Firm to push green products in Cebu market

NEWLY opened construction materials depot center Wilcon Builders aims to partner with local advocates to promote environment-friendly products and educate the consumers about the impact of using these products.

We’re inviting professionals with the same advocacy to join us in our information drive about the efforts to reduce the individual carbon footprints, said  Rosemarie B. Ong,  Wilcon Builders executive vice president and chief operations officer, in a recent press conference.

“In our facilities in Metro Manila, we host organizations doing forums on the subject because we believe that individual consumers can have a huge impact in the global thrust to reduce carbon footprint and mitigate climate change,” said Ong.

designated area

Two Wilcon Builders Depot will soon fully operate in Cebu within the year and according to Ong, they will designate an area where partner organizations can hold meetings and forums.

The firm will also open their depots to schools  who want their students specifically those taking up architecture, engineering and other related courses to have a place to see and learn about the materials available in the market including the green products.

“This is partly an advocacy for us. We were able to do it in Manila and we’d like to bring the concept to Cebu and help increase awareness about these products especially on the aspect of prices. It’s not entirely true that ‘green’ products are much more expensive than the regular products they buy,” Ong said.

Wilcon is selling at least five green products which are widely used abroad.

These are: the Rubi Manual tile cutters which doaway with the requirement for electricity in construction sites; Kohler Shower columns, which uses air induction technology;   Grespania Coverlam Tiles, which are recyclable and manufactured with clays and other organic raw materials; and the Grohe Lavatory faucets, which uses water flow limiter technology saving water by adjusting the flow through a cartridge.

SAVING RESOURCES

While some products may cost several thousands like the equipment, Ong said it would allow one to save on the natural resources which was the bigger issue like the electricity savings and water savings achieved by the contractors or the professionals using it.

Philippine Institute of Architects Cebu Chapter officials agree.

Architects Dioscoro Alesna Jr. and Cris Cyril Abbu said “green” architecture is no longer just a fad now because it is considered as one of the most critical parts where a person can inject the “green” concepts and make a big impact in mitigating climate change.

green architecture

“For architects like us, green architecture is no longer a fad but a necessity to adjust to climate change and there is a real need to educate more Cebuanos about this and take out that perception that it is more expensive,” Abbu said.

Alesna added they are very pleased to know that a major construction materials retailer is open for a partnership on the said advocacy which will make a bigger difference in terms of implementation.