The Inquirer ESG Edge Impact Awards recognise sustainability initiatives by companies in the Philippines for their environmental, social and governance impact. In 2026, 30 initiatives received Gold or Silver recognition, with Concentrix Philippines and Lhoopa Inc. named Grand Winners.
Here, the judges reflect on the initiatives they assessed, from the strengths they observed to areas where businesses can strengthen their impact.
It is a privilege to contribute to this ESG special publication. Having served as a judge for the 2026 Inquirer ESG Edge Impact Awards, I have been deeply impressed by the high calibre of entries.
The entries I witnessed not only met but frequently exceeded my initial expectations. Many organisations have successfully moved beyond superficial "greenwashing" or tokenistic CSR. Instead, they are integrating ESG principles into their core business strategies.
To improve, however, I believe participants should focus on more rigorous, standardised impact reporting. While qualitative narratives are compelling, entries that provide consistent, verifiable quantitative data are significantly more persuasive. A clearer link between ESG initiatives and measurable long-term business performance is an area ripe for further development.
These entries reflect a robust maturation of sustainability practices among large companies and MSMEs in the Philippines. We are seeing a shift from philanthropic "one-off" activities to systemic "shared value" models where the business inherently benefits from its social and environmental contributions.
This is a highly encouraging trend. I am genuinely optimistic that these organisations can, and will, make a tangible difference in our shared future. Their initiatives are increasingly data-driven, scalable and embedded into daily operations, which is crucial for lasting resilience.
For this year’s winners and participants, my advice is simple: sustain the momentum. True sustainability is not a destination but a continuous process of evolution and improvement. Do not view these awards as the peak of your achievements, but as a platform to further elevate your efforts.
Continue to foster inclusivity, champion transparency and maintain an unwavering commitment to the communities you serve. By constantly refining your strategies and leveraging the collective strength of your partnerships, you will lead the way in creating a more sustainable, equitable and prosperous landscape for all.
Pol Sangalang
Founder
Sangalang & Gaerlan, Business Lawyers
From promises to practice
As an environmental scientist, I look at sustainability the way I look at any observation: I want to see the evidence. I have spent most of my career measuring air and water quality, and in my current work I help manage facilities for the University of the Philippines, so I judge entries on both the numbers and the operations behind them.
This year's entries exceeded my expectations. Far Eastern University, for example, now sources 98.3% of its power from renewable energy – a combination of on-site solar and renewable procurement – saving Philippine Peso (PhP) 12mil and avoiding roughly thousand tonnes of carbon emissions, equivalent to 200,000 trees. What impressed me even more was that FEU's administration building, a National Cultural Treasure, earned EDGE certification with a 33% cut in energy and 46% less water consumption – living proof that heritage and sustainability can go hand in hand.
As a water scientist, I was also delighted by practical entries like the water softener initiative; smart water stewardship that doesn't require heroic budgets, just good engineering sense.
Where I hope everyone can improve: do not let sustainability live only in reports. Embed it in daily operations, open your numbers to scrutiny, and be honest about the challenges you have not yet solved. Credibility is built on honesty.
These entries tell me that sustainability in the Philippines has moved from promises to practice. Large companies brought scale and ambition; smaller enterprises showed that ingenuity often matters more than size.
For me, FEU's achievement is especially meaningful because it comes from the education sector – it proves that a Philippine institution can decarbonise at scale under a governance framework of internal controls, board reviews and regular audits, and that the model can be replicated by other schools. Seeing that, I am genuinely optimistic.
My own work – monitoring air quality, helping manage water quality in the Laguna de Bay region, and running pollution control programmes at the College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman campus, has shown me how much remains to be done. Initiatives like these give me hope because change does not begin with grand pronouncements; it begins with institutions that decide to measure, act and share what they learn. Multiplied across many companies and schools, these consistent small actions are how we secure our shared future.
Congratulations to all the winners – you have earned this recognition, and with it comes the responsibility to inspire others. To every participant: please do not treat this as a finish line. Sustainability is a journey of continuous improvement. Keep setting bolder targets, keep measuring your results honestly and keep sharing what you have learned, including your setbacks, because those are lessons, too.
As a scientist, I can tell you that change is real when you can see it in the data. As someone who works with facilities every day, I can tell you that every improvement, however small, matters. The Philippines needs more champions like you, because together, we are building the future we want to leave behind.
Dr Mylene Cayetano
Professor and UP scientist, Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology
Founding head, Environmental Pollution Studies Laboratory
