GOOD NEWS!: DOLE to launch campaign for green workers

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)
Updated November 22, 2010 12:00 AM
Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=632362&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is soon coming out with a program to generate not only productive but also environment-friendly workers.

Ciriaco Lagunzad III, executive director of the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), said they are set to launch tomorrow the “Green My Enterprise (Green ME)” program.

Lagunzad said the program would utilize green productivity technologies to achieve higher levels of workers’ productivity and better environmental performance.

He said the program, to be pilot-tested in the different regions next year, aims to train workers in micro, small, and medium enterprises on environment-friendly technologies.

“Green productivity must start with the workers by reducing the adverse effects of climate change,” he said.

According to Lagunzad, the NWPC, together with the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards, also plans to coordinate with other government agencies to obtain inputs and expertise on the productivity program.

The Asian Productivity Organization, the leading advocate of productivity in Asia, has defined green productivity as a strategy which combines the appropriate technology and environmental management tools, techniques and technologies that reduce the environmental impact of an organization’s activities, products, and services while enhancing profitability and competitive advantage.

The NWPC’s green productivity techniques range from simple housekeeping to designing green products, from process modification to waste management and energy efficiency measures.

“As an advocacy, the DOLE bats for green workplaces and the creation of green jobs,” said Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, as she noted that climate change also affects the world of work.

She said DOLE has intensified its efforts to address climate change with the adoption of programs such as the advocacy for green jobs.

GREEN GROWTH by ER Florano

Figure 1: The Four Elements of Green Growth (Adopted with modifications from the original model of Woo 2009. Woo is Secretary-General of South Korea’s Presidential Committee on Green Growth)

Green Growth: Concept and Pillars

“Green Growth” (GG) is a strategy for “sustainable development.” It recognizes that the present generation, not only the future generations, must be saved from the onslaughts of natural and man-made disasters brought about by the pursuit of economic development which should not be stifled, for a win-win situation. In a more technical sense, GG is an eco-efficiency based strategy which “advocates growth in GDP that maintains or restores environmental quality and ecological integrity, while meeting the needs of all people with the lowest possible environmental impacts. It is a strategy that seeks to maximize economic output while minimizing the ecological burdens” (UNESCAP 2008a:3). In 2005, GG was adopted by 52 governments in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines, as a path for development.

GG has four pillars, namely: (1) eco-tax reform, (2) sustainable infrastructure, (3) greening of business, and (4) sustainable consumption (UNESCAP 2008b:18).

Eco-tax reform requires the internalization of environmental costs in the market and revenue neutrality, i.e., green taxes should not pose as an additional burden.

Sustainable infrastructure calls for eco-efficiency, that is, less consumption of natural resources (e.g., energy, water, land and raw materials) and less pollution during the construction and usage of infrastructure.

Greening business advocates for environmentally-sustainable business practices which would require the less utilization of natural capital (i.e., ecosystem goods and ecosystem services).

Finally, sustainable consumption involves changing the lifestyle of people that would make them less eco-efficient in their utilization of ecosystem goods (all taken from UNESCAP 2008a:4).

A Framework for Green Growth

South Korea is at the forefront in operationalizing and implementing strategies for GG since 2008 through its national economic development paradigm aptly called “Low-Carbon Green Growth” which seeks “to effectively address climate change and energy issues and promote sustainable development” (ROK 2010: 24) Its motto is: “as we go green – we generate money and jobs” (Woo 2009). Its green development framework has four elements, namely: (1) clean energy paradigm, (2) green technology as a new engine for growth, (3) improvement of the quality of life, and (4) green leadership (Woo 2009). Even though South Korea has just started with this new path for development, the world has taken cognizance of its successes so far. Hence, its strategies for GG might be worth emulating.

The clean energy paradigm aims to mitigate the effects of climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gasses emissions that emanate from local industries and transportation; and the aggressive development of renewable sources of energy. This paradigm also aims to build resilient communities which can withstand climate change and man-made disasters through climate change adaptation, early warning system, the protection of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and ensuring food security.

The clean energy paradigm is supported by the development of green technologies. Government agencies and the business sector invest on green research and development (R & D), and in cooperation with academic institutions, develop green technologies that lessen the emissions of pollution and GHGs in the atmosphere. In the process, green jobs and small and medium-scale enterprises are created. Local eco-tax is utilized not only to stop pollution but also to generate funds for green R & D.

Improving the quality of life requires “green life revolution,” i.e., gradually reducing people’s heavy dependence on ecosystem goods and services to one that recycles and consumes less. Massive information and education campaigns on green living, whether on the road, at home, in offices/work places, in schools, or in recreational spaces, are to be undertaken to instigate this revolution.

