DENR awards 9 government agencies for eco-friendly- Mariz Revales

DENR awards 9 government agencies for being eco-friendly by: Mariz Revales Nine national government agencies were cited for their eco-friendly operations as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) last (June 29) handed out the first ever 2011 Recognition Awards for Eco-friendly Government Offices at the national level. Earning the highest honors with the Environmental Excellence Awards were the National Electrification Administration and the Philippine Heart Center, both inQuezon City, and the Development Bank of the Philippines in Makati City. Six other participating offices were also given Citation of Merit Awards. These were the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority along Roxas Boulevard in Manila; the Department of Public Works and Highways, also in Manila; the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the National Housing Authority, both in Quezon City; and the National Economic and Development Authority in Pasig City. DENR Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio, together with Civil Service Assistant Commissioner Rogelio Limare and Environmental Management Bureau Director Juan Miguel Cuna, handed the awards in simple ceremonies held at the Sulo Riviera Hotel in Quezon City. DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje said, in a speech read by Undersecretary Ignacio, that the awards underscored the serious commitment needed to adopt and sustain eco-friendly practices in the workplace, which serve as a "second home" to many Filipinos, and where materials utilized, equipment used and energy consumed all have an impact on the environment. Paje also stressed that government offices at the national level should lead the bureaucracy in environmental protection and conservation. "If our various stakeholders see how we work hard to improve our services and our environmental performance, we can be assured of their full trust and support to address the bigger problems of the country," he said. The nine awardees were evaluated based on the following criteria: 80% for implementing environment-friendly office operations, particularly in waste management, electricity, water and fuel conservation, air pollution prevention, emergency preparedness, green procurement and greening; 10% for institutionalizing environmental management policies; and 10% for overall orderliness, cleanliness and safety in the office premises. They were assessed by five audit teams formed in March 2011 by the DENR's Environmental Management Bureau, which reviewed the participating offices' documents as well as conducted on-site inspection and validation. The agencies were evaluated for a minimum of one year, from May 2010 to May 2011. Many of those assessed, however, were found to have been implementing - and sustaining - their own environmental programs even earlier than the required period.  The search for the Eco-friendly Government Offices was launched in April 22, 2010 during the Earth Day celebration at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Its objective is to assess the implementation of environmental management programs in government agencies and government-owned and controlled offices within Metro Manila and at the national level, using the 4 P's: Policy, Promotion of Awareness, People, and Practices. The next Recognition Awards is set in 2014.