The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), together with the Government of Canada, UNIDO and the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP), officially launched the Philippine Cement and Concrete Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap during a ceremony held yesterday at Makati Diamond Residences, Makati City.
The roadmap represents a landmark achievement for the Philippine cement and concrete industry, providing a long-term strategy to reduce carbon emissions while ensuring the continued production of high-quality cement needed to support the country’s infrastructure, housing, and economic development.
The development of the roadmap was made possible through the generous support and funding of the Government of Canada through the Environment and Climate Change Canada underscoring the strong partnership between Canada and the Philippines in promoting sustainable industrial development, climate resilience, and innovation.
The launch gathered senior officials from the Department of Trade and Industry, representatives of the Government of Canada, officers and members of the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines, development partners, representatives from the construction sector, academe, and other key stakeholders.
CeMAP emphasized that the roadmap serves as a practical and science-based guide for the industry’s decarbonization journey through
Increase production of Low-carbon cement
Alternative and renewable energy
Energy efficiency improvements
New supplementary cementitious materials and the eventual deployment of carbon capture technologies.
From a leadership perspective, Thailand is generally recognized as the ASEAN frontrunner because it published its national cement decarbonization roadmap earlier and has been actively promoting regional cooperation through TCMA and AFCM. The Philippines is among the newest countries to develop a comprehensive national roadmap and is often cited as one of the first ASEAN countries to prepare a roadmap jointly endorsed by government and industry.
John Reinier Dizon- President of the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines said, ” Developing and implementing a Cement and Concrete Decarbonization Roadmap is important because it provides a clear, coordinated strategy for one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries to reduce emissions while continuing to support economic growth and infrastructure development.”
“A Cement and Concrete Decarbonization Roadmap is more than an environmental document—it is an industrial development strategy. It ensures that as our nation continues to build homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and other vital infrastructure, we do so with lower carbon emissions, greater efficiency, enhanced competitiveness, and stronger resilience. It provides a clear pathway for government and industry to work together in securing a sustainable future for both economic growth and environmental stewardship ” Mr. Dizon added.
