As part of its Great Transformation journey, the Aboitiz Group continues to champion innovative initiatives and solutions that improve the resiliency and future readiness of the Philippines. In line with this, Aboitiz recently reaped two sustainability awards and one honorable mention as a finalist in the 2022 Europa Awards organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP).
Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) won the Europa Award for Green Workforce for their Group-wide efforts in promoting a self-driven approach to learning and development. Their project entry detailed the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts and policies that support the continuous learning and enhancement of “green skills” among Aboitiz team members. Meanwhile, Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) garnered the Europa Award for Green Building for UnionBank’s ARK branches, underscoring the importance of bringing digital financial development to the country in a sustainable and eco-responsible manner. Another initiative, The BEST Bus project by Aboitiz Group’s subsidiary Davao Light also received an honorable mention for the Europa Award for Smart and Safer Mobility. BEST Bus was launched in Davao City last December 2020 and provides carbon emission-free and PWD-friendly buses to Davaoeños.
The Europa Awards seeks to promote and recognize companies with exceptional performance and contributions in promoting sustainability in line with global standards and the Philippine Development. In receiving these awards, the Aboitiz Group demonstrates its commitment to its #OneAboitizSustainability Framework and the importance of sustainability in the Group’s overall culture and operations.
During her acceptance speech for the Europa Award for Green Workforce, Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, AEV First Vice President – Chief Reputation & Sustainability Officer, emphasized the key role sustainability plays in the Group’s Great Transformation journey. “We understood early on that the learning and development of our team members will be the driving force behind our Great Transformation towards a sustainable future, and that we have a responsibility to encourage, empower, and enable our workforce in all sectors and across all levels to develop their skills in ESG and sustainability. As we look towards the future of work, we will continue to build more robust and holistic learning and development experiences on ESG to transform our company into a sustainable Techglomerate of the future,” she said.
For their part, UnionBank highlighted the importance of having a clear vision for sustainability as the Bank continues to transform. “UnionBank is a 40-year-old bank whose digital transformation has brought us to greater heights. Anchored to the vision of building a bank of enduring greatness, we continuously innovate ourselves, our products, and our services. Our team members are committed to making our ESG mission—teching up the Philippines—a reality,” said Michelle Rubio, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer of UnionBank.
With its initiatives and programs in place, the Aboitiz Group is well on its way to becoming the Philippines’ first techglomerate, powered by transformed team members ready to find innovative and sustainable solutions to modern-day business challenges.
