Philippines confident of creating more 'green' jobs next year

Starting next year, the Philippine government will be able to create more “green" jobs and workplaces and promote economic growth at the same time. This was announced by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) after it signed a “green" pact with the Federation of Free Workers, and the Philippine Green Building Council. Besides generating “green" jobs, the pact will also promote awareness of green workplaces, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said in an article posted at the department’s website (www.dole.gov.ph). The agreement will also supplement the government’s new resiliency program slated for next year which includes investments in new industries such as renewable energy and innovative technologies. The department is working towards climate change adaptation programs through knowledge building, organizational strategies, and green jobs advocacy, Roque said. Next year, the labor department will also help further raise climate change awareness through the National Green Jobs Conference. The conference will address concerns of seven sectors with different types of exposure to climate change policy drivers. These seven sectors are: energy generating sectors, renewable energy sectors, alternative energy sectors, employment sensitive sectors, competition intensive sectors, sectors vulnerable to climate policies and climate sensitive sectors. The department also urged both labor and management to adjust their work standards to cope with the consequences of climate change. “All work with [an] environmental component is a green job. I know companies that invest in green jobs, implement green workplace, and promote green jobs," he said in the same article. - with RJAB, Jr., GMANews.TV