Mandaue City among 3 cities nominated for funding assistance to become Low Carbon Model LGU

The City of Mandaue, Cebu, Philippines is among the three local government units (LGU) considered for funding for environmental sustainability efforts.

This October, there are three LGU's from among the 21 member Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) economies who will be chosen to be given technical assistance for environment efforts.

In particular are the strategies leading to the reduction of carbon use.

In a press release, the nominees are Krasnoyarsk City, Russia; Mandaue City, Philippines and Subang Jaya, Malaysia.

According to Department of Energy 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 be choosing 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.”