ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL ECO-LABELLING PROGRAM (NELP) IN THE PHILIPPINES, 2001-2011

by: Richard Bryan G. Bugarin, Julliane Magdalene Z. Lallana,** Ralph Christian C. Mancenido,* Karen D. Nogaliza,*** and Jose Emmanuel M. Pagkanlungan***

An undegraduate research paper submitted to to the University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), March 2011

Adviser: Prof. Ebinezer R. Florano, Ph.D.

(To be published as Occassional Paper by UP-NCPAG's Publication Office. Advance copy of this paper can be obtained by contacting Mr. Ralph Mancenido via e-mail at ralph11_neo@yahoo.com)

ABSTRACT

The past twenty years saw the rapid upsurge of eco-labelling programs envisioned to address extensive ecological trepidations. European eco-labels led implementation of such scheme to help consumers make good purchasing choices in terms of which among the products in the market have the least negative environmental effects. In the Philippines, the National Eco-labelling Program (NELP) or Green Choice Philippines (GCP) became the government’s response apropos the call for environmental protection. Nevertheless, there exists an indistinct understanding of the effectiveness of eco-labelling on consumers’ consumption activities in the country. This paper assesses the effectiveness of the NELP in terms of achieving the goals and functions for which it has been created. It shows an assessment of the effects and impacts of the program from the years 2001 to 2011 and how these are influenced by the content of the eco-labelling policy and its context of implementation. Significant influences to the implementing activities of the program such as the: (1) program implementers, (2) resources committed, (3) power, interests and strategies of actors involved and (4) institution and regime characteristics have been taken into account to determine their effects on the output and outcome of the program. Industry participation, consumer recognition and demand and environmental quality of certified products were used as indicators to measure the effectiveness of the NELP for this particular study. A qualitative design which involves data gathering and the conduct of interviews with primary stakeholders as well as the collection secondary data was employed in deriving the recommendations that can be used by the NELP in order to improve its implementation of the eco-labelling program. Further, a case study and historical approach was used to arrive at a pattern of data and to analyze the influences to the implementing activities of the program. The results of study showed that the lack of appropriate, clear and comprehensive legal footing and the limited financial resources, both ominously influenced by the content of eco-labelling policy and implementation, are the primary reasons that caused the ineffectiveness of the program. Government intervention, through policy support, is deemed to be necessary to strengthen the implementation of the NELP and further its positive effects to the society. Congress may also look into the integration of the green procurement with that of the public fund-saving policy in procuring products that offer the lowest prices during government biddings. Finally, good governance in its truest sense should be upheld to avoid the added burden, from corruption, to manufacturers.

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*Graduated Summa Cum Laude, 2nd Semester, Academic Year 2010-2011.
**Graduated Magna Cum Laude, 2nd Semester, Academic Year 2010-2011.
***Graduated Cum Laude, 2nd Semester, Academic Year 2010-2011.