Manila: A party-list representative has introduced a bill aimed at establishing a Green Industrial Zone Program to encourage sustainable development, particularly in less developed areas of the country.
According to Philippines News Agency, House Bill No. 3112, known as the Green Industrial Zone (GIZ) Program bill, seeks to pursue a development path that is environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive in response to the climate crisis. The program will serve as the national framework for the creation, support, and regulation of GIZs, promoting sustainable manufacturing and enterprise ecosystems.
The measure proposes the establishment of GIZs in strategic locations, focusing on underdeveloped regions with unexploited potential for renewable energy, sustainable raw materials, and green entrepreneurship. Target areas include regions like Northern Luzon-Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, and surrounding provinces-where industries such as bamboo processing, agro-industrial manufacturing, eco-textiles, solar assembly, and sustainable packaging show significant potential for inclusive green growth.
The criteria for designating GIZs include environmental suitability and zoning alignment, proximity to renewable energy sources like hydro, wind, solar, and biomass, availability of labor and potential for green job creation, and access to transportation, utilities, and logistics infrastructure. There must also be a proposed or existing presence of enterprises aligned with green standards, along with the availability of shared services such as waste treatment, eco-friendly packaging, and skills training facilities.
Rep. Ching Bernos emphasized the importance of investing in clean energy and sustainable industries, highlighting the dual benefits of environmental protection and job creation. She stated that the GIZ program provides a framework for regionally balanced industrialization that aligns with global goals for decarbonization, ecological preservation, and green job creation.
Bernos pointed out that, unlike traditional industrial zones that often lead to pollution and marginalization, GIZs will integrate clean technologies, circular economy practices, renewable energy use, and local labor empowerment into their industrial development strategies. She expressed that the Green Industrial Zone program offers new opportunities while aiding the country's transition to a greener, more sustainable economy.
