ECCP to introduce Smart program to other provinces

CEBU, Philippines - The European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP) is now in talks with the European Commission (EC) to introduce the SME’s for Environment Accountability, Responsibility, and Transparency (SMART-Cebu) program to the other provinces in the Philippines, following the completion of this three-year program piloted in Cebu since 2010.

The EC awarded 1.2 million Euro (or approximately P65 million) grant to support the greening of Cebu industries and to help Cebu position itself as an important player in the “green” markets of Europe and Asia.

The program is implemented through the members of Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. (CFIF), Fashion Accessories Manufacturers and Exporters (FAME-Cebu), and the Gifts, Toys and Housewares Foundation Inc. (Cebu-GTH).

Smart-Cebu is being managed by a Germany-based non-government organization and international consulting firm called SEQUA.

SEQUA is responsible for developing the capability of Cebu Business Membership organizations or BMOs  to undertake the advocacy to promote sustainable consumption and production of Cebu among their member SMEs.

Because of this successful program, ECCP executive vice president Henry Schumacher announced that the organization is hoping to bring in the same partners to implement this kind of program in Negros, Bohol, also in Metro Manila, Pampanga and Davao.

Smart-Cebu is a Switch Asia Project, which is co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry o Economic Cooperation and Development that is being implemented in Cebu and will culminate next year.

The project aims to increase the competitiveness of the Cebu home and lifestyle industries and to promote a cleaner environment in Cebu. It also aims to shift mindset of SMEs and business organizations towards promotion of sustainable consumption and production (SCP).

Aside from its usual partners, like the stakeholders of the target industry beneficiaries, and the Association of Development Financial Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), Schumacher hopes that ECCP wants to see the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to be heavily involved in this program, if this will be implemented in other provinces.

In the three-year process of Smart-Cebu program, it identified 450 companies that will be introduced into Resource, Efficiency, and Cleaner Production (RECP) platform, for them to appreciate the benefits of operating an environment-friendly value-chain in their respective companies.

Of the 450 identified export companies, 150 have already undergone a thorough assessment from the experts, while 50 companies from each industry sector are being used as the example for good sustainability practice.

Because of this, Schumacher said Cebu is now considered as the “heart” of sustainable designs, and that it is expected to lead and stay ahead in the competition from other Asian countries like Thailand, among others.

Schumacher emphasized that while the Philippines, or Cebu has rich in creativity talents, it is also blessed with abundant resources, that can be readily used a raw materials for exporters.

According to Schumacher the success of the program should only be contained in Cebu, but it should be shared in other potential areas in the Philippines.

He said the Philippine exports in furniture, fashion accessories, as well as gift, toys and housewares, is still seen to gain considerable market interest in the European market despite the ongoing financial woes, while manufacturers here are leading in providing sustainable green products.

“Although there is a crisis in Europe, it doesn't mean that people don't have money. The market is there, not everybody is broke,” said Schumacher.

Schumacher reiterated that the huge European market is still there, however, he warned that exporters will have to see where the market is heading. And introducing a certified eco-design is one of the effective niches the Philippines should seriously take.

Aside from Europe, Schumacher also mentioned a good consumer based in eco-design products in China, Thailand, Singapore and Japan.

Wilcon Builders aims to push “green revolution” awareness

Construction and building materials provider Wilcon Builders vow to heighten the awareness of consumers in adopting “green revolution” by using products that are environment-friendly.

Wilcon Builders chief operations officer (COO) and executive vice president Rosemarie B. Ong, said the entry of the company in Cebu with the opening of two Wilcon Depots, 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.

Ong said environment-friendly construction and building products will get more inexpensive as demand grows.

At this time, however, consumers still need to be educated on the benefits of adapting “green architecture” technology, saying “demand is still very low.”

“We would like to be the premier venue for green architecture in Cebu. We have been supporting this technology for 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.

Abbu said because of the wider choices of environment-friendly construction materials nowadays, prices are going down.

According to Abbu, the Cebu 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 in-expensive “ green structures,” the market in general still need to erase the impression of high cost involved in this particular development.

Slowly, they said that in order to push this particular technology to the local market, they are now incorporating “green” designs to their projects, although there is a need for a strong collaboration and acceptance from the developer and the contractors. — Ehda M. Dagooc