Green growth study to be done in Cebu next year

Roberto Aboitiz, chairman of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation and co-chairman of the Metro Cebu Development and Coordination Board (MCDCB), talks with members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) during the workshop. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

A ONE-YEAR study on sustainable “green growth” in Cebu province will be done by an international organization next year.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) will conduct the study entitled “Urban Green Growth in Dynamic Asia (UGGiDA)” that will be finished in December next year.

This was announced during yesterday’s start of a series of workshops for Cebu stakeholders and representatives of Bangkok, Thailand, Iskandar, Malaysia, Bandung in Indonesia, Hai Phong in Vietnam and Cebu.

Cebu is the first in the country and the fifth in Asia to be included in the project study. The project will complement the recently concluded “Roadmap Study for Sustainable Urban Development in Metro Cebu” undertaken by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Tadashi Matsumoto, project manager of the Public Governance and Territorial Division of OECD, said Asia presents a great opportunity to study rapid urbanization alongside environmental sustainability and economic growth.

Matsumoto said Cebu was chosen for its fast growing population and economy.

Findings of the OECD study will be benchmarked against studies of other cities.

Gordon Alan “Dondi” Joseph, chairman of the Metropolitan Cebu Development and Cooperation Board (MCDCB), welcomed the project, saying that economic growth must be sustainable.

The OECD started conducting studies on green growth and sustainability in its member countries in 2010.

In 2013, the group expanded their studies to other non-member countries, including those in the Asian region.

At present, OECD has 34 member countries all over the world. The study is done in partnership with Metro Cebu Development and Coordination Board (MCDCB) and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.–Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center (RAFI – EADSC).