The SWITCH-Asia Project was introduced by the delegation of the European Commission represented by Hans Farnhammer and Matthieu Penot together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources represented by Undersecretary Manuel D. Gerochi with the partnership of ASSIST at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel in Quezon City on April 16, 2013.
SWITCH-Asia Project was officially launched last July 2012 and will remain operational until December of year 2016. ASSIST has been invited by Dr. Bischoff, team leader, to the official launch of the project here in the Philippines. The European Union (EU) is providing the Philippines a P189-million grant under its SWITCH-Asia program to bankroll projects aimed at promoting cleaner a more energy efficient industrial production.
USec. Gerochi gave the opening remarks followed by Hans Farnhammer, Chief of EU’s Development Cooperation, gave his welcoming speech and outlined the main goals of the Philippine Chapter of SWITCH-Asia: clean energy and energy efficiency, job creation through green investment, eco-labeling and green procurement and overall improvement of living conditions. Finally Dr. Bischoff introduced the SWITCH-Asia project and stressed the importance of sustainable energy consumption. Other speakers present were Olga Babina, Social Enterprises Manager of ASSIST and Jesus T. Tamang Energy, Director, Policy and Planning Bureau, Department of Energy.
