I thank you for inviting me to your inauguration today. Seeing this building rise brings back fond memories from not too long ago. In September 2008, Director Daniel Zuellig presented me with the project plans for the new Zuellig Building. And as impressed as I was with his plans for the structure, I did not expect his vision to take on this scale of magnificence. It is truly my pleasure to be here and once again, I thank you for this privilege.
The Zuellig Building is a first in this city that I once led as mayor. This building’s architecture draws all eyes to its splendor. The glass exterior and its bamboo-inspired design are a unique landmark in our evolving skyline, and I believe New York, London and Singapore can only envy its rise here in Makati. I can only wonder at how magnificent the view of Metro Manila is from the highest floors and I am sure the occupants will relish this beauty each day they come to work.
But design is not the only distinction of this masterpiece.
The Zuellig Building, which boasts of many green features, is a firm commitment to environmental care. You have employed smart architecture together with leading technologies to maximize lighting and climate control while cutting down electric power requirements. You will use less power but enjoy more light and better cooling in the property. Your ingenuity has not gone unnoticed and I am pleased to hear that you were awarded pre-certification at Gold level under the LEED-CS (Core and Shell) program in June 2009.
As inspiring as these feats are, there is another laudable facet to this jewel: this building was built by Filipinos. Yes, there was a multinational team of architects, engineers, landscape artists and consultants who were hired and the contractor for this project is an Australian firm. But I cannot understate the fact that the people who worked on the construction of this building are all Filipinos.
This shows in the clearest possible way that we can build green and eco-friendly buildings if we firmly commit to the idea. Daniel Zuellig could not have stated it any better -- “This building proves that here in the Philippines we can build and work to the highest standards.” Thank you Daniel for investing in this proof, and we hope others will soon follow suit.
The former British Prime Minister Tony Blair once said that, “No country will want to sacrifice its economy in order to meet the challenge of global warming, but all economies know that the only sensible long term way of developing is to do it on a sustainable basis.”
The developers of this building will tell you that designing and erecting eco-friendly structures are more costly. Because of this, many people still mistakenly believe that the swelling calls for environmental concern are nothing but hindrances to economic development.
However, this building provides a rare opportunity to demonstrate how return of investment on green buildings can be achieved through energy conservation and lower operating costs. Also, enhancements such as superior air quality can generate maximum returns on the well-being and productivity of tenants and visitors, things that many urban centers are spending serious funding on in order to establish and protect.
My friends,
The goal of providing a clean and productive environment for our increasing urban population is our mutual enterprise. During my service as mayor of this fair city, we recognized that reducing disaster risks also meant shifting economies towards low-carbon growth pathways. To this end, we devoted serious efforts to make this shift including the promotion of e-jeepneys, the banning of non-biodegradable plastics and the strict enforcement of emissions regulations.
When I was elected to this august office, I vowed to see this advocacy through on national scale. Upon assuming the chairmanship of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council or HUDCC, among the first things I shared with the sector is my vision of green shelters nestled in sustainable communities – resilient shelters that provide safe haven from typhoons and other natural calamities.
This vision was embraced by the sector and as we push for much needed housing, we are all bound by the philosophy that green shelters and sustainable communities not only preserve and even improve the environment, they actually spur innovation and economic growth in areas outside Manila.
While we have yet to fully master the use of “green technology” in our housing projects we are firmly committed to the cause. Our country is abundant in natural gifts and our people are unparalleled in their ingenuity and creativity. The meeting of these two potent resources can only ensure that we will move quickly towards success.
Last year, together with the Philippine Institute of Architects we launched the Medium Rise Design Housing Contest which encouraged architects to craft eco-friendly designs for medium rise buildings to be used in our low cost housing projects. The designs employed maximum usability and functionality while taking into consideration the capability of the urban poor to pay for the monthly amortization. The response has been good and the entries coming from the premiere colleges of architecture show that we have no shortage of talent.
We wish to harness this talent and hone it to a keen edge in order to achieve our housing goals but just as importantly, we believe this shall be a canvass for the best of our professionals to be better. The Zuellig Building was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Other properties in Manila showcase the talents of legends like I.M. Pei and Carlos Ott. In the Middle East, names like Palafox have earned respect and admiration for designing not just buildings but entire cities. In due time, I pray that we see more Filipino names gain accolades for green architecture and design.
Let this building inspire dreams. Let it prompt young Filipinos and the captains of industry to believe that we are a great people capable of great feats.
Once again, congratulations. I wish you more success.