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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Banking & Finance devider DBP wins regional sustainability award

DBP wins regional sustainability award

Published Feb 13, 2026 11:12 am
DBP Senior Vice President Mario Rey T. Morales (second from left) and Senior Assistant Vice President Shirley Mae B. Serate (second from right), together with Senior Vice President Francis Thaddeus L. Rivera (rightmost) and First Vice President Jeshryl D. Aranzaso (leftmost), received the Gold Trophy and Certificate of Merit during the 12th Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) Awards in Bali, Indonesia recognizing DBP’s contribution in Mindanao State University–Buug Forest Project and Department of Agriculture’s Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program.
DBP Senior Vice President Mario Rey T. Morales (second from left) and Senior Assistant Vice President Shirley Mae B. Serate (second from right), together with Senior Vice President Francis Thaddeus L. Rivera (rightmost) and First Vice President Jeshryl D. Aranzaso (leftmost), received the Gold Trophy and Certificate of Merit during the 12th Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) Awards in Bali, Indonesia recognizing DBP’s contribution in Mindanao State University–Buug Forest Project and Department of Agriculture’s Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program.
The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), the nation’s ninth-largest lender, received international recognition for its efforts to bolster agricultural productivity and environmental restoration.
DBP was named the Top Community-Centric Company at the 2025 Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Awards, President and Chief Executive Officer Michael O. de Jesus said in a statement. The award, organized by the Malaysia-based MORS Group, specifically cited the bank’s Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program and a 100-hectare reforestation initiative in Zamboanga Sibugay.
The ACES Awards evaluate Asian industry leaders on their ability to integrate environmental, social, and governance principles into core operations. Metrics for the award include leadership innovation, sustainability practices, and the measurable impact of growth on local communities. De Jesus said the accolade validates the bank’s pursuit of the national government’s inclusive growth agenda, particularly through programs that reach remote areas.
A central component of the bank’s recognition was its role as the executing agency for the Department of Agriculture’s APPP initiative. The program is designed to expand financial inclusion for farmers, providing them with the credit necessary to sustain operations and improve livelihood opportunities. DBP’s involvement underscores its mandate to provide credit support to strategic sectors, including infrastructure, logistics, and social services.
Beyond agriculture, the MORS Group highlighted the bank’s environmental stewardship in Mindanao. DBP partnered with Mindanao State University-Buug to restore an upland forest in Zamboanga Sibugay. The project doubled as a social integration tool, providing sustainable jobs for former combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. By combining ecological restoration with economic opportunity, the bank addressed both climate and regional stability concerns.
The bank continues to focus its lending on four primary pillars: infrastructure and logistics; micro, small, and medium enterprises; the environment; and community development. De Jesus said the award reinforces DBP’s relevance as a state-owned financial institution that balances high-impact project financing with the fundamental needs of the Filipino people. The lender remains a critical vehicle for the government to channel capital into sectors that private commercial banks may overlook.
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