Building Green - The Government Forum

“UK and the Philippines: Working Towards the Development of BERDE – The National Green
Building Rating System”
Makati Shangri-La, Manila
Welcome Remarks of Hon. Jejomar Erwin S. Binay, Jr.
Councilor, Makati City
January 26, 2010

Acknowledgements… Distinguished guests, valued partners in the private sector, co-workers in

government, fellow environment advocates, ladies and gentlemen, a pleasant afternoon to all of
you. I feel privileged to be doing the honors of welcoming you all today on behalf of my father,
the honorable Mayor Jejomar C. Binay, who sends his sincere apologies for not being able to
join us due to a prior commitment.

On behalf of the city government and the people of Makati, I would like to extend my heartfelt
congratulations and thanks to the Philippine Green Building Council headed by its Chairman and
President, Architect Christopher Dela Cruz, for spearheading this significant activity. This event
is another major step towards our attainment of a truly healthy environment not just in Makati,
but in the whole country as well.

Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to become a part of this forum, which has
been successfully put together by the PhilGBC and the United Kingdom Trade and Investment. I
am glad to note that you have been able to draw the participation of various sectors, given the
importance of getting their inputs for the National Green Building Rating System, BERDE,
which stands for Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence.

Congratulations to all the participants. We in Makati hope that this forum will be the start of
more meaningful undertakings that will show our shared commitment and responsibility towards
the environment.

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We are honored that Makati has been tapped by PhilGBC for this great opportunity to share the
city’s initiatives on environmental protection and conservation that are geared towards economic
sustainability and progress.

Our city has been successful in its programs and projects for the environment, and a clear proof
of this is the growing number of investors and visitors that continue to flock to Makati. A
healthy and clean environment is undoubtedly a key factor in their decision to do business, and
even live here in our city.

Our communities are also testaments to the success of our environmental programs. Our
residents continue to enjoy a healthy environment because we always make sure that
environmental policies are effectively enforced, and that every environmental program and
project is successfully implemented.

But all these would not be in place today without the effective leadership of our Mayor, no less
than the Honorable Jejomar C. Binay.

We need not elaborate any more on how he has steered Makati to its present stature. You just
have to look around you to see the unmistakable signs of progress and the impressive
transformation of our city from over two decades ago, when Mayor Binay first took on its helm.

But despite Makati’s status as a highly urbanized city, the mayor maintains that its development
should not be at the expense of the environment. He believes that we can have a balanced city
where growth and development can be achieved without wasting or destroying our natural
resources.

To date, Makati remains at the forefront of the nationwide campaign to mitigate the various
threats posed by global warming not only on the environment, but on the national economy and
the country as a whole. We have successfully initiated programs and projects in the areas of
maintaining clean air in the city, solid waste management, and urban greening.

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And in terms of pushing to make Makati more “green”, I supported the move to promote energy
efficiency in the city’s buildings and establishments.

In 2008, the city government entered into a Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation with the
PhilGBC on the promotion of holistic green building practices in the city. The agreement,
signed by Mayor Binay and Architect Dela Cruz, formalized the pledge of support of both parties
to the advocacy of green practices in the city’s buildings. These include improving indoor air
quality and water efficiency, promoting energy efficiency and conservation, establishing solid
waste management practices and advance eco-friendly site development, and promoting the
utilization of green materials in building construction.

Last year, the city government signed an agreement with Greenpeace, the PhilGBC, the Makati
Commercial Estate Association (MACEA), and Ayala Land to promote energy efficient practices
in Makati’s buildings and commercial establishments.

An energy audit will be conducted in the early part of this year to determine the energy
consumption level of Makati’s buildings in order to set a benchmark. Public buildings and two
privately-owned buildings will serve as pilot buildings for the energy-efficiency campaign.

Thus far, Makati has received several citations for its environmental programs that have resulted
in a 34 per cent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. Aside from being cited by the World
Bank as among Asia’s “Climate Resilient Cities,” Makati has been recognized by the
Department of Energy for its implementation of the “Palit Ilaw” campaign when it replaced
lamppost lights within Makati with energy saving sodium lights.

At present, the city government is crafting a resolution that would provide incentives to
encourage property developers in the country’s financial center to adopt “green practices.” We
plan to give tax credits to developers for adopting energy efficient practices. And now that the
UK and the Philippines are set to work towards developing a green building rating system for the
country, I am sure that we will benefit more from this action knowing that the greatest
concentration of high rise buildings and establishments is located in our city.

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My friends, what we in the city government of Makati want to emphasize is that we all have a
responsibility to take care of our environment. Our environment is the greatest inheritance that
we have, and it is incumbent upon us to take care and nourish it until the next generation comes.
Despite environmental problems that we are encountering these days, what is more important is
that we are facing them head on and are taking concrete, doable, and measurable steps to address
these problems. They say that every journey begins with a single step. This afternoon we will
take not only a single step, but a giant leap in the right direction.

Again, congratulations to each and everyone. May we all have a fruitful forum. Thank you very
much and good afternoon.