P-Noy set to sign Green Jobs Act

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is expected to soon sign into law the proposed “Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016,” which seeks to create job opportunities in the field of green technology to promote environmental protection.

Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles said both the House of Representatives and the Senate passed the proposed bill. The House has adopted Senate Bill 3092 to fasttrack the passage of the bill.

Nograles, chairman of the House committee on labor and employment and principal author of the measure, said the bill encourages the creation of green jobs that produce goods and services that benefit and preserve the environment or conserve natural resources.

The bill entitles “green” companies which use fewer natural resources in their production process, to fiscal incentives that may include additional deduction of labor expense and duty free importation of capital equipment, Nograles said.

Green companies are business enterprises that are involved in the production of environment-friendly products and those that offer services to promote environmental protection and conservation.

“With this measure, we will see the establishment of many green investments in the country such as those that are involved in the production of electronic vehicles, solar panels, water recycling plants and even power companies that use renewable resources,” the lawmaker said.

Nograles cited the existence of windmills in Ilocos Norte and solar farms in Rizal Province. He said “companies offering to sell ‘solar electricity’ and water recycling equipment are also now being put up at a very rapid rate.”