SWITCH-Asia

The Challenge

Manila Bay is the Philippines major economic centre. At the same time it is the country’s hot spot for pollution. Manila has been cited by the World Health Organisation as one of the most polluted places in the world. The challenge for Metro Manila and its linked CALABARZON region is great, as the country has a huge energy deficit. The Philippines is heavily dependent on fossil fuel. In addition, the level of law enforcement with regard to environmental regulations among industry is low.

The Objectives

The key objectives of GPIoS are to minimize the environmental impacts caused by SME's in the target region by adopting preventive environmental production and to integrate sustainable growth, social progress and environmental protection with the business of the participating companies.

The main activities include:

• Establishing a GPIoS Training Center
• Training and consulting 500+ companies under Eco Profit programs (Eco Bonus, Eco Focus and Eco Sense)
• Consulting about 180 companies who have already gone through one of the above programs through successive CLUB programs to further improve their eco-performance
• Designing & developing self assessment toolkit based on ECOSENSE approach
• Validating and awarding best performing companies

The Way Forward

Green Philippines Island of Sustainability envisions:

• Reduced pollution level and to increase resource efficiency levels in specific companies in Metro Manila and its linked region CALABARZON
• Increased awareness and use of environmentally friendly technologies and practices
• Implementation of legal compliance and safety instruments leading to improved resource efficiency and increased working standards in participating SME's
• Improved micro climate of the target region