Finally, to sustain GG, green leadership in the locality needs to be cultivated. Green leaders, among politicians and from the youth sector, must be trained on the essence of GG so that they could continue the gains of their cohorts or predecessors. These green leaders can be administratively supported by civil servants who have been oriented on GG strategies mentioned above, including the formulation and implementation of green public policies, socio-economic development plans, comprehensive land use plans; and finally, the sourcing and allocation of funds.

These four elements are interdependent – the improvement of the quality of people’s lives depend on the development of clean energy largely brought about by the use of green technology which are all supported by the political will of green leaders (see Figure 1).

References

Republic of Korea (2010). Framework Act on Low Carbon, Green Growth.

UNESCAP (2008a). The Green Growth Approach for Climate Action (draft). Bangkok, Thailand: UNESCAP.

UNESCAP (2008b). Greening Growth in the Asia and the Pacific. Bangkok, Thailand: UNESCAP.

Woo, Ki Jong (2009). “Creating Opportunities through Green Growth.” A PowerPoint presentation made at the 22nd General Assembly and Conference the Eastern Regional Organization on Public Administration (EROPA) on "Public Governance in Challenging Economic Times: Human Resource Development at the Battlefront" held in Seoul, Korea on 19-23 October 2009.

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION - 5th National Conference in Human Ecology

5th National Conference in Human Ecology
November 26-27, 2010, UP Los Banos, College, Laguna

Theme: Keeping Human Ecology Moving, Human Ecologists Engaging

Objectives of the Conference:

1. To review and recommend the role(s) of human ecology in attaining human centered, self-reliant and ecologically stable communities in the country
2. To discover and document best practices in multi/interdisciplinary studies and application towards sustainable towns and cities
3. To facilitate sharing and learning experiences among believers and practitioners in/of human ecology


Hosted by: UPLB College of Human Ecology, CHE Alumni Association, and Human Ecology Institute of the Philippines, Inc. (HUMEIN-Phils)

Possible Topics:

- Good Governance: local government planning and practices; integrated population, health, and environment (PHE) governance, integrating nutrition considerations in development planning, environmental governance and green politics, special education, social services delivery
- Community-Based and/or Ecosystems-Based Resource Management: coastal resources management, watershed management, reef-to-ridge resource planning and management, disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, planning for new settlements, human settlements rehabilitation, etc.
- Poverty Alleviation through: sustainable livelihoods, social entrepreneurship, micro-enterprises, corporate social responsibility, eco-tourism, etc.

For more information, please email: conference@humein-phils.org. See also HUMEIN's website at http://www.humein-phils.org/

7 of 10 Filipinos Believe Climate Change Dangerous to Environment, Families - Survey

7 of 10 Pinoys believe climate change dangerous to environment, families - survey

Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=603478&publicationSubCategoryId=63
By Helen Flores and Amanda Fisher (The Philippine Star)
Updated August 17, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (6)


MANILA, Philippines - Seven of every 10 Filipinos acknowledge the dangers posed by climate change to the environment, with Metro Manila residents voicing the biggest concern, results of the latest Pulse Asia “Ulat ng Bayan” survey show.

According to the survey, the percentage of Filipinos who are worried about the dangers of climate change has gone up to 71 percent from 61 percent two years ago.

Pulse Asia also said the figure was a high 84 percent in Metro Manila, possibly because of tropical storm “Ondoy” last year which flooded most of the capital and killed close to 500 people.

It also attributed the rising awareness about climate change among Metro Manila’s 12 million residents to a drought this year that caused severe water shortage.

The same survey also showed that 21 percent of Filipinos believe God is punishing humans for their evil deeds by inflicting environmental catastrophes on them, although the figure is lower than the 23 percent recorded two years ago. The Philippines is predominantly Roman Catholic.

The survey was conducted from July 1 to 11 and involved interviews with 1,200 respondents.

Based on the survey, two in three Filipinos noticed a “big change” in the country’s climate over the past three years, and almost half said they had “little or no knowledge” of the climate change phenomenon.

The survey also found that 66 percent of Filipinos experienced a big change in climate in their places in the past three years.

On the other hand, 11 percent of respondents said there was little change in the climate in their areas during the period, while 23 percent were undecided on the matter. Public ambivalence was most pronounced in Mindanao (33 percent) and the least in Metro Manila (12 percent) and the Visayas (14 percent).

“Between July 2008 and July 2010, more Filipinos felt a big change in the climate in their place (+8 percentage points) while slightly fewer expressed ambivalence on the matter (-6 percentage points),” Pulse Asia said.

