In a bid to address the escalating climate crisis and water security challenges, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) launched its Thought Leadership Series with a pioneering discussion on blue financing on February 19, 2025, at RCBC Collaboration Hub (Collhub), A.T. Yuchengco Centre, Bonifacio Global City.
The event, “Creating Direct Impact through Blue Financing,” brought together key policymakers and industry leaders to explore how financial innovation can drive sustainable water management, marine conservation, and climate resilience.
“The question is no longer if we act but how we act. Blue finance is our vessel toward a sustainable, resilient future,” said RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovations and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva in his opening address.
The discussion featured notable speakers, including Pia Bernadette Roman-Tayag, Assistant Governor for Strategy, Innovation & Sustainability at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; Ephyro Luis Amatong, former SEC Commissioner and Consultant to the Sustainable Banking and Finance Network; Gay Santos, Regional Director of Water.org; Albert Pascual, President and CEO of PhilGuarantee; and Gabby Tomas, Senior Vice President and Group Head for Operations at RCBC.
Roman-Tayag stressed that blue financing remains underutilized in the Philippine financial sector, urging greater collaboration between the government, private sector, and financial institutions.
"Sustainability is not just a regulatory expectation but a shared responsibility and a strategic imperative. Investing in water security today means investing in a more resilient Philippines for future generations," she said.
Amatong highlighted that the Philippines is among the top issuers of green and sustainability bonds in ASEAN, second only to Thailand, and has taken a regional lead in water-focused financing with the 2023 Water-Adaptation and Disaster Resilience (WADR) bond guidelines.
“RCBC has issued green, sustainable bonds; you are a leader in the Philippines and, therefore, in ASEAN. Regarding sustainable finance, blue is just green with specific “blue” use of proceeds - clean water, sanitation, and ocean life,” said former SEC Commissioner Amatong.
Santos, from Water.org, underscored the global urgency of the water crisis, citing that 2.2 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water, while 3.5 billion do not have proper sanitation. She then challenged RCBC: "I hope and challenge RCBC to be the first mover in blue bonds."
In a panel discussion moderated by Villanueva on the balance between profitability and sustainability, RCBC Senior Vice President Gabby Tomas shared, “Sustainability is looking at something you’re doing from a different lens. In that respect, there is a lot of room for profitability.”
Drawing from his expertise, Albert Pascual from PhilGuarantee assured it can support RCBC's blue and green financing thrusts. “We can guarantee any project contributing to economic development and employment. Our mission is to minimize the risks in lending and mobilize private funds for priority sectors,” Pascual said.
With the success of its inaugural Thought Leadership Series, RCBC reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability, driving the conversation on how finance can be a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.