / WWF-Philippines  Joel Palma, President and CEO of WWF-Philippines, signs the Memorandum of Agreement with June Alvarez, President and Executive Director of PCEPSDI. The promotion and implementation of sustainable consumption and production practices in the local food service industry will be reinforced further as the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, through its The Sustainable Diner: A Key Ingredient for Sustainable Tourism project, recently inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with The Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI). Following the MOA signing were in-depth discussions on the formulation of a criteria focused on the food service industry, highlighting how food service establishments contribute greatly to the country’s growth, as well as the industry’s eventual effects to significant food and environmental issues in the country and recommendations on how to integrate sustainability in the industry to mitigate negative impacts. WWF-Philippines’ The Sustainable Diner project team discussed several important issues and partnership next steps with PCEPSDI. L-R: Kiko Velhagen (Project Coordinator, PCEPSDI), Diana Rose Sadili (Project Officer, PCEPSDI), Joel Palma (President and CEO, WWF-Philippines), June Alvarez (President and Executive Director, PCEPSDI), Melody Melo-Rijk (Project Manager for Sustainable Consumption and Production in the Philippines, WWF-Philippines), Liezl Stuart Del Rosario (Policy Specialist, WWF-Philippines), and Alexa Jeanne Lasch (Food Service Specialist, WWF-Philippines) “PCEPSDI as one of the pioneer organizations in ecolabelling is a key ingredient in mainstreaming sustainability in the business sector”,’ says Palma. “WWF-Philippines, through The Sustainable Diner project, welcomes this partnership as we continue to explore ways on how we can help different sectors make their operations more environment-friendly.” PCEPSDI is a non-stock, non-profit, and non-government organization duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. PCEPSDI is the administrator of the National Ecolabelling Programme-Green Choice Philippines (NELP-GCP). NELP-GCP is an ISO 14024 application of environmental albel lead by DENR-EMB and DTI-BPS. The Sustainable Diner project, under WWF-Philippines’ Sustainable Consumption and Production, is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag.​

  Key Private Sector Actors panel members together with representatives from WWF, DOT, and UNEP. L-R: Mr. June Alvarez (Executive Director and President, PCEPSDI), Mr. Rolando Canizal (Undersecretary for Administration and Special Concerns, Department of Tourism), Dr. Benigno Glenn Ricaforte (Associate Professor, School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management, De La Salle College of Saint Benilde), Ms. Melody Melo-Rijk (Project Manager for Sustainable Consumption and Production in the Philippines, WWF-Philippines), Ms. Jamie Ann Dichaves (Sustainability and Pollution Control Officer, Lio Tourism Estate, El Nido Resorts), Engr. Charlton Materum (Technical Expert, GrAT-Center for Appropriate Technology, Zero Carbon Resorts for Sustainable Tourism), and Ms. Helena Rey (Programme Officer, UNEP) Transforming Local Tourism Value Chains through Sustainable Consumption and Production Members of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines’ The Sustainable Diner: A Key Ingredient for Sustainable Tourism project team were invited to attend the 2nd Conference and Workshop on Transforming Tourism Value Chains in Developing Countries and Small Islands and Developing States (SIDS) to Accelerate More Resource Efficient, Low Carbon Development Projects last November 22, 2017 at Hotel H2O in Manila City. Hosted by the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI), in partnership with the UN Environment Programme, Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the UNEP-DTU Partnership, and the Department of Tourism (DOT), the second leg of the workshop aims to consolidate best practices from the government, the private sector, and civil society, and to come up with industry and community-based solutions in order to promote low carbon and sustainable development in the tourism industry. During the first leg of the workshop, Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Rolando Cañizal validated the need for a long-term tourism strategy which will adopt sustainable consumption and production principles in order for the Philippines to achieve green economic growth. A key development pillar that generates high economic gains for the country, tourism contributed 8.2% to the GDP last 2016. Usec. Cañizal has made it a priority initiative for the department to move towards greening the local tourism industry and incorporating the necessary environmental standards. The four-year project funded also