Cebu-based cement manufacturer to roll out green products by 2022

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu-based cement maker, Mabuhay Filcement Inc., is set to roll-out its green cement products as soon as it acquires the formal seal and approval from the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS).

According to Mabuhay Filcement chief executive officer (CEO) Enrison Benedicto, this move is part of the company’s bigger plan to help the country’s move to lessen CO2 emission for a greener environment.

In an interview with Benedicto, he said the aggressive stance to produce environment-friendly cement is also to meet the rising market demand as consumers are becoming more socially conscious.

At present, the company’s plant in San Fernando, Cebu makes at least 5,000 tons a day, Benedicto said.

Mabuhay Filcement can produce similar volume of green cement depending on the demand, once it will officially roll out the products around early 2022.

He clarified that prices of green cement is even cheaper than the conventional cement products.

The high awareness of developing green buildings, which is also one of the top requirements of socially-conscious multinational companies for office leasing, bolsters the demand for green cement in the Philippines.

Mabuhay Filcement has installed a dedicated research and development team for this new set of cement segment. Although he explained that even before the popularity of green cement, Benedicto said Mabuhay has already been producing eco-friendly concrete but it was only recently that the company has decided to apply for its official seal.

Green cement is a form of cement produced with the help of a “carbon-negative manufacturing process.” In other words, cement produced as the final product of a technologically advanced process, such that emissions during unit operations (like clinker production) are minimized.

Along with introduction of green cement alternative, Benedicto also bared the company’s plan to set up a plant in Luzon, “when things are okay.”

He said with the travel restrictions and ongoing threat of the virus, it is still difficult to transport heavy equipment and expertise to make a greenfield cement plant.

 With robust infrastructure build-up in the Philippines from both government and private sectors, Benedicto said there is huge market for concrete products, including green cement category.