Almost 80 percent of Metro Manilans – the highest in the country – noted a big change in local climate. Metro Manila residents who claimed knowledge of climate change made up 63 percent, based on the survey.

In Mindanao, 52 percent of respondents have reported little or no knowledge of climate change. Similarly, the region had the smallest percentage of residents across the country that had noticed a big change in climate, at only 58 percent.

Meanwhile, two thirds of the respondents said recent weather-related calamities in the country and around the world were primarily the result of “human-induced environmental destruction.”

Sixty-three percent of survey respondents expressed belief that the various calamities that hit the Philippines and other countries in recent months had been the result of “humanity’s environmentally destructive ways.”

On the other hand, two in 10 Filipinos see these calamities as “God’s way of warning or punishing countries that have turned evil ways.”

Fourteen percent of respondents believe these calamities are only part of a process that naturally occurs worldwide.

The good news is more Filipinos are ready to take action, like recycling and segregating waste as well as planting trees. Up to 30 percent of those surveyed said they were willing to do more for the environment, such as educate others. However, 10 percent said they would not do anything more to protect the environment.

Pulse Asia describes climate change as “any long-term significant change in the average weather that a given region experiences.”

Asked to comment on the Pulse Asia survey, Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said there is a need to intensify the campaign to educate the public on climate change.

“What we are experiencing now is not ordinary. There are a lot of changes attributable to both man-induced climate change and natural variability. Enhanced information campaign understandable to our people about this issue needs to be done,” he said in text message to The STAR.

“We are in the midst of climate-related uncertain times,” Yumul added.

U.P. SYSTEM-WIDE FORUM ON "REDUCING RISKS AND DISASTERS DUE TO RAINFALL VARIABILITY"

IN MEMORIAM GOVERNOR EMILIO "DODO" MACIAS II, NEGROS ORIENTAL

This blog joins the people of Negros Oriental in mourning for the death of its beloved Governor, Hon. Emilio "Dodo" Macias II, who succumbed to death due to multiple complications caused by liver cancer. He died on June 13,2010, Sunday, at 3 a.m. at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City. He was airlifted to the said hospital immediately after the May 10 elections where he won another term as Governor.

Like the deceased Naujan Mayor Romar Marcos of Oriental Mindoro (see story below), Governor Dodo Macias became one of our subjects for our cases of successful "green politicians" for our study entitled, "Green Vote in Philippine Politics: The May 10, 2010 Elections." Both won another term but died immediately after their re-election. Hard work in governance plus physical exhaustion, stress, and emotional heartaches could have contributed to the complications of their illnesses. Maybe our hardworking green politicians should also think about their health, not just their missions in protecting Mother Earth and improving the lives of their constituents. Their loss is also ours; we will have fewer environmental allies at the local government level. For more information about the legacies of Governor Dodo, please read the column of Prof. Leonor M. Briones, a respected teacher in the U.P. National College of Public Administration and Governance, and a native of the beautiful Dumaguete City of Negros Oriental.

Governor Dodo will be remembered when we publish our study.

Newsclippings:

1. http://leonormbriones.blogspot.com/2010/06/so-long-dodo.html
2. http://www.negor.gov.ph/

IN MEMORIAM MAYOR ROMAR MARCOS, MUNICIPALITY OF NAUJAN, ORIENTAL MINDORO

This blogspot joins the people of the Municipality of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, in mourning for the untimely demise of its beloved Mayor, Honorable Romar G. Marcos, who was just recently re-elected to his post during the May 10, 2010 elections. Mayor Marcos died today, June 8, 4:30 a.m. at the Philippine General Hospital due to a liver ailment.

Mayor Marcos will be remembered for pursuing "environmental protection" as part of his development plans encapsuled in the acronym HEART which stands for: H for health; E for education, environment and employment; A for agriculture and livelihood; R for roads and infrastructure; and T for tourism, trade and telecommunications. He made headlines in Or. Mindoro when he questioned the construction of gabion in 2006 in Barangay San Andres which he thought caused the severe flashloods in his municipality since then. In January 2010, a sudden flashflood in Naujan caused the death of two Naujenos. Mayor Marcos led the rescue operations.

Mayor Marcos was one of our "green politicians" who accepted our invitation to be a case study in the research study entitled, "Green Vote in Philippine Politics: The May 10, 2010 Elections" which will be presented at the latter part of this year. In our modest way, we will remember and honor Mayor Marcos through this study.

News clippings:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100608-274528/Reelectionist-Mindoro-Or-mayor-passes-away
http://mindoropost.com/2010/01/19/flood-leaves-trail-of-devastation-in-naujan/
http://en.wordpress.com/tag/romar-marcos/