TO promote a more efficient and equitable use of resources and encourage a “greener” construction sector, President Duterte has declared September 8 of every year as National Green Building Day in the country.
The President, in signing Proclamation 1030 last October 21, said the observance of the National Green Building Day aims to encourage cooperation between the public and private sectors in advancing the government’s commitment to protecting the environment.
“To promote sustainable development in the construction sector, it is imperative to intensify existing initiatives to promote and raise awareness on the efficient and sustainable use of resources, proper water and waste management, and integration of eco-friendly processes and systems, among others,” the proclamation order read.
It directed the Department of Public Works and Highways to coordinate with relevant non-government organizations and civil society groups and promote the observance of the National Green Building Day, as well as to identify the programs, projects, and activities to promote the yearly event.
It also ordered all other agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned or controlled corporations and state universities and colleges and all local government units, as well as the private sector, to support the DPWH in celebrating National Green Building Day and effectively implementing the proclamation.
In 2016, the DPWH adopted the Philippine Green Building (GB) Code through the issuance of the National Building Code Development Office Memorandum Circular 1 which provided for a framework of standards intended to reduce the country’s carbon emissions from buildings, promote the health and well-being of the building occupants, and set the regulations and minimum standards for compliance and not intended to rate buildings.
