IFC, Phl to ramp up green buildings project

MANILA, Philippines  — International Finance Corp.,  a member of the World Bank Group, is stepping up its work with the Philippine government to expand the development of green buildings.

IFC is also conducting technical studies that will be used in drafting laws requiring new buildings to reduce electricity use. These measures will help the country cut the greenhouse-gas emissions of new buildings by 20 percent annually. 

A forum titled “Green Building Imperative,” hosted today by IFC, the Climate Change Commission – which is chaired by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III – and the Philippine Green Building Initiative,  was attended by nearly 100 local government officials.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Loren Legarda, and Climate Change Commissioner Heherson Alvarez were among those who spoke at the forum. The participants shared green building best practices and began discussing preliminary plans to adopt such practices among local governments across the country.  

“The unabated use of carbon-based fuels has drastically altered our global climate—weather patterns are changing and natural disasters have become stronger, more frequent, and less predictable,”  said President Benigno Aquino III  in a statement released by Malacañang , adding that green building is one of the most important steps that the country must undertake in adapting to climate change and mitigating climate risk. “It is my hope that this will gain widespread acceptance among developers and major players."

IFC also is helping the Department of Public Works and Highways update the National Building Code that will set minimum green feature requirements for new buildings, save energy and water resources, and support cost-efficient operations.

With IFC’s support, Mandaluyong City in Metro Manila passed a green building ordinance that provides incentives such as tax discounts on machineries and building improvements.

“IFC offers its global technical expertise to help Philippine government units develop their green building initiatives,” said IFC Resident Representative Jesse Ang. “We support the government in implementing its National Climate Change Action Plan, which provides for ‘greening’ the National Building Code.”

IFC’s green building program, supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and the Government of Canada, works with governments and regulators to build capacity for green buildings through policy and regulatory support. It also provides financing to support private sector investments in green buildings.