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CEBU, September 21
(PIA) -- The local government unit of Mandaue City, Cebu is among the
three LGUs considered for funding for environmental sustainability efforts this
October from among the 21
member Asia Pacific Economic
Conference (APEC)
economies.
In a press release, the nominees are Krasnoyarsk City,
Russia; Mandaue City, Philippines and Subang Jaya, Malaysia. The funding in particular are
the strategies leading to the reduction of carbon use.
According to the Department of Energy (DOE)
undersecretary Loreta Ayson who is also the Philippines Senior Official on
Energy, the Low Carbon Model Town (LCMT) Project of the APEC Energy Working
Group (EWG) will choose in next month's gathering in Cebu, who will
receive the technical assistance.
"We are constantly looking for
potential LCMT candidates and it impresses me to find Mandaue City with such a
comprehensive plan involving land use, green building and transportation,”
Ayson said.
Mandaue City accordingly has a clear target
for reducing its CO2 emissions and has long been crafting measures to
establish a sustainable city to address air pollution and traffic
congestion.
Its proposed project consists of developing
green growth areas and interconnecting these areas within Metro Cebu. An
ordinance is also proposed promoting disaster-resilient buildings
in the city.
The LCMT Project of the APEC EWG has been
greatly instrumental in encouraging communities in the region to embark on city
planning initiatives promoting low carbon technologies to manage the rapidly
increasing energy consumption and consequently, mitigate the adverse effects of
greenhouse gas emissions on the environment.
Previous winners include
the city of Da Nang in Vietnam which implemented an innovative system of
electric motorbikes and charging facilities.
Samui Island in Thailand also got support for
its feasibility study to utilize solar, wind and small hydro power; reliance on
electric vehicles and reforestation and protection of existing forests.
They also adapted Green technologies for
resort and hotel developments such as solar water heaters, solar panels on
rooftops, biomass power generation of kitchen waste and increased ventilation for
natural cooling.
Mandaue is located on the central-eastern
coastal region of Cebu, and is one of the three highly urbanized cities on the
island and forms part of the Cebu Metropolitan area. It is connected by two
bridges to the island of Mactan. Mandaue is also known as the “furniture
capital of the Philippines.” (mbcn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu)
- See
more at:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2441442587803/mandaue-city-nominated-for-apec2015-funding-for-environment-strategies#sthash.qjlE2SqZ.dpuf