PHL pilots green skills training for construction workers

THE Philippines is piloting a green skills training program for construction workers to prepare the sector for the shift toward more sustainable building practices, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Thursday.

This initiative under the ILO-Korea Partnership Programme aims to develop master trainers who will promote foundational competencies in sustainable materials, renewable energy use, and climate-resilient design across the construction sector.

The ILO said construction accounts for nearly 10% of the Philippine workforce and is identified under the National Green Jobs Human Resource Development Plan as a priority sector for creating green jobs.

A 2025 ILO baseline study found that demand for green construction skills remains limited due to the slow adoption of green building practices, despite policies such as the Philippine Green Building Code.

The study also showed that existing training tends to focus on advanced topics such as green building standards and project management, while entry-level green skills remain underdeveloped in technical-vocational and workplace training.

To address these gaps, experts from construction firms, labor unions, environmental groups, and academe completed a master training program on Introduction to Green Construction Skills under the ILO-Korea Partnership Programme. Pilot runs will begin in July, followed by a nationwide rollout in August.

“The transition must be worker-centered. All workers, from laborers and skilled workers to equipment operators and supervisors, must have access to training opportunities that improve their access to green jobs,” said National Union of Builders and Construction Workers Secretary-General Santiago Nolla.

According to Joshua Miguel Lopez, national project coordinator of the program, the training distills sustainability into core competencies, including efficient use of materials and energy, green building techniques, and safe construction practices.

“It is crucial to be [good] or adept at using green building techniques, masinop or thorough in the use of energy and material resources, and ligtas, ensuring safe and secure construction for workers and building occupants,” he said in mixed English and Filipino.

Engineer Michael Gayona of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Green Technology Center said green construction requires rethinking building performance across its full life cycle and adapting global sustainability concepts to local conditions.

The program is part of broader efforts under the ILO-Korea Partnership on advancing digital and green skills for youth in Association of Southeast Asian Nations, implemented in the Philippines with support from TESDA, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Philippine Constructors Association, and the Construction Manpower Development Foundation. — Mark Joseph M. Sanchez