What's Inside?
3rd Quarter 1999 | 4th Quarter 1999 | 1st Quarter 2000This Issue
Message from the UnderSecretary:
Let us make Mother Earth everybody’s businessUpfront:
Estates gear up to face the millennium challengeIn the News:
Japanese firm to conduct industrial waste survey in Calabarzon
Seminar on solid waste management scheduled for PNOC firms
Environtech `99 pushes for green business
"Green list" to make investment application easier
Message from the UnderSecretary:
Let us make Mother Earth everybody’s businessAs the country responds to the challenges of the new millennium, the Board of Investments (BOI) through the PRIME Project, puts forth a business strategy that banners sustainability for future generations.
We have often said this earth is the very same one we will bequeath to our children. And that environmental management is an essential tool for businesses to thrive in the new world order. But how many times have people simply paid lip service to these ideas?
The BOI, however, is taking this vision higher as it encourages and works for ecological awareness, appreciation, and action among private enterprises. Investment-enhancement today is not only about profit, it also entails environmental accountability.
Thus, we have combined the two objectives by expediting the processing of Environmenetal Compliance Certificates (ECC), ensuring the investor-friendliness of the Clean Air Act, and exploring the possibility of establishing a toxic and hazardous waste treatment facility for the electronics industry.
Corollary to this, we have attached an environmental checklist in BOI application forms. Old and new investors, for instance, are enjoined to plant trees. We are emboldened by the backing of world organizations such as the Japan External Trade Office (JETRO) with their Green Aid Plan. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), on the other hand, holds environmental discussions related to trade and development with the BOI. Plus, there’s the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the PRIME Project.
The new millennium is dawning and with it are more challeneges for all of us. Let us not risk our future through indifference. Mother Earth shold be everybody’s business. A joyous Christmas and more fruitful years ahead of us! D.B. Fonacier
Upfront
Estates gear up to face the millennium challenge
The new millennium holds a veil of suspense as industrial estates and economic zones tread a challenging path towards development. This year ends by facing these challenges in what could be the biggest event for estates and ecozones. The most important people in the industry sector gathers as the Industrial Ecology Module of the PRIME Project, teaming up with the Philippine Chamber of Industrial Estates and Ecozones (PCIE) holds a seminar-workshop entitled Industrial Estates and Ecozones: Millennium Challenge, on November 9-10, 1999 at The Peninsula Manila.
The two-day workshop features key concerns about the future of industrial estates and ecozones. A close look at the macro-environment in the Philippines and the current global trends are also in line. Professionals in this field are enlightened on the current situation of industrial estates and ecozones in the Philippines. Ecozones performance in the country, updates on the Central Luzon Growth Center Corridor and the CALABARZON, development policies, and flagship projects supporting industrial ecology are among the topics in line.
Aside from these, new trends and developments in industrial parks are highlighted: from science parks to techno-parks, to eco-industrial parks. Eco-industrial parks are an emerging type of industrial park both here and abroad. This type of estate showcases environmentally sound and resource-efficient management, and hosts locator companies whose production processes are environmentally compliant. Further, details on eco-industrial parks are highlighted on the second day including design options for improving environmental performance, by-product exchange and its implementing strategies, management systems for eco-industrial parks and involved companies, recruitment strategies, and business incubators, among others. Aiding in the technical know-how of eco-industrial parks are international experts from Indigo Development, a US-based consulting firm specializing in industrial ecology and eco-industrial parks.
Another highlight in this momentous event is the introduction of an innovative software program called FAST and DIET that aids in matching by-products to companies needing them as raw material or substitute. This program is introduced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA).
Joining this event to share their insights are important people from the industry and government including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the local government of Laguna, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), Clark Development Corp. (CDC) international experts from Indigo Development and US-EPA, and representatives from the PRIME Project and PCIE, among others.
PRIME Project (Private Sector Participation in Managing the Environment) is a project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and is being implemented by the Board of Investments (BOI-DTI). PCIE, on the other hand, is a non-stock, non-profit ogranization engaged in various aspects of industrial estate and economic zone development.
In the News
Japanese firm to conduct industrial waste survey in Calabarzon
The International Center for Environmental Technology Transfer (ICETT), a non-profit organization based in Japan, is set to conduct a survey on industrial waste generation in the Philippines.
