CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – One of the world’s leading cement manufacturers Holcim Philippines Inc. is pushing for yet another social responsibility initiative when it met representatives from the various groups here and in Misamis Oriental and discussed possible collaborations on a project that would address concerns in protecting the environment.
In its first hosting of its “Coffeetalk” forum, Holcim encouraged participants from the local government units, the business sector and the media to make firm commitments towards better public appreciation of sustainable construction.
Ma. Socorro Prado, Holcim’s vice president for communications, said that the initiative is part of the company’s efforts to make people better aware of the gains if sustainable construction is adhered to and try to generate ideas directly from communities where the company operates.
Prado noted that while there is a growing awareness about Holcim’s initiative locally, the discussion was mostly limited to the movement to make buildings more environment-friendly.
“Sustainable construction follows the principles of sustainable development and thus also seeks to advance economic and social development while minimizing environmental impact,” Prado said.
Holcim’s sustainable construction reflects, in a nutshell, the definition of the United Nation’s Environmental Program for sustainable construction as “a way for the building industry to move towards achieving sustainable development, taking into account environmental, socio-economic, and cultural issues. Specifically, it involves issues such as design and management of buildings, materials and building performance energy and resource consumption – all within the larger orbit of urban development and management.”
Architect Miguel Guerrero, founding member of the Green Architecture Advocacy Philippines, said that the idea of sustainable construction is a way to meet present-day needs for housing and infrastructure without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
