Wednesday, October 25, 2006 Arroyo makes a pitch for 'green business'
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has enjoined manufacturers and suppliers of products and goods in the country to adhere to the "green production principles" or face possible loss of consumers.
The President, in a speech at the opening of the Eco-labeling Workshop and GP3 (Green Productivity, Green Purchasing, Green Philippines) Conference-Workshop and Exhibit at the Dusit Hotel Nikko in Makati City, said by doing this, the Philippines could become a model of environmental stewardship in 10 years time.
"On the part of the government, by patronizing producers and suppliers that adhere to green production principles, government procurement will be serving notice to the rest of the country's producers that they should shift to green production or be left out," she said.
The GP3 aims to impart to the people the global trends and practices on green productivity and green purchasing to achieve a "green" Philippines. It also proposes to define the roles and commitments of different stakeholders such as governments, industries and the consumers towards a sustainable society.
The President also called on the "will of the people" to uphold the patronization of products that are eco-friendly and help "bring about a Green Philippines that will be our ultimate profit and price for the benefit of the rising generation of Filipinos."
"We did this clean move to give impetus to an active practice of green productivity among manufacturers and green procurement by institutional buyers, and the biggest institutional buyer, of course, is the government," she said.
Arroyo had been at the forefront of pushing manufacturing companies to produce more eco-friendly goods and products to prevent the destruction and complete depletion of the country's remaining natural resources.
Among the first laws enacted by Arroyo since she assumed the presidency in 2001 even includes Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which mandates the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to "formulate and implement a coding system for packaging materials and products to facilitate waste recycling and re-use."
It is through RA 9003 that the Green Choice Philippines (GCP) or the national eco-labeling program of the Philippines aimed at changing the people's behavioral patterns in consumption and production that tend to misuse, abuse and degrade the country's natural resources came about.
Under the law, the GCP logo are placed on products that have been determined by the group to be eco-friendly and thus serve as endorsement to consumers that such products should be patronized.
Aside from the waste Management Act, Arroyo also issued Executive Order (EO) 301 which establishes "A Green Procurement Program for All Departments, Bureaus, Offices and Agencies of the Executive Branch of Government."
This mandates the national eco-labeling program to develop guidelines and procedures in identifying and developing standards for environmentally preferred products and services commonly used by government. It also directs all government offices to patronize environment-friendly products. (JMR/Sunnex)
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