The Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines, together with international partners, has launched the first Cement and Concrete Industry Decarbonization Roadmap to 2050. The document provides for reducing emissions in the sector while maintaining cement supplies for infrastructure, housing and other construction projects.
The roadmap was developed under a United Nations Industrial Development Organization project on decarbonizing cement and concrete, funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Following the launch of the document, the Philippines became the second country in Southeast Asia, after Thailand, to adopt a national framework programme for cement industry decarbonization.
According to the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines, the document provides for increasing the production of cement with a low carbon footprint, expanding the use of alternative and renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, developing new supplementary cementitious materials and subsequently deploying carbon capture technologies.
Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines President John Reinier Dizon said the roadmap provides a “clear, coordinated strategy” for reducing emissions in one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries while continuing to support economic growth and infrastructure development.
In January of this year, Dizon acknowledged that achieving net-zero emissions would be a challenging task for the sector, given the specific features of cement production. He also noted that the roadmap is voluntary and does not create legally binding obligations for the participating companies.
According to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the Philippine cement industry produced more than 27 million metric tons in 2024, with installed production capacity of around 53 million metric tons.
