Last day of Green Innovation Conference.

Dr. Rico Mina looks at his powerpoint presentation

The last day of the Green Innovation conference at AGSB last December 5, 2012 (today) covered 3 important topics: Disposal of Bio Hazardous Waste in Hospital by Dr. Rico Mina, Green Purchasing Behavior in the Phil by Dr. Rizalito Gregorio, and Greening the Corporate Strategy for Phil. Enterprise.

The paper of Dr. Mina, which his medical student at AMPHS helped complete studied 5 public and 1 private hospital in their compliance with DOH manual on BioHazardous Waste. There was a wide discrepancy between public hospital and private hospital compliance. One of his panelists, Dr. Mario Valverde explained that DOH which regulates the hospital and which also runs some of the govt hospitals (mostly run by LGU now), can not close down non complying public hospitals for political reasons. This odd and disturbing. Ms. Mary Ann Artates of TMC explained that compliance will prevent a regretable negative publicity in case of an outbreak, or injury involviong bio hazardous waste. Compliance, and self policing has positive effects in terms of competitive advantage.

Mary Ann shocked everyone by saying that a hospital is very hazardous (healthwise) place to go!

Dr. Rizalino Gregorio presented profiles of green purchaser in Portugal, USA and India which however varies from country to country. One such study was made using the US example (please note that these highly academic and scholarly statistical presentation) Since there is no such study yet made in the PHIL, he did an exploratory study using FGD to study green consumer. He noted that there is wide discrepancy between motive, value and actual behavior. The idea of green which concerns both humans and living things/animals and plants are relevant only to the individual for their (human benefit) Dr. Ned Roberto, the marketing guru for his part, said it is best to focus on action, behavior, rather changing mindset. eg using promotion for instance. When he was at POPCOM, his colleagues wanted to promote condoms by using education first,; he however advocated sampling of condoms to provoke action. He said the motive, norm followed suit.

The Honorable Assistant Secretary Perry Villanueva emphasized the US jurispudence for civil and criminal liabilities of corporate officers who damage rivers, lakes, and the environment. This involves imprisonment and severe fines for individuals, and large fines, involving billions for corporations. Even abetting irresponsible behavior, even if the corporate officer was not at the scene will merit punishment (as in the movie "Reckless Endangerment" where those who did nothing to stop the rape, are as guilty as the defendant)

Dr. Panahon delved on highly academic discussion of Sustainable Development, 3R, Triple Bottom Line, SCP and as applied to strategy. It all boils down to embedding green idea into mission, vision, and key processes. It was a real PHD stuff.