Context
The Philippines is witnessing significant economic growth. However, poverty persists and the growth has negative impacts on the environment and climate. The country thus faces the challenge of steering its economic development towards sustainable, inclusive growth which will also benefit socially disadvantaged groups.
The production processes and business practices of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which make up 99 per cent of Philippine companies, are often harmful to both the environment and the climate. Tourism is very important for the Philippines due to its growth potential and its close links with other upstream and downstream economic sectors. However, the high consumption of water and energy, the inadequate solid waste and wastewater management systems and high greenhouse gas emissions all play a part in exacerbating environmental pressures and reducing the competitiveness of enterprises. Government authorities and the private sector recognise the challenges, but need more expertise to identify
and implement solutions.
Objective
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises are working in a manner that is increasingly environmentally friendly and climate smart. The government institutions concerned with economic development are offering the services and strategies required in this regard.
Approach
The project organises media campaigns in order to raise awareness among MSMEs and local authorities of environmentally friendly and climate smart development. It brings the private sector and state together so that they can expand existing private-sector approaches to include aspects of green economic development.
The project provides MSMEs with information about technologies that facilitate environmentally friendly and climate smart activities and help them to recognise their own potential. Information is also provided on green financial products and funding instruments that enable MSMEs to implement their own improvements. Moreover, the project supports MSMEs that are especially environmentally friendly and climate smart to participate in competitions.
The project began in 2013 in the two pilot provinces of Cebu and Bohol. Since mid-2014, the experiences gained to date have been shared in a further seven provinces, in cooperation with the partner organisation, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Another seven provinces will be added in 2015.
The work focuses on the tourism industry, which also involves the transport, souvenir and food sectors.
Results achieved so far
The impact of the partner’s commitment to promoting green economic development is being felt not only in the provinces of Bohol and Cebu, but also at national level. As part of a development programme, the DTI has been procuring energy-efficient machinery and solar installations and is integrating green issues into its nationwide training programmes for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises at its training institute.
Furthermore, it wishes to incorporate aspects of the green economy into its guidelines for industry and the manufacturing sector. Besides the DTI, this topic is also attracting increasing interest from the Department of Tourism and the Department of Labor and Employment.
At the same time, chambers of commerce and industry as well as business associations are showing ever more interest in suitable solutions for their members which link green economic development to the improved competitiveness of enterprises. The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, for example, has staged a number of events related to this topic.