by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) and the International Climate Initiative (IKI) Programme has targeted two key tourism zones in the country: Metro Manila and Iloilo City. Ms. Melody Melo-Rijk, Project Manager of Sustainable Consumption and Production in the Philippines, was invited as panel speaker for the Key Private Sector Actors Driving GHG/RE Action panel discussion, where she shared details and initial achievements of The Sustainable Diner project and how sustainable dining is a key ingredient towards achieving a sustainable tourism industry here in the Philippines – an industry heavily-dependent not just on our country’s natural beauty, but also our unique local cuisine and rapidly-growing dining scene. “Filipinos love food, and this love for food is seen not just in our daily lives but also whenever we travel. Food is a big part of what makes traveling very memorable for us, which is why The Sustainable Diner project was created in the first place – to address the need to implement sustainable consumption and production practices in the local dining scene,” says Ms. Melo-Rijk. “Our long-term plan for making the local tourism industry more environment-friendly should take into account the contribution of the food service industry, so that together we can come up with holistic solutions towards greening and improving our present system, especially on the issue on food waste. Furthermore, we want to revolutionize the food service industry in gearing them towards sustainability and to also serve as catalyst to spread awareness to diners.” The Sustainable Diner project, under WWF-Philippines’ Sustainable Consumption and Production, is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag.​

The continuing green fervour that aims to advance climate-smart businesses and concur the country’s commitments on global actions for Climate Change, a group formed to advance Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in the country is hugging the lime lights at the next staging of the “Kaliksan Green Productivity, Green Purchasing Towards Green Philippines 2017”, launched earlier by the country’s leading sustainability advocates. With the Senate approving on second hearing the revisions for the Paris Treaty, this year’s event theme hopes to complement this feat with its theme: “Advancing Sustainable Consumption and Production in Addressing Climate Challenges”. A Memorandum of Cooperation was forged between 14 public and private organizations, among them DENR, DTI, DOST, DOT, Quezon City LGU, SM Supermalls, Ayala Land, Philippine Green Building Council, Philippine Business for the Environment, Foreign Chamber Council of the Philippines and the Philippine Wood Producers Association, that was endorsed by the Senate President Aquilino “KOKO” Pimentel III, as one of the supporting personalities of the event. The event that was launched will take place on September 21-23 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, SM Mall of Asia Complex. In his Key Note speech at this Launching, Sen Koko Pimentel emphasized, “Addressing climate change is a central overriding concern of global actions for sustainability. The Philippines, in its commitment to the Paris Treaty for Climate Change, needs to shape its development agenda for the promotion of sustainable consumption and production.” Organized by the National Ecolabelling Programme-Green Choice Philippines (NELP-GCP), the advocacy event aims to gather increased commitments for deeper inroad actions in addressing climate challenges, and advancing sustainable consumption and production practices. For the last six years, the Kalikasan GP3 Expo Conference has served as a valuable forum and convergence for buyers’ increased awareness on green products available in the market; and the acquisition of knowledge and shared experiences on green business practices and production technologies. Garnering more than 200 local and international trade exhibitors in the past years, Kalikasan GP3 hopes to gather some 300 exhibitors and some 600 conference participants for this year. Green traders, manufacturers, service providers and the general public are all expected to benefit from the array of activities lined up for the three-day expo-conference. Also during the Launching, a back-to-back event celebrating the 14th Anniversary of NELP-GCP was highlighted by the awarding of citations to the men and women who had made the NELP-GCP a success. “With the continuous evolvement of the programme, we hope to gather more commitments for the adoption of sustainable production and consumption, to contribute to the country efforts on climate change mitigation and adaptation” pointed by Nereus Acosta, former Presidential Adviser for Environment Protection and presently the Chairperson of the Phil. Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc , which administers the NELP-GCP.

