VZCZCXRO6189
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #2423 3020459
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 280459Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2180
INFO RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 3611
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE 1173
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 2862
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO IMMEDIATE 0231
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN IMMEDIATE 0155
RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI IMMEDIATE 0410
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM IMMEDIATE 0150
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHXQ/ALL EUROPEAN UNION POST COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MANILA 002423
SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES/SCT FOR EILEEN KANE
BANGKOK FOR REO HAL HOWARD
STATE PASS EPA DOUG STEELE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KSCA TSPL RP
SUBJECT: Philippines to Host Fourth Environmental Technology
Verification International Forum in 2009
1. Summary: The Philippines will host the 4th Environmental
Technology Verification International Forum November 11-13, 2009.
Organizers expect approximately 50 international and 100 Filipino
attendees from government, NGOs, academia, and industry. End
Summary.
2. On October 15, 2008, the Philippine Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) Planning Council considered a proposal to
strengthen the Philippines Environmental Technology Verification
(ETV) program. The proposal included funds to host the 4th ETV
International Forum. The DOST Secretary championed the budget
proposal, which the Council unanimously approved, and tentatively
set the Forum dates for November 11-13, 2009.
3. Embassy Manila has hosted two Science Fellows from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with expertise in
environmental technology verification in 2008. One goal of the
Fellows is to strengthen the Philippine Department of Science and
Technology Environmental Technology Verification Program.
4. In 1995, the U.S. EPA established a program to verify the
performance of innovative technologies that have the potential to
improve protection of human health and the environment. The program
produces credible, scientifically objective evaluations of
industrial and environmental technologies. Such performance data
are needed by technology buyers and permitters to make technology
decisions and assist in the development and commercialization of
innovative technologies.
5. International interest in verification is growing. The
Philippines, Canada, the European Union (EU), Japan, Korea and the
Nordic countries have developed pilot or fully operating
verification programs. Other Asian countries have also expressed an
interest in developing verification programs. Consequently, U.S.
EPA founded the International Working Group on Environmental
Technology Verification to develop a common approach to verification
so that eventually participating countries will recognize each
others' programs and products. The Working Group has held three
international forums and recently asked the Philippines Department
of Science and Technology (DOST) to host the 4th ETV International
Forum in 2009.
6. DOST has verified twenty-nine industrial and environmental
technologies since 2006. Many of these technologies have become
commercially viable. For example, Cleansave Waste Corporation's
waste-to-energy product was verified by DOST and is now being used
at waste management facilities in the Philippines.
KENNEY