GREEN BUILDINGS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Attending lecture on Green Cities for our Environment and Technology class, I was surprised to learn about Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC) – non-stock, non-profit organization established in 2007; one of the first Asian Green Building Council (Lindfield and Steinberg 2012); the organization has more than 75 members comprising of architects, engineers, developers, contractors, government, material suppliers etc. In order to address the issue of climate change, PHILGBC encourages the building sector, policy makers and other concerned members of the society to go for the environment – friendly buildings. Furthermore, they share green building information and practices to the building industry, promotes the sharing of knowledge to ensure a sustainable environment, and acts as a non-partisan venue for the development of green building rating system.

What is Green Building? Green Building also known as Green Construction or Sustainable Building is the act of designing, constructing, operating and maintaining buildings in an environment-friendly manner (Remo 2011; de la Cruz et al. 2009). The common objectives is that green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of built environment on human health and natural environment by: (1) efficiently using energy, water and other resources; (2) protecting occupant health and improving employees productivity; (3) reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation. 

Green Buildings in the Philippines

(1)    Zuellig Building

•  One of the Green high rise buildings of the Bridge Realty Corporation
• Pre-certification at Gold and Platinum levels under LEED – CS program
• Tower gains its identity from the ceramic frit pattern of the glass curtain
• The all – glass façade is composed of double paned, low emissivity (low E) glass system
• Electric lights are adjusted using an automated diming system
• Airflow and air quality are regulated through CO₂ sensors
• Energy consumption is reduced during off-peak hours with variable speed drives for chilled water pumps
• Water is conserved through capturing moisture and condensation devices, with well-developed premium drainage system
• Easy access to public transportation. Maximization of open space, reduction of heat islands 
  

(2)    Asian Development Bank (ADB) Headquarters (HQ)

• Received the LEED certification from USGBC
• Receives 63 points (Gold)
•  Maintaining a Sustainable Site (11/17 points): reduce heat by tree shading of open car parks; high solar reflectance index of paved roadway; environmental-friendly transportation options.
• Water Consumption (9/13 points): use more efficient water fixture in compliance with Uniform Plumbing Code and International Plumbing Code Flow/Flush rates; 100% utilization of non-potable and treated water from sewage treatment plant and rain water harvesting facility.
• Energy Improvements (26/27 points): 10 Energy saving projects; Six Sigma projects led to the replacement of air conditioning chillers and pumps; building automation system; use of non-chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants.
• Solid Waste Management and Sustainable Purchasing (5/5 points): building materials bought locally; administrative goods and services are procure environmentally preferred and/or considered Eco-products; employ best practices and safe operating procedures to prevent the release of pollutants, optimizing the use of resources, reduces waste generation and reuse, recycle, treat and dispose all waste properly.
• Indoor Environmental Quality (6/8 points): No smoking policy; construction of smoking lounges; Green cleaning programs; establishment of sensors in parking garages; regulation of exhaust systems.
  

(3)    Sun Life Financial Philippine

• Pre-certified by LEED CS
• Lower energy cost
• Double-glazed low emissivity glass
• Green Roof
• Reduced use of air conditioning
• Addresses the “Sick Building Syndrome” ailments

(4)    First Balfour Corporate Office

• Pre-certified by BERDE for new construction
• Lower energy cost
• Double-glazed low emissivity glass
• Green Roof
• Reduced use of air conditioning
• Addresses the “Sick Building Syndrome” ailments

(5)    Net Lima Tower

• Certified “green” mega structure by BERDE
• Passive external shading devices
• Leading edge diagonal Aluminum solar screen overlap

Green Building Certification

(1) US Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) – Developed by US Green Buidling Council (USGBC) and globally recognized standard for Green Building Certification. US LEED measures five (5) key areas: Sustainable Site Development; Water Savings; Energy Efficiency; Material Selection; and Indoor Environmental Quality. Four (4) certification levels: 40 to 49 points (Certified); 50 to 59 points (Silver); 60 to 79 points (Gold); and 80 points and above (Platinum).

(2)Phil Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) – Developed by the Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC) and certification varies depending on the nature of the building: New Construction; Retrofits and renovations; Operations; and Existing buildings. BERDE measures eleven (11) key areas with corresponding attainable points: Management (14 points), Land Use and Ecology (20 points), Water (7), Energy (9 points), Transportation (18 points), Indoor Environmental Quality (7 points), Materials (6 points), Emissions (4 points), Heritage Conservation (4 points) and Innovations (20 points).