Selected Quezon City government officers went through the first leg of capacity-building training on Green Public Procurement (GPP) last September 14-16 and October 12-14, held at La Traviesa Hotel and Resort, General Trias, Cavite. Among the Quezon City Local Government Unit departments who attended were representatives from the Department of Building Official, Disaster Risk Management Office, General Procurement Office, General Services Department, Office of the City Administrator, Parks Development and Administration Department, Task Force Streetlights, City Accounting Department, City Engineering Department, City Planning and Development Office and City Health Department. Gearing to a greater, greener and ever growing community, Quezon City LGU earlier forged partnership with by the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development (PCEPSDI) last February 29, 2016 to serve as an acid test for a local Green Public Procurement (GPP), which is a UN Environment 10YFP Trust Fund for Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) assisted project in partnership with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB). The project aims to establish and implement a comprehensive GPP program for Quezon City Local Government that will present and demonstrate an LGU model to promote Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in the country. Among the project deliverables are the development of a local policy to promote green procurement in Quezon City, and the development of green products specifications that will be used in buying products and contracting services for this local government. The series of training for the newly formed GPP Task Force of Quezon City aims to equip them with the technical knowledge on Green Public Procurement to effectively institute their specific roles in project implementation. With various topics presented by sustainability experts and procurement practitioners, the capacity building activity included workshops and case study exercises. Among the invited resource speakers who presented were Ms Flerida Arias from the Department of Budget and Management – Procurement Service (DBM-PS) who discussed about their GPP initiatives at the national level with the EU Switch Asia assistance in crafting green specifications for products including paper and other office supplies and equipment. At present, PS is partially powered with solar energy. Ms. Angelica Isnani of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shared their GPP experience under the assistance of the EU Switch Asia Policy Support which includes technical assistance in their capacity building trainings, which they plan to share with other government agencies as well. Mr. Nino Pinalva of EMB and Ms. Karlene Laxamana of the Environment Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD) of Quezon City discussed the national and local environmental initiatives respectively. The trends on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in other city governments abroad were tackled by Ms. Joy Baldos, a Project Officer of the International Council of League of Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). In addition, Atty. Don Radjaie of Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) presented a review of the Policies and Processes of Government Procurement under Republic Act 9184. PCEPSDI Legal Consultant Atty. Arvin Jo also discussed the context of GPP in the current government policies and processes. Engr Reynaldo Esquerra of the Department of Science and Technology presented valuable information on Cleaner Production and the adoption of Renewable Energy. Main speakers from PCEPSDI were Executive Director June Alvarez, Programme Director Grace Lebria and Communications and Sustainability Head Rodora Catibog who discussed about sustainable approaches and practices (e.g. ecolabelling, greening the supply chain, life cycle assessment and life cycle costing, green procurement, among others) They were also the ones who facilitated the workshops and group dynamics. “We appreciate the speakers invited and all PCPESDI lecturers who were all willing to impart their knowledge and experience to us. This will be helpful in the successful implementation of the project.” Ms. Sheryl Campos of DRRMO, a participant, said. The next trainings for the GPP Task Force will be held early next year. Seminars will also be held among other departments in the QC City Hall, for the QC supply chain businesses as well as other LGUs.

This year marks 20 years of work on sustainable procurement at ICLEI  Local governments for Sustainability. Celebrations kicked off with a ceremony in Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum on 27 April 2016. The event formed part of the 8th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns and also provided the opportunity to showcase the new-look SP Platform and the revamped Procura+ European Sustainable Procurement Network. Over the last 20 years, through its activities on sustainable and innovation procurement, ICLEI has been involved in 150 projects; organised 100 conferences, seminars and workshops; trained over 2,000 people; supported 300 cities in more than 50 countries, and saved 1 million tonnes of CO2. For the last two decades, many ICLEI Members have been including sustainability criteria in their procurement policies and procedures to achieve resource efficient, low-carbon and socially responsible societies. ICLEI has also worked with sustainable procurement experts from cities across the world on numerous projects and initiatives related to SPP. These include specific initiatives such as installing 20,000 energy efficient light bulbs in Copenhagen, policies such as Rotterdam’s 100 percent green procurement commitment and initiatives such as the Global Lead City Network on Sustainable Procurement and the GPP 2020 project, which has brought together central purchasing bodies to achieve savings of over 700,000 tonnes CO2e to date. “In 20 years a lot has been achieved in the field of sustainable procurement. We have had the pleasure of working with committed and creative experts from cities large and small to develop and implement sustainable procurement strategies which have helped to create low-carbon, socially responsible societies. The work done so far provides a good basis for continuing to strengthen our relationships and contribute positively to the sustainable and innovation procurement community over the next 20 years,” said Mark Hidson, Global Director of ICLEI’s Sustainable Procurement Centre. Organisations or public authorities involved in sustainable procurement are invited to share their achievements and thoughts on SPP using the hashtag #SPPecialists. For more information, visit the SP Platform.

