BDO Unibank, a full-service universal bank in the Philippines, is reinforcing its commitment to green financing and inclusive growth by supporting notable projects that help boost climate resilience and reduce carbon footprints.
“BDO Unibank supports sustainable companies as it is a great way to give back to the environment, and the bank’s funding of green buildings present opportunities for economic growth,” the bank said in a statement.
One of the projects that the bank is currently supporting is Menarco Development Corporation (MDC)’s Menarco Tower, a commercial building located at 32nd Street in Bonifacio Global City and the first high-rise office tower in the country to have been conferred the WELL Gold Certification from IWBI Asia. The certification reaffirms the developer’s efforts to create office spaces that are conducive to work, focusing on the employees’ well-being and environmental consciousness.
MDC is an internationally-recognized real estate developer and property management company whose vision is to take a leading role in driving a more sustainable environment for its projects. It is also the only property developer in the Philippines that has 5 international certifications.
Its first tower project has since been awarded “Best Green Development” at the Southeast Asia Property Awards and the Philippine Property Awards recently. According to the developer, the Menarco Tower is the perfect embodiment of its commitment to people and the planet.
“The Menarco Tower embodies our company’s commitment. It is not just green but (is) also healthy,” said Carmen Jimenez-Ong, Chief Executive of MDC, in a press statement. “A building focused on sustainability and on the well-being of the people is key to a united vision which leads to a strong company, to nation-building, and to preserving the planet for future generations.”
The tower is built better with its efficient use of water and energy through a combination of passive and active measures which includes motion sensors, energy recovery for outdoor air supply, double-glazed glass, greywater recycling, and drip irrigation for its edible garden. It has also been designed in such a way that it can withstand the strongest typhoons and earthquakes, thanks to its solid structural integrity.
BDO, a partner in finding a win-win situation
“It was during the pandemic when we first realized that we needed the help of a bank for our cash management requirements. Our previous loan was not structured according to the asset, and BDO provided the right loan package to match loan repayment,” relates Jimenez-Ong.
“BDO listens and truly finds ways! Our Chairman Emeritus (Menardo Jimenez) can be demanding and precise with his needs and wants. BDO took good care of their relationship with the family to keep him content,” the MDC executive beams.
“A good relationship with a bank is like sustenance. Knowing that they are around to support our next endeavor provides assurance. We rely on our bank relationships to help us with our daily activities, in maximizing our assets, and now, with our digitization processes — it makes us dependent on banks to ensure our payments are done on time. We know that BDO wants us to succeed in our business and they are our partner in finding a win-win situation,” she added.
Green developments to help boost PH’s economy
As it turns out, BDO Unibank also has the same vision as MDC.
Aside from Menarco Tower, the country’s largest bank is now on the lookout for other environment-friendly infrastructure in a bid to help boost the economy. In fact, its 47-story corporate office in Ortigas, BDO-CCO, is also a “green building” and is LEED-certified.
Various sustainable methods were implemented in the construction of BDO’s corporate office that helped steer it to its LEED accreditation. These methods include the installation of automated monitoring and control systems such as CO2 sensors, occupancy sensors, daylight dimming, and timer switches to help conserve energy. It also has dual piping in the plumbing system which uses recycled water for flushing.
The building’s other key sustainable features are as follows:
- With the help of the CO2 sensors, indoor pollutants are mitigated, helping the building steer away from catching the “sick building syndrome.”
- By deciding to go automated, energy is saved from mechanically turning off or dimming the lights when it does not sense any human activity and when sufficient natural lighting enters the room.
- Sustainability efforts are ensured by employing dual piping in the plumbing system. Grey water, harvested rainwater, and condensate water are recycled and reused for flushing. The combination of efficient water fixtures and grey water flushing is key in reducing the total building potable water use by approximately 5,700,000 liters annually.
BDO-CCO, which houses some of the bank’s major business segments such as consumer lending, leasing and finance, and remittance, was a recipient of various accolades during the Philippines Property Awards 2015. These awards include “Best Commercial Development,” “Best Office Development,” and “Best Office Architectural Design.” It was also highly commended in the “Best Commercial Development” and “Best Office Architectural Design” categories during the Southeast Asia Property Awards 2015, a regional real estate event.