Aboitiz Economic Estates has won a sustainability leadership award from the Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC), underscoring how green infrastructure, reliable utilities and workforce development are becoming key factors in industrial investment decisions.
The company received the Business Leadership in Sustainability Award under the Developer category for embedding sustainability measures across its operating estates: LIMA Estate in Batangas, Mactan Economic Zone 2 Estate and West Cebu Estate in Cebu.
It is the first industrial developer in the Philippines to secure 5-Star BERDE District Certification across its entire operating portfolio.
“For many international companies, sustainability is already part of the investment baseline. It sits alongside infrastructure, utilities, talent and operating continuity when companies evaluate where they can establish and grow,” said Aboitiz Economic Estates president and chief executive Rafael Fernandez de Mesa.
At LIMA Estate, the company has installed 31 megawatts of rooftop solar capacity and operates an integrated power distribution system through LIMA EnerZone, which draws partly from renewable energy sources.
Its Smart Water Network has cut repair-related operating costs by as much as 30% and fuel consumption associated with monitoring activities by up to 20%, while maintaining average facility uptime of 99.3%, the company said.
Other initiatives include electric intra-estate transport, waste recycling and climate-resilient infrastructure, including engineered drainage systems, elevated roads and utility redundancy measures.
The company is also investing in workforce readiness through its Talent Edge program and partnership with Batangas State University, which provide industry-linked engineering education and upskilling for manufacturing workers.
Aboitiz Economic Estates manages and develops about 2,100 hectares of industrial-anchored estates, supporting more than 260 locators, over P175 billion in investments and more than 100,000 jobs.
Its sustainability standards also extend to new developments, including TARI Estate in Tarlac, where environmental and operational considerations are integrated into masterplanning.
“Investment readiness goes beyond having available land. It requires infrastructure that works, utilities businesses can depend on, people with the skills industries need, and systems that can perform over time,” Fernandez de Mesa said.
The award adds to the company’s existing sustainability credentials, including TÜV NORD-certified management systems at LIMA Estate and WELL Core Gold Certification for LIMA Tower One.
