Wanted: Green Collar Jobs in the Philippines

News came out from Australia that their Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is promising 50,000 green jobs.

I am immediately reminded of the book, The Green Collar Economy, How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems, by Van Jones. It's a New York Bestseller.

The 2 biggest problems being referred to in the subtitle aren’t unique to neither Van Jones’ America nor Rudd’s Australia. In fact, they hound all the nations of the globe:

• Economic crisis
• Environmental crisis

The proffered solution in the book is opening what was previously referred to as blue collar jobs -- hand-skill intensive jobs that can be performed by non-college degree holders-- to the many new jobless. The new jobs proposed relate to the “greening” of the environment like, installation of solar panels, double piping plumbing, weather-proofing of old buildings, etc.. Australia’s PM, is going even beyond blue collar, some opportunities are for higher-tier jobs like: solar, wind and other renewable source of energy engineering, research, environmental standards auditors, clean energy financial managers, and many others. As much of these are new, Australia will also be providing education and training.

Such job programs are noteworthy. The Philippines, I‘m proud to say, isn’t behind. As early as last February, Sec. Lito Atienza of the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) has announced that it has set aside P2.5B to the creation of 111,536 “green jobs”. These jobs are for the protection of the upland forests from “kaingeros” and the reforestation works.

Hopefully, more green jobs, in other fields like construction, renewable energy development, recycling, green product manufacturing and marketing, will be opened. The shift to green architecture, green building, and green living in the Philippines will accomplish much more than what they were originally intended. The outgrowth to this green revolution is economic sustenance.