• Home
• GOVERNMENT CXO
• E-GOVERNMENT
• CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
• TAX AND REVENUE MANAGEMENT
• GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
• GREEN GOVERNMENT
• GOVERNMENT DATA MANAGEMENT
• GOVERNMENT SECURITY
• GOVERNMENT CLOUD
• GOVERNMENT ANALYTICS
• GOVERNMENT GIS
• CONNECTED GOVERNMENT
• DIGITAL INCLUSION
• EDUCATION IT
• HEALTHCARE IT

Green Government

Philippine govt eyes green engineering for projects

By Johanna Morden | 29 April 2011

The Philippine government will be applying green engineering to its ongoing and future public infrastructure projects to minimise costs and be more eco-friendly.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of The Philippines this month conducted a training on bio-engineering technology and the use of indigenous materials for the planning, design and construction engineers of its regional and district engineering offices.

Government engineers will be taught the bio-engineering measure of using coconut fibre erosion control materials and its proper application to public infrastructure projects.

DPWH’s goal is to reduce the impact of government projects to the environment and cost reduction through the use of indigenous materials over traditional concrete, which is more expensive.

It supports the national government’s initiative to encourage the adoption and the use of bio-engineering products and technologies for the projects of public agencies in the country.

Rogelio Singson, DPWH Secretary, encouraged the use of coconut fibre materials or coconets in soil conditioning and erosion control.

He has issued a department order requiring all regional directors, district and project engineers to prioritise the use of bio-engineering products and solutions in the design of all DPWH activities and plans, particularly those for soil conditioning, soil erosion prevention or hydroseeding, and slope stabilisation.

A Certificate of Conditional Approval has been issued by the DPWH under Department Order 29 endorsing the use of Coconet Bio-Engineering Solutions in DPWH projects until January 2013.

Last year, the DPWH also founded the “Project Green Engineering Philippines” (PGEP) with the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) in an effort to lessen and address the effects of the buildings and construction sector in the subject of global warming.

---