Public support in development of eco-friendly products sought

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang renewed its call for Filipinos to “think green” and push for closer private-public partnership in developing eco-friendly products and technologies to help mitigate the effects of climate change.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the more important and urgent issue facing humanity is not the global economic crisis because this is reversible, “but the issue of global atmospheric warming and overheating, climate change, increased flooding and other environmental concerns that cannot be easily reversed and mitigated overnight.”

Ermita issued the statement at the opening ceremony of the four-day 5th Eco-Products International Fair (EPIF) at the SMX Convention Center on Thursday.

Among those present during the opening ceremonies were former first lady Amelita Ramos; Dr. Tamotsu Nomakuchi, chairman of the Green Productivity Advisory Committee (GPAC) and chairman of Mitsubushi Electric Corp.; Teisuke Kitayama, chairman of the GPAC preparatory committee and chairman of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.; Japanese Ambassador Shigeo Takenaka; Asian Productivity Organization (APO) secretary-general Howard Belton; Jimmy Yaokasin, president of Philippine Business for Environment; Antonio Kalaw, chairman and president of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP); Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro, and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza.

Ermita said the government would not waver in its resolve to protect the environment, and the fair should inspire people to work together to save the world from the “brink of destruction.”

The Philippines is hosting for the first time the EPIF, a yearly activity of the APO, a Tokyo-led group composed of 20 countries across the continent dedicated to the promotion of quality management and green productivity.

The DAP, as the country’s National Productivity Organization (NPO) and representative to the APO, acts as the de facto host for this biggest environmental fair in Asia.

Since late last year, various government agencies across Asia have been mobilizing for this big event and have committed to send their delegations of visitors and exhibitors.

“The EPIF 2009 is designed to accomplish two things: the advocacy of green productivity among the citizens of its 20 member-states and the dissemination of environment-friendly technologies, processes, and products developed by participating companies,” a Palace statement said.

For the last five years, the various APO member-countries have been taking turns hosting the EPIF.

The increasing number of visitors to the EPIF wherever it is being held underscores its effectiveness.

Committed to continue the success of the EPIF, the DAP is targeting some 100,000 visitors to the fair, to break the record 98,000 reported to have visited the Vietnam fair last year.

Adaptation measures

Meanwhile, Presidential Adviser on Climate Change (PACC) Secretary Heherson Alvarez yesterday said President Arroyo’s huge economic stimulus package must include “green” provisions that would help Filipinos respond to climate change.

“The money (that will be used) to pump-prime the economy should also be used for adaptation measures… anti-disaster measures,” he said.

Alvarez likened the idea to US President Barack Obama’s move to include “green” provisions in the $787.2-billion economic stimulus package that was passed by the US Congress in mid-February this year. – With Helen Flores