ESG Edge Awards grand winners.—Phots by PAUL JOHN TAVERA/The Inquirer.
This story was originally published on Sept 6 in Inquirer Plus
PHILIPPINE media group, the Inquirer Group of Companies (IGC), unveiled the winners of the first Inquirer ESG Edge Impact Awards 2025 on Friday, Sept 5, at the Inquirer Media Resource Plaza in Makati, Manila, celebrating exemplary projects and initiatives that champion sustainability and social responsibility among publicly listed companies (PLCs), large companies and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The awards recognised organisations that have demonstrated impactful work in the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) sphere, underlining their commitment to shaping a more sustainable future for the country.
South-East Asian consortium
The Inquirer group is a member of the Asia ESG Positive Impact Consortium (A-EPIC), which it formed alongside two other leading media organisations in South-East Asia—Malaysia’s Star Media Group and Indonesia’s KG Media—to advocate for socioeconomic progress and environmental stewardship.
A-EPIC is committed to building a future where sustainability is a cornerstone of thriving communities, guided by a three-fold approach of education, engagement and community-building.
This vision is championed by the consortium’s brands—Star ESG, KG Media Lestari and Inquirer ESG Edge.
Since the consortium’s launch last year, IGC has actively rolled out programmes across various platforms designed to engage local communities. At the forefront of this advocacy is ESG Edge, the Inquirer Group’s multiplatform initiative designed to promote awareness and action around ESG principles.
Through compelling storytelling, dynamic forums and strategic partnerships, the project seeks to advance the Philippines’ sustainability agenda. Over the past year, these initiatives have included publishing in-depth features on ESG topics, hosting insightful talks and highlighting programmes that align with local community values.
The Inquirer ESG Edge Impact Awards is a step further in this direction, meant to celebrate and recognise exemplary organisations—ranging from small enterprises to large-scale operations—that have embraced the challenge of advancing ESG practices. These awards aim to honor not just achievements but the inspiring initiatives that create awareness and action across the ESG spectrum.
Awardees in the Environment category.
Winners’ list
The complete list of winners of the Inquirer ESG Edge Impact Awards 2025 include:
Environment Category (Sustainable Ecosystems /Biodiversity Conservation)
Silver winner:
PLCs and large companies: Plant for Life Programme, Maynilad Water Services Inc.
Gold winners:
PLCs and large companies: BINHI’s 15-Year Regenerative Journey: Restoring Ecosystems, Protecting Nature, Energy Development Corp.
MSMEs: FEU Alabang Sustainable Ecosystem/Biodiversity Conservation, Far Eastern University (FEU) Alabang
Environment (Water Management and Efficiency)
Silver winner:
PLCs and large companies: Promoting Water Stewardship, The OceanaGold Way, OceanaGold Philippines
Gold winners
PLCs and large companies: Mark the 39%: Maynilad’s Non-Revenue Water Reduction Programme, Maynilad Water Services Inc.
> MSMEs: Water Management and Efficiency, FEU Alabang
Environment (Waste Management & Responsible Consumption, Production and Manufacturing)
Silver winner:
PLCs and large companies: Circular Explorer: A vessel for change—championing sustainability and circularity, Holcim Philippines Inc.
Gold winner:
PLCs and large companies: ALI Circularity Programme, Ayala Land Inc.
Environment (Energy Efficiency)
Gold winners:
PLCs and large companies: PLC-Joy for Tomorrow, Jollibee Foods Corp.
MSMEs: Aspiration 2028, FEU Alabang
Environment (Renewable Energy)
Silver winner:
PLCs and large companies: Powering Progress: 100% Renewable Energy Across FILRT Office Properties, Filinvest REIT Corp.
Gold winner:
PLCs and large companies: EDC’s Tongonan Geothermal Plant: 40 years of clean, reliable 24/7 power, Energy Development Corp.
Awardees in the Social category.
Social Category (Diversity, equity and inclusion)
Silver winner:
PLCs and large companies: Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in SM Prime, SM Prime Holdings Inc.
Gold winners:
PLCs and large companies: Pilot Internship Programme for Neurodiverse Students, Bricolage Philippines Inc.
MSMEs: TCS Sustainathon, Tata Consultancy Services
Social (Relations with local communities)
Silver winner:
PLCs and large companies: Lighting the Path to Progress, Aboitiz Power Corp.
Gold winners:
PLCs and large companies: ACEN’s Social Initiatives for IP Communities in San Marcelino, Zambales, ACEN Corp.
Social (Good Health And Well-Being)
Silver winner:
PLCs and large companies: Creating Inclusive Workplaces through the Working with Cancer Pledge, Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc.
Gold winners:
PLCs and large companies: Globe’s Hapag Movement, Globe Telecom Inc.
MSMEs: TCS Clark Animo International Marathon, Tata Consultancy Services
Social (Talent Management)
Silver winner:
MSMEs: SustainABILITY, Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST Asia)
Gold winners:
PLCs and large companies: InLife’s Talent Management and Development, The Insular Life Assurance Company
MSMEs: Fresco Play, Tata Consultancy Services
Social (Human Rights and Labor Standards)
Gold winner:
MSMEs: ANNAKKO, Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST Asia)
Awardees in the Governance and Other Categories.
Governance Category (Governance, Reporting and Transparency)
Silver winner:
PLCs and large companies: ACEN’s Sustainability Governance, Reporting and Transparency, ACEN Corp.
Gold winner:
PLCs and large companies: AboitizPower: Transforming Energy for a Better World, Aboitiz Power Corp.
Other ESG Categories (Sustainable Supply Chain Management)
Silver winner:
PLCs and large companies: Responsible Supply Chain: Working with Suppliers that Align with OceanaGold Values, OceanaGold Philippines Inc.
Gold winner:
PLCs and large companies: Jollibee Group Farmer Entrepreneurship Program, Jollibee Foods Corp.
Other ESG Categories (Innovative Partnership)
Silver winner:
PLCs and large companies: May BPI Dito, Bank of the Philippine Islands
Gold winners:
PLCs and large companies: Tapon to Ipon: The Power of Partnerships in Fostering a Circular Economy, Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz
MSMEs: goIT Digital Innovation Fair, Tata Consultancy Services
Other ESG Categories (Transformation)
Silver winner:
PLCs and large companies: The Green Way: Pioneering Sustainable Banking in BPI, Bank of the Philippine Islands
Gold winner:
PLCs and large companies: BPI’s Decarbonisation and Digitalisation Efforts, Bank of the Philippine Islands
Grand winners
Most Outstanding ESG Initiative, MSMEs: Tata Services Consultancy
Most Outstanding ESG Initiative, PLCs: ACEN Corp.
All gold award winners in all categories—except for the Water Management and Governance categories—will advance to represent the Philippines in the Asia ESG Positive Impact Awards 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Nov 6.
Judging panel
The winners were chosen by an independent and esteemed panel of judges composed of experts who champion sustainable and inclusive development, among them:
> Department of Finance economist and former undersecretary Prof Cielo Magno
> Commission on Human Rights executive director and lawyer Jacque de Guia
> Ateneo Institute of Sustainability director Dr Eman Delocado,
> Philippine Business for Social Progress executive director Elvin Ivan Uy
> UN Global Compact Network Philippines executive director Edward Gacusana
> University of the Philippines Cesar EA Virata School of Business professor emeritus Dr Emerlinda R. Roman.
To learn more, visit https://conference.thestar.com.my/asiaesgsummit/.
