Infographic: Is the controversial Makati City Hall Parking Building really green?

Is the Makati City Hall Parking Building, the object of a Senate inquiry, a world-class and green building? 

 

In the latest Senate hearing Thursday, Hilmarc's Construction Corp. assistant vice president for legal affairs Rogelio Peig admitted the project was not a “certified green building” even if some of the features might be considered environment-friendly.

 

Hilmarc's is the contractor of the controversial building.

 

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano then went on to compare the Makati City Hall Parking Building to the Zuellig Building – a LEED-certified green building – in the bustling business and financial district of Makati.

 

The Zuellig building initially got a LEED Gold level pre-certification in June 2009 and was upgraded to Platinum certification, the first building to receive such recognition, according to zuelligbuilding.com.

 

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), initiated by the US Green Building Council in 2000, is the globally recognized standard for green building certification.

In this infographic, GMA News Online compares relevant details between the two buildings.

 

Green and world-class?

During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing last August 20, Makati Mayor Erwin “JunJun” Binay described the structure as a "green building" of "world-class quality."

 

He said it was even reviewed in early 2014 by a technical audit specialist, which reported that contract prices are reasonable. – With Danessa O. Rivera/VS, GMA News