Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) reaffirmed its sustainability leadership at the Philippine Sustainability Leadership Forum (PSLF), held at the Aboitiz Tech Space, AIM. Co-presented by AEV with Next Move and Nexus Sustainability, the forum gathered top leaders from government, business, and civil society to drive a national strategy for inclusive, climate-resilient growth, showcasing business solutions to challenges in climate change, circularity, and social equity.
In her keynote address, Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, AEV First Vice President and Chief Reputation and Sustainability Officer, shared how sustainability is deeply embedded in Aboitiz’s transformation into the Philippines’ first techglomerate. She said leadership on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters is not confined to senior management, but is a shared responsibility across the group — from the boardroom to every team member.
“Sustainability is fundamental to our value creation story and long-term business advantage. It guides our strategy, risk management, and operations, while ensuring we create pathways for communities and the nation’s development,” Hontiveros-Malvar said.
She illustrated how Aboitiz is embedding sustainability in each of its major business units. AboitizPower is driving the country’s energy transition with its target of a 50:50 renewable-to-thermal energy mix by 2030, while continuing to provide reliable electricity to one-fifth of the Philippine population. UnionBank and its subsidiaries are advancing financial inclusion by deploying digital-first strategies and issuing social bonds that have already supported thousands of micro, small, and medium enterprises.
Aboitiz Foods, for its part, is strengthening food security while reducing its environmental footprint. AEV’s food unit has already exceeded its 2024 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) plastic recovery targets by 300 percent, transforming waste into resources and promoting a circular economy.
Through Aboitiz Foundation, AEV is pioneering nature-based solutions and social innovation. CarbonPH, its first large-scale reforestation carbon credit project in Cebu, is restoring ecosystems and creating sustainable livelihoods, while AuroraPH provides solar power and digital connectivity to last mile-schools.
AEV is also leveraging global capital and expertise to scale its sustainability agenda. AboitizPower’s collaboration with JERA, Japan’s largest power generator, and the anticipated partnership between Aboitiz InfraCapital and BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners exemplify how sustainable finance and global investment can unlock large-scale renewable energy and infrastructure solutions.
“From our leadership and strategic direction, to our operational impact, partnerships, and pioneering sustainable financing, we remain dedicated to advancing business and communities toward a better future,” Hontiveros-Malvar said.
Beyond innovation and finance, Hontiveros-Malvar stressed that good governance is the cornerstone of sustainable development. She called on business leaders to use their collective influence to strengthen governance frameworks across industries and institutions. “As leaders, we must not only innovate within our organizations but also use our influence to strengthen governance across sectors. Sustainable development is inseparable from good governance,” she said.
PSLF served as a premier platform for sustainability leadership. It highlighted business case studies and innovative strategies to address pressing challenges in climate change, circularity, and social equity.
Harris Guevarra, President and CEO of Drink Sustainability Communications, underscored the importance of broad public support for the success of sustainability goals.
“The Philippines needs a unique brand of climate leadership — one that recognizes our vulnerability to climate change even as our emissions remain small. Leadership in mitigation is important, but equally vital is leadership in adaptation, just transition, and climate justice, all from a distinctly Filipino perspective,” he said.
Ping Manongdo, founder of Nexus Sustainability, highlighted the critical role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in building resilience.
“Sustainability must empower SMEs to rise beyond hand-to-mouth operations, equipping them with the tools, financing, and connections they need to sustain livelihoods, even amid intensifying climate impacts. Large corporations share this responsibility because their deep value chains rely on the resilience of SMEs,” she said.
