Sustainability is no longer just a corporate term. It has become part of everyday life, shaping how people live, work, and make choices. This message took center stage at Sustainability in Focus: A Virtual Learning Workshop by BDO, which brought together experts, communicators, and financial leaders to discuss how small and large actions can work together for a better future.
The event showed how BDO Unibank, the country’s largest bank, is integrating sustainability into its business operations and long-term plans. It also reminded Filipinos that sustainability is a shared responsibility between institutions and individuals.
Understanding Sustainability and Why It Matters
The workshop began with an overview of why sustainability is vital to Filipinos today. The Philippines ranked highest in sustainability risk among several countries assessed, with a score of 46.56. The report highlighted vulnerabilities such as socio-economic inequality, weak infrastructure, and exposure to natural disasters.
According to UP-CIFAL Program Officer Elle David, this is where the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) play a critical role. These goals rest on five key pillars:
- People: Ending poverty and hunger.
- Prosperity: Promoting economic progress in harmony with nature.
- Planet: Protecting the environment for future generations.
- Peace: Fostering inclusive and fair societies.
- Partnership: Encouraging collaboration among communities and nations.
These pillars serve as a roadmap for countries like the Philippines to build resilience and sustainable growth.
BDO’s Leadership in Sustainable Finance
BDO has built one of the most comprehensive sustainable finance frameworks in the Philippines, covering 29 categories aligned with global standards. The bank focuses on four main pillars: Green Financing, Blue Financing, Social Financing, and Gender Financing. This structure ensures that its financial decisions support long-term social, economic, and environmental growth.
Marla Garin-Alvarez, BDO First Vice President and Head of the Sustainability Office, shared that “We seek to achieve resilience by incorporating sustainability in the way we do business and in everything we do, from making business decisions to assessing relationships to creating products.”
Since 2010, BDO has financed ₱1.04 trillion in renewable energy projects across the country. These 63 large-scale projects generate 2,679 megawatts of clean energy capacity and prevent 4,767,745 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year. That is equivalent to taking over one million cars off the road.
In Blue Financing, BDO became Southeast Asia’s first issuer of a US$100 million Blue Bond in 2022. Half of that amount funded three projects in Bulacan, Tarlac, and Rizal. These helped address clean water shortages and ocean pollution, resulting in a 14 percent increase in households with access to clean water, 52 percent more companies using treated water, and 16 percent more hospitals supported. The projects also avoided 60 million cubic meters of groundwater extraction, treated an additional 4,517 cubic meters of wastewater annually, and prevented 329,939 cubic meters of water loss.
Through its ASEAN Sustainability Bonds, BDO also supports agriculture, fisheries, and small enterprises. The 2024 Impact Report highlighted 910 people benefiting from social projects, 6,500 employees gaining stable work, and 200 tons of additional daily coconut production. Agricultural projects increased daily rice production by 273 metric tons and expanded banana yields by 19,000 metric tons. Around 5.2 million Filipinos in the Davao region also gained better access to food.
Empowering Filipinos to Tell Stories That Matter
The final segment of the workshop focused on how communication can drive real-world impact. Business Mirror columnist Malou Talosig-Bartolome urged participants to use storytelling to make sustainability relatable and practical. With Filipinos spending over four hours a day on social media, she emphasized the responsibility to share authentic and fact-based messages.
She outlined simple but powerful tips for creating meaningful sustainability content:
- Focus on real-life actions people can relate to.
- Show progress, not perfection.
- Combine facts with human stories.
- Encourage small acts and conversations.
- Use visuals that show local change.
- Highlight inclusion and equity.
- Be transparent and verify claims before posting.
This approach turns sustainability from a distant concept into something people can see and do daily.
Recognizing Excellence and Inspiring Accountability
BDO’s sustainability leadership has earned international recognition. It was named Philippines’ Best Bank for ESG by Euromoney and received the Top Sustainability Advocate in Asia award from the Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) Awards. It also earned The Asset ESG Corporate Excellence Platinum Award and Best Sustainability Team in Asia. The Global Good Governance Awards honored BDO for its Green Finance Framework, and the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard recognized its strong sustainability reporting.
A Shared Commitment for a Sustainable Future
The Sustainability in Focus workshop ended with one clear message: sustainability is not just about big projects or global goals. It is about daily choices that build a resilient and fair society. Whether it is choosing energy-efficient appliances, supporting local farmers, or reducing waste, every action adds up.
As BDO continues to invest in renewable energy, clean water, and social development, it invites every Filipino to take part in shaping a better tomorrow. Sustainability is no longer optional. It is essential for the country’s growth, communities, and future generations.