A joint undertaking with the PRIME Project through the Board of Investments, the study will benefit both Japan and the Philippine government through an extensive data gathering on the major material flows, actual waste being generated, disposal options and waste management schemes, waste energy, major industrial activities, and technology being used.
The study will determine the current and potential problems on waste generation. The study also hopes to develop an integrated waste management plan based on pollution prevention practices, resource mobilization targets, zero emissions, resource recovery, recycling, reuse or exchange.
Specifically, ICETT will gather data on the type of quantity of resources used as production input (including raw materials such as water and energy sources), production activity, capacities of locator industries, plus the type and quantity of waste (which will include solid, liquid, air, and toxic and hazardous waste) generated per area. The data gathered will focus on the area’s specifications rather than on a specific industry sector. This will facilitate in planning and assessment of technology interventions that can be implemented on a geographical basis.
The survey covers firms in the Calabarzon area and will be conducted from November to December 1999.
Once all these inputs are gathered, ICETT will proceed to develop an integrated waste management plan which can be adopted by the industrial regions surveyed. The plan can become a reliable basis to assess the technology needs of the study areas in the Philippines.
Seminar on solid waste management scheduled for PNOC firms
The PRIME Project, through the Industrial Ecology Module will hold a seminar on solid waste and toxic and hazardous waste (THW) management in November for locator companies of the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) in Bataan.
The whole-day seminar will feature the guidelines in handling hazardous materials and toxic waste. This will include topics like classification and categorization of hazardous waste (HW), HW generated in the Pihlippines, requirements and procedures in handling HW, guidelines on waste transporting, import and export of recyclable materials containing THW, and treatment, storage, and disposal of THW.
PNOC locator companies will also learn more about the DAO 29 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 6969; DAO 28 or the Interim Guidelines on the Importation of Recyclable Materials Containing Hazardous Substances, and the UNEP Basel Convention or the Control of Transboundary Movements or Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal.
Set forth to speak in the seminar are experts from the Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB,DENR).
Environtech `99 pushes for green business
For the latest on the environment, EnvironTech ’99 was the place to be. Entitled "Green Business for the Green Consumer," EnvironTech ’99 featured an international trade fair for green products and environmental technologies and a series of seminars on a wide range of environmental topics. The event kicked off last September 30 to October 2 at the SM Mega Trade Hall at SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.
The trade fair gathered over 30 exhibitors from both local and international companies.
EnvironTech ’99 was also host to the final Business Agenda 21 National Roundtable. Over 70 industry associations pledged their commitment to the goal of sustainable development through the Business Agenda 21 document embodying their environmental principles and action plans. The said document is the product of over a year’s consultations and discussions. Business Agenda 21 was organized by the Philippine Business for the Environment under the PRIME Project.
Local and foreign experts shared their expertise in the seminars tackling various environmental topics.
A special seminar series on environmental management for local government units was well attended. Other seminars lined up included Environmental Monitoring and Audit, Air Quality Monitoring, Sustainability through Increased Business Efficiency, Business Opportunities in the Environmental Services Industry and Environmental Management for Small and Medium Enterprises.
EnvironTech ’99 is the fourth trade fair organized by the Philippines Business for the Environment through the PRIME Project in cooperation with the United States-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP), the Philippines Environmental Industry Association (PEIA), the Pollution Control Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PCAPI), the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP). The seminar series for LGUs was made possible through cooperation with the League of Provinces of the Philippines, the League of Cities of the Philippines, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines and the League of Barangays of the Philippines.
"Green list" to make investment application easier
Now, investment proponents will find it easier to gather all the required documents for a business application. The Board of Investments (BOI) is now coming up with a "green list" added to the basic requirements.
This checklist will enumerat environmentally related documents that a proponent needs to know before he starts with his venture. Early on, this checklist will aid the businessman in realizing his environmental responsibilities to avoid future cease and desist orders or notices of violation.
This follows BOI’s enivornmental efforts such as a seminar series in environmental laws conducted regularly for BOI proponents. This covers topics including RA 6969, LLDA regulations, Philippine EIA System, emissions and environmental standards that industries should comply with.
Proponents and applicants can soon get a copy of the green list from the BOI at the following departments: One-Stop-Action-Center (OSAC); Environmental Unit (EU); Information Group; Investment Promotion Group; and through the PRIME Project, Module 2.
