share on
As the sector faces slow adoption of sustainable practices despite being a major employer, the initiative aims to bridge critical gaps in entry-level training and make green building skills more accessible on the ground.
The Philippines is stepping up efforts to green its construction workforce as climate change intensifies, with typhoons, earthquakes and other extreme weather events increasingly threatening communities, and livelihoods.
Construction remains a major driver of employment in the country, accounting for nearly 10% of the workforce. It has also been identified in the National Green Jobs Human Resource Development (HRD) Plan as a strategic sector for developing green jobs and supporting the country’s shift towards a more sustainable economy.
However, despite the existence of policies such as the Philippine Green Building Code, adoption of green building practices remains slow across the industry.
Green construction skills demand remains limited
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) 2025 baseline study on skills in the Philippine construction sector, demand for green construction skills at the local level remains limited.
This is linked to the gradual uptake of green building practices in the Philippines, which has also influenced how skills development programmes are designed.
Industry studies show that most green skills interventions are concentrated on advanced topics, including green building standards and project management. In contrast, practical and entry-level green skills are often missing from technical vocational education and on-the-job training.
Earlier consultations led by the ILO this year also highlighted the absence of a clear and shared definition of green skills within the construction sector.
Stakeholders agreed that green skills should not be limited to technical or specialist knowledge. Instead, they should include everyday work practices that promote energy and resource efficiency, and be developed as a core competency for all construction workers.
Master trainers complete green construction programme
To address these gaps, experts from construction firms, labour unions, environmental groups and the academe completed a master training programme on Introduction to Green Construction Skills (IGCS), held from 2 to 5 June 2026.
The programme forms part of the ILO-Korea Partnership Programme on Advancing Digital and Green Skills for Youth in ASEAN.
The initiative aims to equip young Filipinos, particularly those from low- and middle-skill backgrounds, with access to better-paying and more secure jobs in the growing green and digital economy.
Santiago Nolla, Secretary-General, National Union of Builders and Construction Workers (NUBCW), said the transition must be worker-centred, adding that all workers, from labourers and skilled workers to equipment operators and supervisors, should have access to training opportunities that improve their access to green jobs.
Common green competencies to be rolled out nationwide
The newly trained master trainers are expected to promote a shared set of green competencies that can be integrated into construction training programmes across the Philippines.
A series of pilot test runs is scheduled for July, ahead of a wider rollout across regions in August.
Joshua Miguel Lopez, National Project Coordinator, ILO/Korea Partnership Programme, said the training distilled sustainability into key capacities that all construction workers in the green economy should have.
He explained that it is crucial for workers to be adept at using green building techniques, thorough in the use of energy and material resources, and ensuring safe and secure construction for both workers and building occupants.
Focus on practical, climate-relevant construction skills
Developed with experts from Korea Polytechnic University, the IGCS course equips construction workers with foundational green building knowledge and practical techniques.
The course is intended to be adopted as a common competency across construction training programmes in the Philippines.
It emphasises working with the environment by designing buildings that maximise natural wind and sunlight, reduce energy and resource consumption, and use eco-friendly materials suited to local conditions.
Engineer Michael Gayona, Centre Coordinator, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Green Technology Centre, said green construction is about rethinking building performance across its full life cycle, adding that the challenge lies not only in teaching these concepts but in contextualising them within the Philippine construction sector.
Green skills seen as relevant beyond construction
The training also covered carbon reduction, resource efficiency, sustainable materials, passive and active building design, renewable energy, and green building certifications.
Industry leaders noted that these skills extend beyond the construction sector.
Engineer Ronaldo Elepano, Jr., Immediate Past President of the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) said: “These foundational skills are relevant across a wide range of industries, from construction and engineering to energy, transport, and even business operations.”
ALSO READ: Employment in the Philippines rose to 48.89mn in April 2026
Lead image / International Labour Organization (ILO)
share on
