Building owners, managers pushing for passage of Green Building Act

Building owners and managers are banking on the passage of the Green Building Act to promote more sustainable architecture in the Philippines.

Principally authored by Diwa Party-list Representative Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, the Green Building Act mandates building permit applicants to set aside an area for trees and flora. The bill passed on second reading, but has not yet reached third and final reading.

“‘Yung Green Building Law, nasa second reading na. Natigil lang kami kasi nag-election nun,” Eduardo Manahan, chairman of Building Owners and Managers Association of the Philippines (BOMAP), told GMA News Online on the sidelines of a conference in Makati City on Thursday.

The bill requires applicants to submit a Tree Planting Plan which contains the total area size, indicative layout of the areas to be planted, species to be planted, and design and construction of such areas.

Manahan said BOMAP is also pushing for revising the National Building Code of the Philippines to add certain provisions that mandate buildings to be eco-friendly.

“We, as stakeholders, inimbitahan kami to help them out in the crafting of the revisions ... ‘Yung transportation, mga gamit sa indoor air quality, ilaw, air and water.  Maraming tinitignan, pati ‘yung heritage improvement,” Manahan said. —VDS, GMA News