ACCORDING to the International Labor Organization (ILO) 2025 baseline study on skills in the Philippine construction sector, local demand for green construction remains limited due to the slow adoption of green building practices in the Philippines despite the existence of policies such as the Philippine Green Building Code. Industry studies revealed that green skills interventions are mostly focused on advanced topics such as green building standards and project management. Practical and entry-level green skills are often missing in technical vocational education and on-the-job training.
To address these gaps, experts from construction firms, labor unions, environmental groups and the academe completed a master training program on “Introduction to Green Construction Skills” (IGCS) held on June 2–5. The initiative equips young Filipinos, especially those from low- and middle-skill backgrounds, to gain access to higher-paying and more secure jobs in the growing green and digital economy. It is part of the ILO-Korea Partnership Program on Advancing Digital and Green Skills for Youth in Asean.
Developed with experts from the Korea Polytechnic University, the IGCS course prepares construction workers for fundamental green building concepts and techniques. It is envisioned for adoption as a common competency across construction training programs.
It emphasizes working with the environment, designing and constructing buildings that maximize the use of the wind and sun, reduce energy and resource consumption, and use eco-friendly materials suited to the local climate. The training covered concepts such as carbon reduction, resource efficiency, sustainable materials, passive and active building design, renewable energy and green building certifications.
“These foundational skills are relevant across a wide range of industries, from construction and engineering to energy, transport and even business operations,” said Ronaldo Elepano Jr., immediate past president of the Philippine Constructors Association.
The newly trained master trainers are expected to promote a common set of green competencies that can be integrated into construction-related training programs across the country. A series of pilot test runs will be conducted in July ahead of the full rollout across various regions in August.