New ‘green’ advocacy group launched

A NEW advocacy group is crafting an “environmental compliance scorecard” that will check the compliance of industries like mining and energy with environmental policies and regulations.

The scorecard is one of the programs that the Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST) is set to undertake as it promotes “good policy, good environment and good business,” said Victor Andres Manhit, convenor of the advocacy group.

PBEST, which was launched on Tuesday, comprised of leaders from business groups, academe, professional groups, civil society and the government, bound by a common goal to actively “promote sound developmental policies and advocate right governance that will ensure responsible stewardship of the environment as a requisite in the operations of all industries.”

The proposed environmental compliance scorecard is expected to be completed early next year.

Through the cooperation of various organizations like the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), companies will be evaluated based on their practices and compliance with various laws relating to environmental sustainability.

PCCI vice president Antonio Lopa affirmed the group’s support for PBEST, adding that the members “join the call for responsible stewardship for environment… and fully support sound developmental policies that can spur economic growth.”

COMP chair Artemio Disini also lauded PBEST for spearheading this “timely and worthy cause,” noting that the group’s members also “share the vision of concerted environmental concerns, condemn ruthless practices” as their group seeks for “ways and means to responsibly secure nature’s resources.”