The Philippine cold chain industry is aiming to be more energy-efficient as the government and the private sector through the Board of Investments (BOI), DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), DOE-Energy Utilization Management Bureau (EUMB) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the crafting of guidelines on Minimum Energy Performance (MEP) for the industry including commercial refrigeration products.
BOI Governor Atty. Marjorie O. Ramos-Samaniego, DENR-EMB Director Engr. William P. Cuñado, DOE-EUMB Director Atty. Patrick T. Aquino, and UNIDO Industrial Development Officer Mr. Adnan Atwa signed the MOU during a virtual ceremony recently (April 8, 2022).
The development of the MEP in key sectors in the country is following the Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11285 or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act. With the said MEP, energy savings are encouraged at the industry level while contributing to the country’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) targets.
The collaboration, which shall be implemented within a year from the date of the MOU signing, is within the framework of the project “Global Partnership for Improving the Food Cold Chain in the Philippines.” In his welcome remarks, DOE-EUMB Director expressed support to the MOU as it will allow the development and advancement of a more energy-efficient cold chain industry in the country.
In her statement of commitment, BOI Governor Ramos-Samaniego said that the new collaboration will aid in the promotion of a sustainable cold chain industry with lesser environmental footprint and more efficient level of energy utilization.
Governor Ramos-Samaniego, who is also the Co-Chairperson of the National Cold Chain Committee (NC3), pointed out that cold chain operations in the country is power intensive and the MEP will encourage adoption of energy-efficient operations among local and prospective operators.
As Chair of the NC3, the BOI supports efforts to prepare policy recommendations and align with concerned government agencies’ existing programs/strategies to ensure harmonization/complementation of strategic directions towards food security and resilience through the promotion of investments in cold chain utilizing greener technologies. The BOI will also support the activities of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on the development of the MEP standards and subject to relevant laws and regulations, will provide relevant available information.
“The BOI and the NC3 is one hundred percent committed to co-implement this MOU and make this project a success towards an energy efficient and sustainable Philippine cold chain industry,” said the BOI Governor.
While DENR-EMB Director Cuñado deemed that this MOU is urgent and necessary with the country’s commitment in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions thereby encouraging everyone to continue synergizing towards a green economic recovery. Mr. Atwa, Industrial Development Officer of UNIDO, emphasized the importance of the MOU with the industry having a huge potential to reduce GHG emissions and food loss while increasing food safety.
“UNIDO has always been a committed partner of the Philippine government for green resilient industrial communities… we are looking forward for continued collaboration,” the UNIDO official said. UNIDO is supporting the country through a project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aiming to identify, develop and stimulate the application of “low-carbon, energy-efficient” refrigeration innovation technologies and business practices to be used throughout the food cold chain.
Mr. Teddy Monroy, Country Representative of UNIDO Philippines, also expressed his backing of the MOU. UNIDO is a specialized agency in the United Nations system that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization, and environmental sustainability.
On the latter part of the program, DTI-BPS Assistant Director Ferdinand L. Manfoste, on behalf of Director Neil P. Catajay, expressed the agency’s eagerness to contribute on the development of policies and standards for cold chain. Mr. Anthony Dizon, President of the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines, Inc. (CCAP) said that the MOU is a crucial milestone and a springboard that will complement the efforts of the BOI in creating an attractive investment climate for new stakeholders in the cold chain industry.
Previously, the BOI and its partner industry stakeholders launched the “Philippine Cold Chain Industry Roadmap” – an inclusive, stakeholder-driven, and market-oriented roadmap that will serve as a guide for the industry towards the “new better normal” as the country is aiming to bounce back from the economic ramifications of the lingering pandemic.
In February this year, the BOI, DENR-EMB, and InsightSCS Corp. signed an MOU to develop a cold chain integrated supply chain solution in the Philippines, creating a project named, “Development of a Cold Chain Integrated Supply Chain Solution for Evidence-based Policy Making and Investment Programming.”
