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Special
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Written by Sabrina Deparine
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Monday, 18 May 2009 09:38 |
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Page views: 1969 |
Last April 22, 2009, in celebration of Earth Day, the Quezon City (Q.C.) local government gave future generations of Filipinos one of the best gifts ever: the Green Building Ordinance.
 The Green Building Ordinance, authored by Councilor Bernadette Herrera-Dy, is the institutionalization of environment-friendly systems and technologies, supporting the efforts of the government to reduce greenhouse gases and other hazardous emissions that come from transport vehicles and commercial buildings.
This is considered a landmark legislation because it highlights not only the enhancement of nature’s beauty but also the significance of an infrastructure policy that saves the environment from further deterioration.
Q.C. Buildings Required to Have Eco-Friendly Systems
The ordinance defines “green building” as an integrated and complete approach to planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of building structures including their surrounding landscape. This approach has been devised to help mitigate the environmental, economic, and social impacts of pollution.
With the signing and implementation of the Green Building Ordinance in Q. C., the local government now requires all building structures in the city to have environment-friendly systems and technologies within their premises.
The Q.C. government now requires land users, developers, and planners to maintain building standards that promote and support renewable energy as well as other energy efficient technologies. It also encourages the use of environment-friendly materials in building structure, constructions, and renovations.
The Green Building Ordinance encourages the use of renewable building materials and installations. It also promotes the use of insulation and other energy reduction and efficiency measures like solid waste and waste water management processes. The ordinance calls for the incorporation of green architecture and the reduction measures of greenhouse gases and other volatile organic compounds.
With the implementation of the Green Building Ordinance, Q.C.’s building officials as well as the personnel from the city planning and development office and the environmental protection and waste management department are now required to conduct inspection, evaluation, and issuance of certificates to new building construction applicants.
Q.C. Requires Public Utility Vehicles to Shift to Green Fuels
Following the passage of the Green Building Ordinance, Q.C.’s city government has given the owners and operators of public utility vehicles three years to shift to environment-friendly fuels. Right now, the focus is on public utility tricycles.
The city government is not imposing the use of any particular alternative fuel. There are various options from which operators and drivers can choose from: compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, bioethanol-blended gasoline, and other forms of biofuels.
For this provision, the city’s tricycle regulatory unit is designated to facilitate the implementation of the green fuels provision. This includes the issuance of a certificate of compliance to tricycle operators before they can register or renew their registration in the Land Transportation Office.
Under this ordinance, the city government reserves the right to reject or forfeit the franchise of violators. In this case, the revoked franchises may be used to apply for new ones or replace their existing units with those compatible with biofuels.
Apart from tricycles, this ordinance also covers the vehicles owned by the city government.
Q.C. Offers Incentives to Green Developers
In line with the newly-signed and implemented Green Building Ordinance, the local government is offering incentives to property developers who will utilize eco-friendly materials in the construction or renovation of building structures. Under the provisions of the ordinance, building owners and property developers who use environment-friendly materials and methods in the construction or renovation of various types of structures will be granted 25% tax credit.
Tenants or residents who make use of green materials and practices will also be recognized. They will be given a tax credit of 15% which will be deducted from their real property tax for that year.
Building owners are likewise required to apply for a permit from the Environment Protection and Waste Management Department before they can proceed with the construction or renovation of their building structures.
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