THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental is sustaining its measures to promote "green" technologies and practices among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the province.
Engiemar Tupas, Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist of DTI-Negros Occidental, said they met with officials of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), a non-government organization based in South Korea with projects worldwide, including the Philippines.
The group conducted earlier this week a validation of questionnaire for the assessment they are conducting on the implementation of their project in the country.
Tupas said GGGI has been partnering with DTI for the promotion of "green" practices mainly through mainstreaming greening growth in the agency's process, and capacity development for green advocates, among others.
"They are working on further capacitating the DTI staff in implementing green measures in the country and preparing business cases for greening MSMEs' operations in the country," Tupas added.
Interventions by the private sector complement with the efforts of the government on green economic development promotion.
For DTI, it spearheaded the Promotion of Green Economic Development (ProGED) project, a four-year joint undertaking between the Federal Government of Germany and the Philippine government.
As the partnership ended December last year, Tupas said DTI central office has instructed all provincial line agencies to integrate ProGED initiatives to their regular programs.
In Negros Occidental, the agency has already started incorporating "green" measures to entrepreneurship seminars, and business development trainings, among others.
DTI-Negros Occidental records showed that since the project started in 2014, it has monitored and profiled at least 72 local enterprises, which have adopted green practices, technologies and values.
Of the number, 12 MSMEs have greened their operations last year, it added.
"We are mandated to continue covering more people, increasing their awareness on green economic development," Tupas said, pointing out that aside from promoting sustainability of resources, it has also positively impacted business operations.(PNA)