Philippine cement firms go ‘green’
Efforts of major players in the Philippine cement industry toward environment protection and preservation drew praises from non-government organisations.
Jesus “Teng” Lim, secretary general of the Central Luzon-based farmers’ group, said the cement producers’ moves deserve full public support, particularly from the farmer sector “which is the biggest stakeholder in environment protection issues.”
Lim, who is also deputy secretary general of the advocacy group Sigla, hailed the programs being pursued by the country’s leading cement manufacturers in the areas of pollution reduction, waste management, biodiversity protection and preservation, reforestation, and preventing extinction of endangered species. KMMGL operates in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Tarlac, and Bataan.
Lim cited the adoption by Lafarge-associated Republic Cement Corp. of a 6-hectare area of the endangered Ipo Watershed in Norzagaray, Bulacan, where more than 1,000 tree saplings were initially planted. RCC is doing this in cooperation with the Environment Department, the Manila Water Co., the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, and the non-government organization “Hands On Manila.”
RCC intends to broaden the program to cover other watersheds notably in Rizal and Batangas. Iligan Cement Corp., another Lafarge-associated company, intends to do the same.
Published under Cement News
