The Laguna Climate Change Adaptation Office, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) IV-A (CALABARZON) conducted a Green Building Orientation last September 16, 2019, which was also in observance of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

The forum was attended by various Local Government Units (LGUs) of Laguna. Representatives from Engineering. Planning, City Environment and Natural Resources, Public Service and Treasury/Budget Offices were present to further utilize the successful implementation of green buildings.

Speakers from the Green Architecture Advocacy Philippines (GreenAP) and Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC) presented topics to further raise awareness on the impacts of infrastructure to climate change. DENR CENRO Victor Mercado also presented their Ecological Rooftop and he also how to promote sustainable practices.

The rules and impacts of climate change and the infrastructure and building industry, including “designing with nature” and tools used by Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) that “defy the different credits that are essential in developing a green building project” were discussed by the resource persons from GreenAP and PhilGBC. 

CENRO Mercado shared their Ecological Rooftop initiative that was established to showcase different ecological friendly technologies, such as, composting and vermicomposting, hydroponics, vertical garden, 3Rs, seedling production of forest/fruit trees and  the establishment of a Materials Recovery Facility. 

The DENR CALABARZON is working towards the direction of having a green building. There is a sewage treatment system to treat its wastewater;  it has a solar power back up, glass windows and cross ventilation that allows continued operations in case there will be power outages; use of LED lights and inverter-type air conditioners for energy efficiency; a vertical barrel garden with vermicomposting that has already provided a bumper crop of kangkong, alugbati, basil and other vegetables. In its vicinity, native flowering trees were planted such as Banaba, Bani, Ipil, Talisay, Teak, Molave, and Bamboo that help absorb carbon dioxide, dust particles, and pollutants, as well as to control rainwater runoff, and provide habitat for various species. It also aims for a zero-waste protocol in the building by reducing the use of single use plastic use in all events and activities, minimal plastic wastes that are generated are kept clean to make eco-bricks.

The DENR CALABARZON commits to add more to this list of initiatives to serve as a model in South Luzon. ###