The increasing concerns in rampant forest destruction and deforestation fuels the need for forestry certification, the Philippines – with threats of adverse climate change impacts of floods and landslides or the impending forest loss from illegal logging- requires the establishment of a country forest certification scheme that will contribute to sustainable forest management. In a pioneering move to promote forestry conservation, a group of industry and government advocates collectively signed a Memorandum of Understanding and organized the National Governing Board for the establishment of the Philippine Sustainable forest certification System. The signing wwas held last March 1, 2016 at the Richmonde Hotel during the Symposium on the Establishment of a National forest Certification System. Among the advocates who signed the MOU, led by DENR Forest Management Bureau (FMB) Director Ricardo Calderon were the National President Tommy Valdez of the Society of Filipino Foresters Inc (SFFI), Matimco CEO Charlie Liu of the Philippine Wood Producers Association (PWPA), Dr. Priscila Dolom, Head of the UP Los Banos College of Forestry and Natural Resources-Forestry Development Center (UPLB CFNR-FDC) Ms Gillian Dunuan of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Managing Director Antonio Antonio of the Integrated Forest Management Association of the Philippines (IFMAP), Vinancio Cueno of the National Community-Based Forest Management PO Federation of the Philippines (NCBFMPOFPI) and Honorable Secretary Neric Acosta and June Alvarez who is the Chairperson and President respectively of the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Inc (PCEPSDI). Institutional witnesses for the MOU Signing were the Programme for the Endorsement of Forestry Certification (PEFC) International and the Philippine Business for the Environment (PBE). Under the MOU, the National Governing Board will be the highest decision-making body of the national forest certification scheme, to be called the Philippine Sustainable Forest certification System, which will create the different bodies that will work for pilot projects, standards development and actual certification processes. In his Inspiration Message, Presidential Adviser for Environment Protection Sec. Neric Acosta said “We need a bolder and more ambitious transformation of stakeholders to embrace sustainable forestry, and the very structure of the forestry sector, ranging from governance to industry, through a national forestry certification” He also reported and showed videos of the recent COP 21 in Paris, and challenged the forestry sector to contribute to the country’s sustainable development. In the Panel Discussion, FMB Director Calderon said, “Under EO 23 (S.2011), DENR is mandated to implement a national forest certification system to ensure sustainability of legal sources and chain of custody of timber and other wood products and we are now seeking assistance from UPLB and PEFC in its establishment” SSFI President Valdez presented the proposed road map for the Philippine Sustainable Forest Certification System (PSFCS) which will be the official name of the certification scheme. The symposium was attended by government, forestry industry leaders and companies, as well as NGOs working in forest-based communities. The event is sponsored by the Switzerland-based Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), as a post activity of the Asia Pacific Forestry Week (Feb 22-25, 2016).

