The university’s flagship environmental project  “Green UP” is off to a good start with two industry giants agreeing to lend their support. 

According to President Alfredo Pascual, the project aims to make  UP System operations environment-friendly.

In a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine National Oil Company Renewables Corporation, UP agreed to work toward such a goal by auditing  its operations for energy efficiency and carbon footprint, efficient utilities management, and exploration and use of alternative energy in the different campuses. The university also has an MOU with Philips Electronics and Lighting Inc. which will make UP’s lighting system energy efficient and environment-friendly.

PNOC RC is a government-owned corporation tasked with searching  for renewable energy, while Philips is a leading company in efficient lighting systems.

Both MOUs were signed last November 9 at the Board of Regents (BOR) Room at Quezon Hall, UP Diliman. The signatory for PNOC RC was Engr. Roger Victor Buendia, OIC president and CEO, and for Philips, Rico Gonzales, country manager. UP was represented in both MOUs by President Pascual.

The understanding with both corporations entitles UP to be a showcase for their pilot environmental projects. UP will also be open to the tapping of its experts in related fields by both PNOC RC and Philips. PNOC RC is looking at exploring solar energy for UP Diliman and geothermal and biomass for UP Los Baños. Philips began by doing a lighting audit of the BOR Room and the Office of the President.

Buendia and Gonzales are both alumni of the university and look at the MOU also as another way of giving something back to UP.