HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPEVINE
In just three days, we mount the first ever Manila Bulletin “Beyond Green: Sustainability Forum;” and it promises to be an eye-opener to the many touch points of sustainability in our lives, and why there is an urgency for us to understand and appreciate those that have been championing their ESG (environment social and governance) agendas. It is hoped that through the forum, the general public, and MSME’s in particular, will discover that sustainability can be an accessible concept to weave into their everyday lives, and in their business operations.
Just head to the MB Facebook page at 9 a.m. of Nov. 23 and 24 to access the forum. Cherry-pick the talks that resonate with you, and I encourage you to be curious about the other speakers. Register, and join the raffle, as there are some wonderful City of Dreams dining prizes up for grabs. A Recognition Night (by invitation) will be held on the evening of the 24th, and it’ll be an opportunity for the Manila Bulletin to honor the programs and initiatives of companies that are taking the lead, and making a difference, in promoting sustainability here in our country.
ART CARDS of three of the speakers at the upcoming Manila Bulletin’s Beyond Green: Sustainability Forum. Check out our MB Facebook page for the full schedule of the talks of Nov.23 and 24.
Over the next couple of Sundays, I hope to mention in passing these initiatives, as they ably debunk the notions (which I’m sad to discover still persist), that sustainability and climate control are elitist concepts, that ESG agendas are reserved only for big corporations with excess revenues and/or CSR programs, that they’re expensive and eats into one’s profitability, and that they aren’t relevant in our lifetime, or for a nation such as ours. The last notion is especially stupid, as we are one of the most vulnerable countries, prone to natural disasters and calamities on a yearly basis.
One of our speakers is SM’s Hans Sy, Jr., and their ESG + R (R for resiliency) program designs scalable and replicable efforts centered on energy, water, and waste management, that have yielded proven and positive results, along with substantial savings. As a leader in Philippine real estate, it’s their commitment to minimize their carbon footprint, and to contribute to halting or diminishing the effects caused by global warming and climate change, within the bounds of their business.
ART CARDS of three of the speakers at the upcoming Manila Bulletin’s Beyond Green: Sustainability Forum. Check out our MB Facebook page for the full schedule of the talks of Nov.23 and 24.
Recognition night host, the City of Dreams, have an overriding Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited “Above and Beyond” strategy that outlines ambitious goals to achieve carbon neutrality and zero-waste resorts by 2030. As a signatory to the 2019 Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, there’s a program in place for reducing plastic in their operations – eliminating packaging that isn’t reusable, recyclable or compostable. Essentially, it’s about making “sustainable luxury” a do-able reality to aim for.
In the case of ICTSI, they partnered with Katala Foundation Inc., in implementing a ₱30 million wildlife research and conservation Green Heart of Palawan project within the Victoria-Anepa’an Mountain range. An identified key biodiversity area of roughly 165,000 hectares, 31 percent of the species of flora and fauna are of high global conservation significance – including the Philippine pangolin, cockatoo, and porcupine. High levels of illegal logging and wildlife poaching endanger these species.
BPI has a Sustainable Development Finance (SDF) Program that works as a platform to help finance green and climate projects of the private sector, with a focus on SME’s. Sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate resilience fall under the SDF, and BPI goes the added mile by offering free technical and financial advice via their Technical and Financial Evaluation (TFE), as conducted with the help of highly regarded IFC and global consultants. As of December 2021, 370 projects were financed by BPI, representing close to ₱221 billion cumulative availed loans.
ART CARDS of three of the speakers at the upcoming Manila Bulletin’s Beyond Green: Sustainability Forum. Check out our MB Facebook page for the full schedule of the talks of Nov.23 and 24.
Within the Aboitiz Group, their integrated agribusiness and food unit Pilmico Foods have developed technology that uses the by-products of rice husks as an alternative to bunker fuel in its feeds manufacturing plant. Involving a biomass boiler, the use of these rice husks has helped reduce production costs and their carbon footprint. Pilmico was able to cut more than 60 percent of its bunker fuel use, since they started the initiative in 2018. Plus the waste ash from the husks is an alternative mix to cement.
Keynote speaker to kick off the second day of the forum will be Department of Tourism Secretary Christina G. Frasco. She’ll be talking about sustainable tourism and how it’s a blueprint for what she hopes to accomplish over the years to come; safeguarding our natural resources, while forging strategic partnerships that will help boost tourism. As a former LGU official, it’s good to note how she can draw on her exemplary track record as Liloan mayor in blending on-ground development with sustainability.
I’m fervently hoping that the above piqued your interest, and that you’ll now head to the websites of these companies, and discover more about their programs. I’ll be touching on the initiatives of the other forum-participants in my future columns. Until then, here’s to seeing you attending our forum this coming Wednesday and Thursday.