Business groups push green advocacy through “Eko Fest”

CEBU, Philippines - Putting Cebu in the forefront of “green advocacy” and making the Queen City of the South the sustainable lifestyle hub in the country, two powerful business organizations -- European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP) and Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) -- will hold a five-day “Eko Fest.”

The “Eko Fest”, which will open on June 15 to 19, 2013 at the SM City Cebu-Northwing will showcase world-class eco-friendly companies operating in Cebu that are beneficiaries of ECCP’s Smart-Cebu (SME for Environment Accountability, Responsibility and Transparency) program.

In a press conference, ECCP Executive Vice President Henry J. Schumacher said there is a need to highlight the program’s “story to tell” for the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) the importance and long-term benefits of adopting the “green” platform in their respective companies.

This is the first time that ECCP and CCCI work together in promoting a major cause, which will not only address the competitiveness of companies across industries, but also help MSMEs reduce their operational costs by adopting environment-friendly operations.

Aside from the exhibition, the five-day event will also set an “Eko Conference” that will bring in experts of “green advocacy”, eradicating the impression that migrating into environment-friendly platform will cost a company a huge investment.

This event, which is also one of the highlights of the month-long Cebu Business Month (CBM 2013) dubbed “Excite Cebu!”, gained support from different government agencies such as Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Science and Technology.

DTI-Cebu Provincial Office Director Nelia F. Navarro said that holding this event is very timely, as over 90 percent of the businesses in Cebu, which are MSMEs, still have to be oriented on the importance of adopting a “green” operation.

“We have to push the green growth for Cebu by greening the enterprises across the industries. MSMEs which cover the 90 percent of all businesses in the province are much vulnerable to environment stresses, and most of them don’t think that employing or using environment friendly system in their company operations is affordable. The impression that adopting green operation is expensive should be erased,” said Navarro.

CBM 2013 chairperson Melanie Ng said that ECCP’s initiative to drum up awareness in “green advocacy” in Cebu also coincides with the chamber’s priority advocacy in promoting green operation among industries.

“This is the first time that CCCI and ECCP are passionately working together to achieve a greater cause, in helping the environment, addressing niche and competitive issues. We take pride that Cebu will once again pioneer in the fight of greening the industry sectors, thus this first step is a way forward to make Cebu the hub for sustainable lifestyle in the Philippines,” said Ng.

Smart-Cebu program, which started in 2010 has brought the Philippines, especially Cebu exporters, to a higher level in terms of positioning and finding its niche in the competitive market.

According to Schumacher, Cebu exporters’ practice in green and sustainable operations provided them “immunity” to crisis-stricken markets like Europe, as market continuous to grow demanding for high-end and green products.

This success should be duplicated across the industry sectors, not only in Cebu but in other parts of the country as well. The “Eko Fest” will provide the venue for MSME players on how to start off a greener operation and why it is important in making companies thrive in the long run.

“Eko Fest” is also supported by the Cebu Furniture and Industries Foundation Inc., Fashion Accessories Manufacturers and Exporters (FAME), and the Gifts, Toys and Housewares Exporters Foundation (GTH-Cebu).

ECCP-Cebu Executive Director Roselu Paloma also announced that the five-day event will also showcase the new breed of “greeners” in the business community, wherein the young generation entrepreneurs with small business operations are already adopting “green” systems will also be highlighted.

Unique products in the souvenir industry sectors that are environment-friendly will also be given prominent area in the exhibition, said Paloma. /JMD (FREEMAN)