This commitment was underscored during the Sustainability Forum 2025: The Green Economies of Tomorrow, hosted by the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) in collaboration with the German Embassy in Manila on January 31, 2025.

“Germany is a reliable and long-term partner of climate action in the Philippines. Through our global International Climate Initiative (IKI), a wide range of projects have been implemented in the Philippines since IKI was launched in 2008. Currently, ongoing bilateral projects amount to €53.4 million,” said German Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke in his welcome remarks.

“Our commitment not only underscores our dedication to environmental and climate protection but also highlights our ambition to create a resilient, sustainable, and prosperous society for all,” he added.

The forum gathered leaders from government, business, and civil society to discuss the future of green economies, focusing on three key objectives:

• Evaluate the Philippines’ progress in meeting its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement
• Promote sustainable infrastructure and business solutions
• Strengthen the workforce by equipping workers with skills for green jobs

The event featured a keynote address from the Climate Change Commission, which presented the Philippines’ progress toward its climate targets.

A panel on Climate Action, featuring representatives from the Climate Change Commission, Planet 2050, the United Nations Global Compact, and the Asian Development Bank, tackled climate resilience and sustainability policies across different sectors.

The Green Infrastructure and Business Solutions panel, with speakers from the Department of Energy, Palafox Associates, the Philippine Green Building Council, BASF Philippines, and Siemens Inc., discussed best practices in energy-efficient designs, sustainable urban development, and corporate sustainability initiatives.

Meanwhile, the Green Jobs panel brought together ASSIST, the Department of Labor and Employment-Institute of Labor Studies, PV2 Energie Philippines, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, and Humble Sustainability. Discussions centered on how businesses can drive sustainability through workforce development and the expansion of green job opportunities.

“The strength of the Philippine economy lies in its people, and green jobs are key to securing a sustainable future,” said GPCCI President Marie Antoniette Mariano. “By equipping our workforce with the right skills and fostering business-led sustainability initiatives, we can drive economic growth while advancing climate action.”

The Sustainability Forum 2025 urged businesses, policymakers, and civil society groups to take decisive steps in implementing impactful sustainability initiatives. Veronica Uy

Little did they know that what was just their vision and unwavering ambition 30 years ago, would turn into the first and only smart city in the country known today as Filinvest City.

This title is further backed up by Filinvest City’s recognition as the first and only central business district in the Philippines with a LEED-Gold Certification by the U.S Green Building Council and 3-Star rating for the Pilot Version of BERDE Districts (Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence) by the Philippine Green Building Council.

These highly-coveted certifications were rightfully earned, thanks to their clever city planning where all essential establishments are within accessible radius from one another. This means its citizens can easily access leisure, business, and premium residential addresses, as well as learning and educational zones, and medical and wellness hubs through short drives or walks within the city.

Undoubtedly, Filinvest City’s unyielding growth and pioneering innovations allowed the township to become the trailblazer of smart cities in the country today.

A greener direction

With all that Filinvest City has to offer, it is not surprising that this thriving metropolis has boundless potential. Committed to bettering the lives of its people, Filinvest City has constantly been growing and innovating through more eco-friendly, sustainable initiatives and smart solutions – from its infrastructure to its green spaces and community-focused developments.

At the heart of the city stands Festival Mall Alabang by Filinvest Malls, recognized as the largest shopping and dining destination in the Metro South. The mall has forged a partnership with ENGIE, a France-based energy service provider, enabling 30 percent of its energy requirements to be fulfilled by solar power. As one of the pioneering establishments in Filinvest City, Festival Mall represents the first development within the CBD to undergo this eco-friendly transition. This initiative significantly reduces the mall’s carbon emissions by over 40,000 tons, equivalent to the impact of 9,000 cars on the street.

Apart from Festival Mall, Filinvest City’s Axis Towers has also partnered with ENGIE for the implementation of a district cooling system (DCS), helping buildings in the Northgate district to further lower their carbon footprint while providing energy-efficient cooling technology. As a result, offices connected to the DCS have been reduced electricity consumption by up to 40%.

The city’s sustainable efforts continue with the upgrade of its urban water management. With the help of FDC Water Utilities Inc. and Hitachi Ltd., the city will benefit from the unique and seamless integration of sewage treatment and potable water production technologies. The project includes the construction of a highly technical upgraded sewage treatment plant and a modern water recycling facility, all set to be complete by March 2026. With this upgrade, it is capable of producing a capacity of at least 10.5 million liters per day for household use.

Smart solutions in everyday life

Filinvest City ensures that its Cityzens are also encouraged to practice a more eco-friendly lifestyle by integrating smart tech solutions into their everyday lives.

At Filinvest City’s Central Park lies a parking facility equipped with two charging stations that is accessible to the public for electric vehicles. Additionally, the parking area itself was constructed using sustainable pavers, a collaboration with Green Ants to incorporate recyclable plastics into production processes.

To further solidify Filinvest City’s status as a smart city, the township has boosted interconnectivity throughout its various areas, to improve security, accessibility, and mobility. Complimentary Wi-Fi is accessible at its six major parks and other common areas. Adding to this is a free wireless charging station at Central Park, where most of the cityzens converge.

For over three decades, Filinvest City has undoubtedly been paving the way for smart and sustainable city solutions in the country, adapting future-ready initiatives to improve the lives of people and the environment. But while they have achieved significant milestones, these green initiatives mark just the initial steps, with anticipation of numerous innovations in the years ahead.

To know more about Filinvest City, visit filinvestcity.com

As the concern for power rate hike continues, five German companies are exploring the possibility for partnerships and presented their energy efficiency and solar solutions to the Philippine market in webinars and remote B2Bs during the digital German Energy Week held from June 29 to July 03, 2020. This is the first “digital delegation” from Germany.“

Despite the crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, German companies are looking for new partnerships in emerging markets regarding energy efficiency and solar energy. Going green is a good way forward, it is not only sustainable but also economically attractive for businesses” stated Stefan Schmitz, who was elected GPCCI President in the beginning of the week.

Seeing the huge potential of renewable energy in the Philippines, respective German companies have been active in the Philippines for a long time already. With this delegation, another five companies present their unique and innovative products and services.

With around 200 participants at the webinar series and 1400 views as well as 50 shares on Facebook, the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. in close cooperation with the Philippine Green Building Council and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry provided a virtual platform for exchange. German and Philippine experts along with government representatives shared project opportunities and best practices.

Erel Narida, President of the Renewable Energy Association of the Philippines, stated: “It is very positive to see how the Philippines is advancing with the help of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act. It is the right step to ensure more sustainability and better management of energy resources. But the private sector should also look into other ways of utilizing RE productively.”

The German Energy Week is part of a virtual business mission of five German companies, namely, ecoligo GmbH, Enerbar UG, Material Innovative Gesellschaft, meteocontrol GmbH, and Viessmann Werke GmbH & Co. KG. In the days following the webinars, the German companies further explore partnership potentials with Philippine counterparts. The project is under the German Energy Solutions Initiative – an export program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) supporting German SMEs in their global outreach.