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Opening
Opening
Mr. Raymond Rufino, Chair, Board of Trustees, PHILGBC, and Chief Executive Officer, NEO, delivered the Opening Remarks focusing on the call for the industry for proactive solutions and moving beyond vision for a just, inclusive, and green future.
Bases Conversion and Development Authority's Ms. Leilani Barlongay-Macasaet, Vice President for Public Affairs, welcomed the participants to Clark and delivered inspiring remarks on the importance of strengthened partnerships between the public and private sectors to advance sustainable and inclusive development.
BG2025 Co-Organizer was First Gen Corporation. Mr. Carlos Lorenzo Vega, Chief Customer Engagement Officer, First Gen Corporation, delivered a keynote message highlighting the importance of collaboration across sectors plays a vital role in achieving a sustainable, low-carbon future.
Message from WorldGBC
Ms. Cristina Gamboa
Chief Executive Officer
World Green Building Council
Mr. Jeff Oatman, Chair, WorldGBC Asia Pacific Regional Network, and Head of Collaboration and Membership, Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA)
MOU Signing for the Sustainable Urban Development Program
PHILGBC, Daikin Airconditioning Philippines, and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding to advance the Sustainable Urban Development Program, promoting low‑carbon, energy‑efficient, and climate‑responsive developments within BCDA estates.
In photo: (from left) Mr. Marco De Guzman, Filinvest-Alabang Inc.; Mr. Raymond Rufino, NEO; Ms. Leilani Barlongay-Macasaet, BCDA; Mr. Richard Brian Cepe, Vice President – Land and Assets Development, BCDA; Mr. Gerry Cortez, Daikin Airconditioning Philippines (DPH); Mr. Hirohide Kinugawa, DPH; Mr. Christopher de la Cruz, PHILGBC; Ms. Leilani Kanapi, Arthaland Corporation; Mr. Carlos Salonga, First Balfourl; Ms. Araceli Barlam; Ms. Ma. Anna Tungol, PHILGBC; and Mr. Marlo Ocleasa.
Session 1: Policies for Sustainable Development:
Aligning Built Environment Policies with Climate and Sustainability Goals
Session 1: Policies for Sustainable Development:
Aligning Built Environment Policies with Climate and Sustainability Goals
The session, Aligning Built Environment Policies with Climate and Sustainability Goals, brought together representatives from key government agencies, including the Department of Energy, National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau of Philippine Standards, and the Mandaue City Government. The agencies shared updates on their ongoing initiatives to embed resource efficiency, climate adaptation, and low‑carbon development into existing and emerging policies.
Director Marissa P. Cerezo, Director IV, Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB), Department of Energy, outlined the programs and investment mechanisms driving the implementation of the country's renewable energy policy, particularly those supporting the increased use of RE in the building industry.
Mr. Renato de Leon Tobias, President, National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation, emphasized the agency's housing finance programs. He highlighted in particular the Balai Berde, which incentivizes the adoption of green building standards in residential developments by integrating sustainability criteria into housing loan products.
Mr. Ludwig O. Daza, Department Manager, Ecozone Development Department (EDD), Philippine Economic Zone Authority, discussed PEZA's strategic approach to developing ecozones that foster balanced economic growth while promoting sustainable communities. He emphasized the agency's programs that contribute to a more inclusive and climate-responsive national development agenda.
Mr. Alfons Gerard M. Doromal, Trade Industry Development Specialist from the Standards Development Division of the Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI–BPS), presented an overview of the national standardization landscape and the Philippines’ active engagement in international standards development. He highlighted opportunities for greater industry participation in shaping international standards—citing, for example, the country’s involvement in ISO/TC 205 – Building environment design.
Councilor Joel Seño, Mandaue City Government, emphasized the crucial role of local governments, communities, and the private sector in jointly advancing environmental protection and sustainable urban development. He highlighted ongoing initiatives in Mandaue City for sustainable urban development, underscoring that meaningful environmental stewardship requires active participation and cooperation across all sectors of society.
Session 2 : Technological Innovations:
Shaping the Digital Future of Green Buildings
Session 2 : Technological Innovations:
Shaping the Digital Future of Green Buildings
Experts demonstrated how emerging technologies were transforming the way green buildings and districts were being designed, constructed, and operated. From advanced digital modeling platforms to next‑generation smart HVAC systems, the session showcased solutions that were accelerating progress toward net‑zero goals and enabling more resilient and inclusive built environments.
The session featured insights from industry leaders who presented real‑world applications and future‑ready strategies illustrating how technology had become integral to shaping high‑performance buildings and climate‑aligned communities.
Digital twin technology enhanced asset planning, monitoring, and lifecycle management by providing data‑rich virtual models that help stakeholders better understand and optimize real‑world conditions. Mr. Joshua Santos, Asset Management Advisor, GHD Pty. Ltd., emphasized that these tools enable districts to anticipate and respond more effectively to climate‑related risks, strengthening resilience in the built environment.