Green Building is something new for me though the system had been long existing; just like ISO certification, Environmental Management System (EMS), Food Safety and other certification required there is a need for political will and leadership for paradigm shift to further utilize human health and environmental benefits of Green Building; public awareness must meet and enable to embrace the shift and technological revolution through breakthroughs in various green technologies must be well developed and planned.

PHILIPPINES' SUMMER DESTINATIONS

The Philippines being archipelagic with 7,107 islands each endowed with natural resources, landscapes and beauty made it one of the world’s tourist hot spots and mega diverse countries. Lucky of me to be part of a country with such great wonders and with frequent airlines seat sales allowed me to take opportunity to experience natures offering. As a confessed broke backpacker, I’m still learning and my list of itineraries explored labeled amateurish. But, my excitement and life experience seeking had brought me from Luzon to Vizayas and Mindanao that had loaded with shots of experiences and waves of adventure. 

This time of summer, I had scratch, crumble and tremble of possible escapades with Batanes on top of my list and yet time and budget constraint limits my options. For those dilemmas in comparison with me, I share to you my top summer destinations a broke backpacker can afford!

ISLA BONITA, ROSARIO, CAVITE - DUMPSITE NO MORE

15 minutes away from SM Rosario, I was surprised that behind rows of houses that occupy hi-way was a beach resort – Isla Bonita, but what surprises me more is to learn that Isla Bonita had been once a dumpsite. Doing walk survey, I could not imagine history behind Isla Bonita – no traces of trash, visitors enjoying water for swim, fishermen along shores with catch, zip line, restaurants, henna tattoo stand and birds on this haven.

During my study of healthcare waste management, I had learned that the province of Cavite faces great challenges in Solid Waste Management program. Cavite, one of the provinces comprising the Southern Tagalog Region (Region 4A – CALABAR Zone) with total land area of 1,427.06 sq. km is comprised of 19 municipalities and 829 barangays with total population (2008 census) of 2,987,891 inhabitants are managed by their own respective Local Government Units (LGUs). 

As of 2007, there are only two cities, Dasmariñas and Tagaytay that have a centralized material recovery facility. Considering that establishing the said facility is cost intensive, it can be noticed that only two cities were able operate their centralized MRF. Despite the financial challenge, the environmental offices are exerting efforts to implement the program even at the barangay level. Thus in 2007, it can be noticed that fourteen municipalities were able to implement the MRF system in their respective barangays. Having smaller coverage, barangay MRFs are more manageable than a centralized one (PENRO).

Residual wastes or those that can no longer be recycled are being disposed by means of dumpsites or through sanitary landfill. As of 2007, there are five open dumpsites that can be found in Rosario, Gen. M. Alvarez, Gen. Aguinaldo, Indang and Maragondon. These open dumpsites are considered unsanitary considering the uncontrolled hazards that it poses in terms of health and sanitation (PENRO).

During my visit at Isla Bonita, I had the chance to interview Mayor Jose 'Nonong" Ricafrente on role of LGUs in transformation of a former dumpsite to what Isla Bonita today. Local Government is designated by the National to take responsibility for looking after many services in the local community and one of which is Environmental Protection. One of important function LGU can provide is to mitigate harmful effects of pollutants is by promoting establishment of people’s and nongovernmental organization to become active partners in pursuit of local autonomy which Mayor Ricafrente had pushed through.

Environmental protection and preservation is one of the major development agenda of the provincial government. In partnership with national agencies, the province is eagerly implementing programs and projects that aim to preserve and enrich our natural resources. One of the major programs and a continuous endeavour is the implementation of the Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. Relative to this, each municipality/city should have their own material recovery facility in order to manage their solid wastes.

For Mayor Ricafrente, involvement of people was the key in success of Isla Bonita, followed by application of appropriate technology such as artificial coral reef that rebuilds fish biodiversity which greatly helped the area to recover and act as the focal of area of bioremediation, and lastly, allotting budget necessary to rehabilitate the area. As return of investment, its more than monetary – they created safe environment for local residents, a habitat not only for marine life but also sightings of migratory birds that had made Isla Bonita as its sanctuary, the area created income for locals through ecotourism, provided a good training ground for environmental students of solid waste management, technology and Sustainable Development and Rosario, Cavite made a good name and image making an impossible to possible. 

