PB set to pass proposed Green Building ordinance

CEBU, Philippines - After a public hearing last Wednesday, the Provincial Board (PB) will be approving for the second hearing the proposed ordinance to implement the “green building program” in Cebu.

Authored by PB Member Thadeo Ouano, the chairman of the committee on environment and natural resources, the ordinance known as “Province of Cebu Green Building Program and promoting green building practices in private development projects,” aims to promote economic and environmental health for all cities and municipalities within the province.

The ordinance aims to accomplish this through the design, construction and operation of the buildings which the provincial government plans to start for all the buildings and projects under it.As for buildings and projects that are under component cities and municipalities and the national government as well as those owned by private entities, the ordinance, if approved, would be voluntary.

With the program, it plans to “enhance the long term public health and welfare by contributing to the overall reduction of greenhouse gas production and emission and improving the environment and economical health of the province.”

Based on the ordinance, this will be achieved by increasing energy efficiency in buildings and public works projects, encouraging water and resource conservation, reducing waste generated by construction  projects, reducing long-term building operating and maintenance costs, improving indoor air quality and occupant health and contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas production and emissions.

A Green Building Management Board will be created to supervise the program and will be chaired by Gov. Hilario Davide III and co-chaired by Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale.

Members of the board will include Ouano as the chair of the said PB committee, and representatives from the leagues of municipal or city mayors of the province, the Philippine Green Building Council or a green building accreditation body, from private building developers and from any relevant professional organization like the United Architects of the Philippines, Philippines Institute of Environmental Planners or the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers.

The board will be using the Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) rating system of the Philippines, which “measures how a building excels above and beyond the existing local environmental regulations and standards.”

If a certain building will pass the certification of the board, it will be categorized as a “green building” which according to the proposed ordinance is “a designation given to buildings that have achieved the requirements of the green building rating system defined in the green building program.”

Further, the provincial government will be conducting a training workshop every year to further educate participants about the program.

If the ordinance would be approved, the provincial government will be appropriating an initial P5 million budget for its implementation. — (FREEMAN)