NAGA CITY, April 18 (PIA) – Green economy stakeholders capped the 1st day’s morning session by signing their pledge on the wall of commitment before the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional and Provincial Executives and its partner, the German International Cooperation (GIZ) represented by its Project Manager Dr. Volker Steigerwald.
This was during the Promotion of Green Economic Development (ProGED) launch held at the Avenue Plaza Hotel here, Thursday.
The two-day event aims to enhance the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the adoption of climate-smart and environmentally-friendly strategies in managing their respective businesses.
The commitment encloses the stakeholders’ vow to support and participate in the joint implementation of the ProGED that seeks to enhance the competitiveness of MSMEs and find ways to improve utilization of power, reduce waste and minimize the adverse impacts of any commercial endeavors in the environment.
Mayor John G. Bongat who was invited to grace the said occasion expressed his full support to this new initiative launched by DTI. He stated that the LGU has been implementing various programs during the past years in consonance with energy conservation and environment preservation.
Among the LGU’s recent green practice is the creation of the City of Naga Power Commission which seeks to o develop renewable and alternative source of energy among others.
Steigerwald, in his discussion on ProGED accentuated the five pillars of the green economy strategy. He puts emphasis on mitigation, which is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; adaptation where individuals and businesses need to adjust to severe weather conditions; competitiveness through sustainable business strategies; green jobs where these businesses can utilize growth opportunities, market potential and develop new product and services which are environmentally-sound and maintaining and improving nature’s capital.
“By adapting green economy, those in the business sector will become more competitive through resource efficiency. By improving their existing resource production system, they can save more on energy and gain more profits. We need to inch forward- from a resource-based economy to efficiency based economy towards an innovation-driven economy,” Steigerwald added.
DTI Provincial Director Edna Tejada stated that this is the first time that GIZ will partner with DTI in Camarines Sur. It has already established close cooperation with other DTI provincial and regional offices in the past in pursuit of combatting the ill-effects of climate change.
One of the highlights of the 2-day event includes the Greening the Value Chain of the Food sector session. This aims to enjoin food chain participants to positively respond to opportunities especially those that will be derived from greening activities. (LSMacatangay, PIAV/Camarines Sur)