THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental has assured that its initiatives on promoting green economy will continue even after the technical assistance of the German government ends this year.
DTI spearheads the Promotion of Green Economic Development (ProGED) project, a four-year joint undertaking between the Federal Government of Germany and the Philippine government.
In Negros Occidental, DTI has monitored and profiled about 60 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which have adopted green practices, technologies and values since 2014.
These enterprises form part of the 544 MSMEs which have availed of the technical assistance through ProGED project.
DTI-Negros Occidental records showed that it has exceeded the target of five establishments for 2016, as the agency was able to cover 12 as of October this year.
Engiemar Tupas, senior trade and industry development specialist of DTI-Negros Occidental, told Sun.Star Bacolod that most of the establishments in the province which have greened their operations are into manufacturing, retail, and repair services.
These are firms assisted by the DTI through sensitization seminars or orientations on green economic initiatives, Tupas said.
Since Negros Occidental is positioned as the organic and renewable energy capital of the Philippines, most of these enterprises were already green practitioners even before, and further enhanced their practice through DTI initiatives, he added.
“Business establishments have to partake in the protection and conservation of the environment as their operations also impact the lives of the community,” Tupas said.
Green establishments are those practicing initiatives like proper electricity use, waste segregation and water management, and utilization of technologies like LED lights and solar-powered devices and equipment.
Moreover, the promotion of green economy is also positioned to make enterprises sustainable.
Tupas said that aside from the positive impact to the environment, the adoption of these practices and technologies will also improve business productivity as it would result to lower operation costs and expenses.
“As the German technical assistance ends in December this year, DTI will still continue to promote green economic development as it is already integrated in the agency’s regular initiatives like entrepreneurship seminars," Tupas said.
Thus, more MSMEs in the province are expected to also green their businesses soon, he added.