Wilcon builders supports green architecture advocacy

CEBU, Philippines - Following the opening of its second branch in Cebu, Wilcon Builders reinforced its support in promoting “green revolution”, as it observed good take up of green construction products in Cebu.

In an interview with Wilcon Builders chief operations officer (COO) and executive vice president Rosemarie B. Ong, she said although the awareness of constructors, builders, architects, and the mainstream consumers in using environment friendly materials is not yet as developed as in other countries, the Philippines is slowly gaining ground in this area.

She said that if this trend will be well supported by the government, green-revolution in buildings and homes will take-off.

At present though, although the consumers are aware of the benefits of using green products in construction and building materials, affordability of these products still pose a challenge in the Philippine market.

“We want it [green products] to be made affordable for the Philippine market,” she said.

Ong said  the entry of the company to Cebu with the opening of two Wilcon Depots, in the southern and northern parts of Cebu, will bring more options for builders, contractors, architects and the end-users, more choices of “green architecture” technology, while the prices are getting more affordable.

According to Ong, environment friendly construction and building products will get more inexpensive as demand increases.

At this time, however, consumers still need to be educated on the benefits of adapting “green architecture” technology, saying “demand is still [relatively] very low,” as compared to other countries.

 â€œWe would like to be the premier venue for green architecture in Cebu. We have been supporting this technology in the last six years,” said Ong.

She said the company is going to partner with different organizations, such as schools, the players in the construction sector, and real estate, as well as the architects, in promoting “green architecture” adoption.

In a separate interview with Cebuano architect Cris Cyril Abbu, he said that the Cebu market still has to let go of the misconception that embracing green architecture technology is expensive.

According to Abbu, because of the wider choices of environment-friendly construction materials nowadays, prices are doing down.

Abbu said the Cebuano market, including developers, contractors or builders, and the residential owners still need to appreciate the concept of “green” development, and that they have to open their minds that it is not in fact, costly.

Likewise, Architect Dioscoro “Cocoy” Alesna Jr., echoed Abbu’s observation, saying that although there already a lot of options to build inexpensive “ green structures,” the market in general still need to erase the impression of high cost involved in this particular development.

Ong added that Wilcon Depot in Cebu is going to join the Cebuano architects’ bid in promoting “green architecture” technology here, by providing wider and affordable choices of green building and construction materials in their two Wilcon Depots in Cebu, located in Talisay City and Mandaue City.

Wilcon recently opened its second depot located at Mandaue City, to serve the northern market of Cebu. /JOB (FREEMAN)