ASHRAE Philippines convened a Government Affairs Forum at Winford Hotel Manila during the official visit of ASHRAE Society President Bill McQuade last February 25, 2026. The forum was organized under the leadership of ASHRAE Philippines Chapter President Engr. Benedicto Buenaventura, with the support of the Chapter officers and organizing team. In her capacity as Government Affairs Chair, Mildred Tuazon formally invited key representatives from national government agencies to participate in the dialogue, with the assistance of Erika Rivo, Government Affairs Co-Chair, in coordinating engagement efforts.
The panel discussion centered on ASHRAE’s Government Affairs mission of strengthening collaboration between technical professionals and government agencies in the development of effective public policy.
Participating agencies included the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, National Youth Commission, Department of Labor and Employment – Occupational Safety and Health Center, Department of Health, Department of Energy, and the Philippine Orthopedic Center. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority was represented by Kriz Bernardino, Sr. TESD Specialist / HVAC/R Trainer, highlighting the role of technical institutions in developing industry-ready professionals aligned with global standards. From the National Youth Commission, Usec. Joseph Francisco “Jeff” Ortega, Chairman and Undersecretary, emphasized the importance of collaboration with TESDA and industry
partners to empower Filipino youth aged 15 to 30. He highlighted the need to develop more engineers and technical professionals and stressed that inter-agency collaboration must result in concrete outcomes that benefit the youth sector. Representing the Department of Energy, Engr. Christian Hernaez of the Energy Utilization Management Bureau discussed the need to collaborate with ASHRAE in strengthening the implementation and enforcement of Republic Act No. 11285, or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act. He underscored that technical alignment with professional organizations such as ASHRAE can reinforce compliance frameworks and promote energy-efficient building practices nationwide. From the Department of Health, Engr. June Philip O. Ruiz, Development Management Officer IV of the Health Facility Development Bureau, stated that ASHRAE could support the DOH in updating certain guiding policies related to healthcare facilities, particularly in areas where international standards and technical expertise can strengthen regulatory frameworks.
The Department of Labor and Employment – Occupational Safety and Health Center was represented by Engr. Jose Maria S. Batino, CESO IV, Executive Director; Engr. Raymark B. Fernando, MBA, Senior Industrial Hygienist; and Engr. Mark A. Felix, PME, ACPE, Senior Industrial Hygienist. Engr. Batino emphasized the importance of indoor environmental quality in protecting the health and safety of Filipino workers. He also cited the ongoing collaboration between DOLE-OSHC and ASHRAE through participation in a technical working group focused on strengthening OSHC policies for Philippine labor workers. Also present was Engr. Jason A. Orto, Engineer IV from the Philippine Orthopedic Center, who attended the forum to represent the healthcare sector. President Bill McQuade’s participation elevated the discussion to the international level and reinforced ASHRAE’s global leadership in standards development.
As the 2025–26 Society President, he champions the theme “Healthy Buildings: Designing for Life,” emphasizing the integration of energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality. He noted that ASHRAE continuously updates its standards and technical guidelines to reflect evolving science and
industry needs. He further expressed ASHRAE’s commitment to supporting government agencies in aligning and updating their policies in accordance with these globally recognized standards to ensure safer, healthier, and more sustainable built environments. The ASHRAE President’s Forum demonstrated growing alignment between ASHRAE Philippines and key national agencies. Moving forward, the focus will be on translating dialogue into structured collaboration that advances healthy buildings, energy efficiency, worker protection, and youth empowerment across the Philippines.
