Cebu included in ‘green growth’ project

CEBU was chosen as one of five case studies for a project aimed at exploring ways to foster “green

growth” in fast-growing cities in Asia.
Evelyn Nacario Castro, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) executive director, announced this after

presenting the overview of the Urban Green Growth in Dynamic Asia project to the Provincial Development

Council (PDC) executive committee last Friday.
Other cities included in the “green growth” project are Bangkok in Thailand, Johor Bahru in Malaysia,

Bandung in Indonesia, and Hai Phong in Vietnam.
Castro said the Provincial Development Council executive committee approved the resolution endorsing

the study that will be implemented sometime this year and end of 2016.
The provincial government will provide the P2.5 million counterpart fund for the project.
The project is aimed at examining policies to promote greening and competitiveness, improving

environmental performance and urban quality of life, and increasing the institutional capacity of

cities.
Castro said the project plays a role in the operationalization of the spatial plan indicated in the

Mega Cebu Roadmap Study.
Mega Cebu’s spatial and land use planning issues involve identifying areas suited for urbanization.
This involves the creation of a hazard map for disaster management and a comprehensive land evaluation

map for areas to be urbanized by 2050.
The study would be conducted by the France-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

(OECD).