Manila, Philippines: Driving the markets for greater sustainability requires competitiveness and innovation: so that increased public spending on green products and patronizing green suppliers through Green Public Procurement (GPP) can serve as an effective means to enable local industries shift towards sustainable practices while reducing the government’s environmental impact from its huge purchases. However, while there are already numerous GPP models for national government agencies, the diffusion of these initiatives at the local levels remains slow. It is in this context that the project :Establishment of Green Public Procurement (GPP) in Quezon City for the Promotion of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in the Philippines’ was initiated by the Quezon City, to become the first LGU in the country to pilot GPP implementation. Under the technical assistance of the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Inc (PCEPSDI), the 2-year project will be implemented by the Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD) of the QC LGU. This project is assisted through the UN Environment Programme 10 Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) Trust Fund for Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP), which was among the three (3) countries selected from 52 country proposals submitted on SPP. To kick off the project, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed last Monday, Feb 29, between project implementers and partners at the Bulwagang Amoranto, Quezon City Hall. Mayor Herbert Bautista led the QC LGU, while Presidential Adviser for Environment Protection and concurrent Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) General Manager Hon. Secretary Juan Romero Nereus Acosta, represented PCEPSDI as its Board Chairman. DENR Assistant Secretary and EMB Director Atty. Juan Miguel Cuna, who also sits as the Co-Chair of the National Ecolabelling Programme-Green Choice Philippines (NELP-GCP), signed as one of the partner agencies/ witnesses. “With the government being the country’s biggest consumer of goods and services, we hope to encourage more companies to shift to environment-friendly business practices and to provide us with more green choices of products and services for both our supply chain and our constituents”, said Mayor Bautista. Sec Acosta for his part, said: “Reducing GHGs for increased climate change mitigation should be one of our key concerns as public officials. PCEPSDI, PAEP Office and LLDA commends QC in greening its operations by buying green technologies and products.” Under the MOU, UNEP, PCEPSDI, EMB, and the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) will provide assistance in capacity-building QC procurement officers and key end-users in GPP. A QC policy on GPP will be proposed and GPP tools will also be developed. EU Switch Asia Programme will provide technical assistance in developing product specifications for green goods. EPWMD will be tasked to form an inter-department GPP Task Force Team to implement the project activities and deliver the project results. It will be also assist PCEPSDI, which acts as the Secretariat of the NELP-GCP, to provide the necessary data and information required in all GPP implementation concerns. PCEPSDI, on its part will be the main project implementer, to provide the technical experts for the different project activities and handle funding concerns.

Atty. Jose Tomas Syquia , Executive Director of Procurement Service during the Opening of the Project’s Inception Workshop The EU Switch Asia Policy Support is set to develop ten (10) priority products and services through the Project Development of Technical Specification of Products for the Implementation of Green Public Procurement (GPP) to be used by the government entities for the practice of Green Public Procurement. This is expected to be finished by September 2016. To jumpstart the implementation of the Project, an Inception Workshop was held on November 27, 2015 at the Procurement Service Building, Paco Manila. Partner Institutions for the Project are Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (DBM-PS), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Quezon City Government; Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Department of Science and Technology (DOST); Department of Energy (DOE); Development Academy of the Philippines, and the Government Procurement Policy Board. The Development of Technical Specification for Government’s Priority Product is backed up by scientific and in depth study to ensure the use and applicability of the developed guidelines. These Technical Specifications are to guide the government in choosing environmentally sound products and services in the market. This initiative is in line with the Executive Order 301 : Establishing Procurement Program for All Departments, Bureaus, Offices and Agencies of the Executive Branch of the Government. This project is being implemented in the country through the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. For more information on the EU Switch Philippines Policy Support visit: http://www.switch-asia.eu/policy-support-components/psc-philippines/

Fast pace, fast technologies, fast foods. Five out of ten Filipinos are eating in quick-service restaurants. With so many eateries offering a wide variety of fast foods and drinks in any street corner, the time has come to ask: How safe is the food Filipinos on the go are eating and drinking? Hand in hand with the boom and growing importance of the food and beverage industry, 47% share of the country’s business and a hefty 37% contribution in employment, is a worrisome increase in food-related and environmental issues, according to authorities at the Department of ourism (DOT). Among these food and environmental security concerns are related to the nutrition content of street foods and drinks, food handling and safety practices, waste management, and resource use, including water and energy. Most worrisome to health and tourism officials is the increasing cases of food-borne communicable and non-communicable diseases such as food poisoning. In terms of environment protection, the food industry is contributing significantly to the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) load and waste packaging materials. Public awareness of the need for supporting best food manufacturing and food preparation practices has become, therefore, a matter of urgent concern. In line with its campaign to promote green tourism, the DOT is pushing vigorously for the green labeling of food suppliers in the food and beverage industry. The DOT is actively working with the National Eco-Labelling Program (NELP) which provides the ISO-certified Green Choice-Philippines label to safeguard public health and well being in the operation of the country’s restaurants and convenience stores. The NELP under the Green Choice Philippines banner organized the Kalikasan GP3 Expo and Conference on July 23 – 25, 2015 at the SMX Convention Taguig, SM Aura Bonifacio Global City where food security in the burgeoning food and beverage sector in the country was a major point of discussion by tourism, health, and environment experts.  S.A. Mable