Group calls for passage of Green Building Act

The Senate has not yet approved its version of the bill. (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer.)

MANILA, Philippines — The Building Owners and Managers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (BOMAP) on Tuesday called for the passage of the Green Building Act, which requires the planting of trees for the construction of any building.

According to BOMAP Chairman Eduardo Manahan, the government has been pushing for policies promoting “green buildings” — that is, structures that reduce negative impacts on the environment through its design, construction, and operation.

The House of Representatives already passed its version of the Green Building Act on third and final reading in August 2018. But the Senate version has not been approved.

DIWA Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar was the principal author of the House version of the measure, while then Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was the principal author of the Senate version.

“There is already a law — the Green Building Act. It’s a matter of having it passed and the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) would be the one that would be the basis of what should be done or what should be implemented soonest,” Manahan said at a press briefing for the International Built Environment Week (IBEW), which will be held in Singapore this September.

“That’s a long time already — the Green Building Act,” Manahan added. “Initially the government has already been doing [something] about it and may it’s just stalled. Maybe this coming 18th Congress would be that time now.”

Manahan added that BOMAP would also discuss the measure in its meetings and urge other associations to join their call.

“Since we have a new Congress, we will be discussing this in our meetings — it will be one of our agenda. Green building affects us in the operation,” Manahan told reporters on the sidelines of the press briefing.

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)