City-XU to collaborate for localization of Green Building Code

THE city government, through the Office of the Building Official (OBO), will be collaborating with Xavier University’s Engineering Resource Center (XU-ERC) for the localization of the Philippine Green Building Code (PGBC).

Supporting this, the 19th City Council during its regular session Monday presided over by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy enacted an ordinance authorizing Mayor Oscar S. Moreno to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the XU-ERC for the purpose.

Under the MOA, the city, through the Office of the Building Official, shall engage in partnership with XU-ERC to analyze the gaps in the standards for a green building and to be able to advance towards the implementation of the PGBC at the city level.

The parties agree to conduct the project with a budget of P178,000 for the duration of two months.

XU-ERC shall then submit to the city its recommendations on localized green building standards aimed at mitigating the impact of buildings on the natural environment through sustainable designs.

In his endorsement, Mayor Moreno pointed out that green buildings are crucial to the challenge of climate change since it adheres to the principle of rational use of water and energy, and enhances and promotes their conservation.

He said the project is intended to standardize the establishment of green buildings, improve the licensing system of OBO, and cause its integration and institutionalization through local legislation consistent with existing green laws of the country.

The project also strengthens the linkages between the city and the academe in the area of local governance, particularly in promoting environmental-friendly practices in building construction, he cited.