Mandaue buildings told to go ‘green’

CEBU, Philippines – In an effort to promote an environment-friendly community, Mandaue City is pushing for the full implementation of its Green Building Code.

First lobbied at the City Council last year, the ordinance is encouraging the use of natural energy.

By natural energy, city information officer Roger Paller said building owners are urged to use the sunlight and ambient air as natural sources of energy.

He said this will not only save them money but also create a healthy lifestyle and a sound environment.

"Naanad man gud ta nga og naa sa building bisag adlawan pa, mogamit ta og suga, nga pwede ra man ang natural nga hayag sa adlaw if we open our windows. Mag-electric fan or aircon dayon ta kay init. But if we open more windows, the natural breeze will come in, di na ta manginahanglan og electric fan," Paller said.

He said the city has already started implementing such practices in some buildings.

Through the administration of Mayor Jonas Cortes, Paller said they will expect more commercial and residential buildings to adapt the same.

The Green Building Council of the Philippines has already acknowledged the city's program, which promises to give five-year tax incentives to compliant businesses and private individuals.

Earlier, Mandaue City was recently adjudged as low carbon model town (LCMT) by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation for its programs promoting low-carbon technologies to caution the growing energy consumption and to ease the ill-effects of carbon emissions.

The award entitles the city technical expertise, technologies and manpower from APEC to further study the program.

During the visit of APEC delegates in Mandaue City in September, lawyer James Abadia, Mandaue City administrator, said the delegates were interested with the city's balanced growth and environmental protection.

Abadia, who presented the plans and projects of the city before the delegates, showed primarily the "good governance programs" of the city.

Abadia presented to the delegates how the city developed its Green Building Code, which has a system that rates environmental performance of the buildings.

He also presented the city's Green Loop, Mandaue's Takakura composting, the city's Material Recovery Facility, among others. (FREEMAN)