The visit at Isla Bonita had reminded me on importance of social dimension and components of Sustainable Development (economy, society, and environment) are interrelated – although independent aspects, are still interrelated with each other :Economy exists entirely within society, because all parts of the human economy require interaction among people. It is primarily based on exchanging goods and services. Society, in turn, exists entirely within the environment. Our basic requirements: air, food and water, come from the environment, as do the energy and raw materials for housing, transportation and the products we depend on. Environment surrounds society. Today human activity is reshaping the environment at an ever-increasing rate. The parts of the environment unaffected by human activity are getting smaller all the time. However, because people need food, water and air to survive, society can never be larger than the environment. As a whole, attaining sustainable development involves the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity.

BACOOR, CAVITE - LOST ENVIRONMENT

“Every part of the Earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clear and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people. The sap which courses through the tress carries the memories of the red man.” – Excerpt from Chief Seattle’s 1854 speech on the environment. 157 years ago, the “Great White Chief” had expressed through poetic writing his desire for a promised “reservation”, the speech had described how sacred his environment as to consider every matter on vast land as family. A better way to define environment – A special place sacred and we are concerned to protect.

                Summer of 1994 over dinner, my father announced that we are moving out from our rented house at Sta. Ana, Manila to Bacoor, Cavite for the reason that they wanted a better environment for us, a healthy neighborhood and away from bad influences. I was torn but left no choice but to abide with my parents. 17 years ago, I remembered coastal road was a long stretch of water with mangroves and it was bewilderment for my sight of what my new environment would be? Boredom crawled up to my spine seeing stalls of “tahong” and “talaba” along road and Tropical Hut was the only establishment on rise. In deed my parents ought to provide me a better environment like in fairly tales…. In a far far away land lives Prince Michael. I explored this new environment and discovered that we have neighbors with kids that later became my friends and confidants, I had learned my gift of green thumb as I able to grow fruit bearing trees and even orchids, learned to ride a bike and flew kites. The haunting sound of geckos at night had been my lullaby, while, the rooster and chirping birds was my alarm clock. Dancing in the rain minus the flood was best and star gazing on roof puts me to rest. It only took end of summer to realize that I belong to this environment and fell in love with it.

                2011 and my environment was the mirror image of what my father had escaped off. In short span of time, Sorrento in Bacoor had extended from phase 1 to phase 5 due to high demand on housing. The population continuously grows by numbers according to our homeowners association’s census causing anonymity among neighbors. In 2009, Sorrento was headline with report on blasting of a house with dynamite used for illegal fishing that left 2 people dead and 5 families homeless, nobody new that the said house was used as warehouse for dynamites. Shanties had ballooned over fence with several crimes relating to them, with such alarm several homeowners decided to build walls for added security, thus, resulting to cutting down trees and concreting gardens. The volume of people doubled the volume of garbage being generated, though, collecting is done on a regular basis the frequency was not enough to refrain some homeowners to used the creek as dumpsite. Flooding was inevitable even with monsoon rain and worst with typhoon. My friend Randy refrained his usual morning walk for the air is no longer beneficial but causes him asthma attacks; I wonder if my niece would be able to experience to dance in the rain without fear of acquiring Leptospirosis. Suddenly I missed the enigmatic rhythm of geckos at night for the banging sounds of bars and malls dominate with decibels detrimental to my ear drums. 

                Development, commercialization and income generations are some parameters to define a progressive nation, province or city even this meant conversion of mangrove area to condominiums and amusement themed park. I had witnessed transformation of my environment; admittedly, I was thrilled to see what had been built and established for the convenience of its inhabitants. The present situation and effects tagged along had become burden; there was lapse in formulating control measures and implement preventive measures. However, if the Great Chief had used his pen in addressing preservation of his environment, I was given the opportunity to be educated which is an essential tool in spreading awareness and forefront credibility for people to listen on serious matters. I’m a negligible part of my community but step by step I can contribute by actively participating in homeowners meeting, voicing out opinions and giving relevant suggestions on matters that is greatly concerned; to initiate programs encouraging the youth to take part of protecting the environment we have and aim to be recognized and influence other subdivision and barangays of our best practices. With the rapid pace of time, sometime we just need to take a break and go back to basic such as imposing self disciple could make a great difference.

            Where is the thicket? Gone. Where is the Eagle? Gone. 1854 the Chief had foreseen. Where is my Environment? On my hands…. For my future generation.