PGMA fetes top environment-conscious industries

MANILA, Feb. 26 (PNA) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo honored eight companies for their exemplary environmental performance during an awards ceremony on Friday at Malacanang’s Kalayaan Hall.

Honored for qualifying as top performers in the Philippine Environment Partnership Program (PEPP) were Absolut Distillers Inc.; Analog Devices Gen. Trias; Nestle Phils. Inc.–Cabuyao Factory; Nestle Phils. Inc.–Lipa Factory; ON Semiconductor; STMicroelectronics; PSI Technologies for Region 4A, and Vishay Phils. Inc. from the National Capital Region.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Horacio C. Ramos said these companies qualified to the Track 1 Category of the PEPP program and were awarded the DENR Seal of Approval last Dec. 16 by then DENR Secretary Lito Atienza.

“These companies have no cases against them with the Pollution Adjudication Board for three years prior to the date of application; they are in full compliance of all applicable environmental laws and were proven to show superior environmental performance by a third party auditor,” he said.

The PEPP, together with industries, aims to support industry self-regulation towards improved environmental performance, Ramos said.

“By providing a package of incentives and reward mechanisms to industries, DENR hopes to assist business establishments, particularly small and medium enterprises, to adopt pollution prevention and cleaner production processes,” he explained.

Taking care of the environment has been one of the priorities of the Arroyo administration along with education and the economy (3Es) which she vowed to focus on for the remainder of her term. (PNA)
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