Mr. Jerome Gonzaga, Consulting Sales Engineer, Daikin Airconditioning Philippines Inc., presented how smart, high‑efficiency HVAC systems equipped with intelligent controls can significantly reduce operational emissions while enhancing indoor environmental quality, positioning these technologies as essential solutions for advancing net‑zero building performance.
Mr. Katsuhiko Yamamoto, Manager of the Business Alliance Support Center at the Energy Conservation Center, Japan, presented the organization’s initiatives to advance energy and carbon reduction, highlighting innovative smart‑energy solutions and standards development efforts that support sustainable and net‑zero development.
Mr. Shuichi Kurosawa, Azbil Philippine Corporation, explained how advanced automated building controls optimize energy performance through real‑time responsiveness and precision management, enabling buildings to move closer to zero‑energy operation.
Mr. Marcus Tan, Manager for Sales and Marketing, AGC Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., showcased high‑performance glazing technologies engineered to enhance thermal comfort, reduce energy consumption, and support the development of Zero Energy Buildings (ZEBs).
Session 3: Sustainability in Design and Engineering:
Leading Change with Certified Green Developments
Session 3: Sustainability in Design and Engineering:
Leading Change with Certified Green Developments
Certified green developments are redefining how sustainability targets are achieved in the built environment.
Formally recognized under PHILGBC certification tools—BERDE, Advancing Net Zero Philippines (ANZ/PH), and Health and Well-being (H+W)—these projects emphasize strategies and solutions that drive real impact. The session showcased how these developments met environmental goals, improved performance, and set new benchmarks for responsible and future-ready development.
Mr. Roylan Ocampo presented how Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates advanced sustainable industrial and commercial development across its portfolio. He highlighted how these BERDE‑certified estates incorporated sustainable master planning, low‑impact design, and enhanced operational performance, demonstrating how large‑scale estates could serve as catalysts for responsible and future‑ready economic growth.
Digital Edge’s NARRA1 embodied next‑generation sustainability in digital infrastructure. As the first BERDE‑certified data center, Mr. Mark Fel Ambong outlined how the facility’s energy‑efficient systems, optimized cooling technologies, and operational strategies were designed to reduce environmental impact while delivering high‑performance data services.
Mr. Reymundo Cruz explained how the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas integrated resource efficiency, green building principles, and long‑term asset resilience into its facilities and operations. He also highlighted the BERDE Certification achieved for the BSP Main Complex's operations, underscoring the institution’s commitment to measurable environmental performance.
Mr. Thomas Fritzsche introduced the TFA Methodology as a practical framework that aligned economic success with sustainable architectural solutions. He demonstrated how the methodology guided design decision‑making by integrating performance, cost efficiency, and environmental impact.
Session 4: Public-Private Partnerships:
Driving Inclusive and Green Urban Transformation
Session 4: Public-Private Partnerships:
Driving Inclusive and Green Urban Transformation
Collaboration emerged as a powerful driver of change in this BG2025 session, illustrating how government agencies and private sector leaders are shaping more sustainable and resilient cities. Representatives from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, First Gen Corporation, and the Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative, Inc. (EMI) shared how multi‑sector partnerships are enabling the development of green infrastructure, climate‑resilient buildings, and inclusive urban spaces.
The session highlighted how aligning objectives, pooling resources, and co‑investing in sustainable projects allowed these organizations to overcome common barriers and accelerate progress toward a climate‑ready built environment. Their experiences demonstrated that when sectors work together, sustainability becomes both actionable and transformative.
Mr. Jules Aficial shared how the Bases Conversion and Development Authority strengthened sustainability in its national development projects through strategic planning, green infrastructure integration, sustainable investment opportunities, and collaboration with key industry partners. Focusing on New Clark City, his presentation highlighted how BCDA’s developments applied disaster‑resilience principles, supported sustainable growth, and enabled future‑ready urban transformation.
Mr. Carlos Lorenzo Vega, Chief Customer Engagement Officer, First Gen Corporation, discussed how renewable energy solutions are reshaping property development and driving long‑term resilience. He showcased how First Gen’s clean energy portfolio is enabling estates, commercial developments, and entire communities to reduce emissions, improve energy reliability, and future‑proof their operations through integrated renewable energy planning.
Dr. Fouad Bendimerad, Chairman, Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative (EMI), emphasized the critical role of science‑based approaches and cross‑sector collaboration in advancing urban resilience. He presented how EMI’s work bridges research, technology, and policy implementation to support both public and private organizations in addressing seismic risks, strengthening disaster readiness, and integrating resilience into sustainable urban planning for the Philippines.
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