Meralco: Proactive waste management 

Meralco believes that a preemptive waste reduction strategy is a better approach to waste management. Waste reduction is a win-win strategy benefiting the environment and business by lessening the negative impact to the environment and cutting down on waste management costs. To this end, Meralco has implemented its Race to Zero Waste Program to mitigate its environmental impacts. 

Meralco started banning single-use plastics (SUP), polystyrene foam, and similar products from its premises, operations center, and corporate events in 2019 in order to move towards a plastic- free environment. In 2020, Meralco effectively reduced SUP by over 150,000 kg as part of its goal to minimize and eliminate plastic waste. Meralco extended the ban on SUP to its supply chain partners in the same year.

In 2021, Meralco increased its solid waste diversion as part of waste reduction efforts. Nearly 85% of Meralco’s solid wastes have been diverted from landfills by creating more materials recovery facilities (MRFs). MRFs were established in the various facilities of Meralco in order to increase retrieval of recyclable and reusable waste materials. 

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MPTC practices a more environment-friendly and stakeholder-inclusive concept of operations designed to consider and minimize potential disruptions to the ecosystems. The company proactively implements strategies to achieve the objective of reducing environmental and social disruptions through resource optimization and new technology utilization augmented by continuous stakeholder engagement. 

MPTC is taking advantage of renewable natural resources to achieve substantial environmental and energy benefits. The company has built its rainwater harvesting capabilities in its MPT South Hub to decrease its demand for water. In 2021, to capitalize on the energy and financial savings of solar power, the company installed solar panels to energize its toll plazas, offices, buildings, and toll service facilities (TSFs), providing MPTC up to 534,769 kWh of clean energy so far and reducing its emissions. MPTC has invested P21 million on its South Hub Solar project which is projected to yield a total net savings of about P202 million over a 25-year period and supply close to 50% of the hub’s total power requirement. Aside from this, MPTC switched to LED lights to promote energy efficiency and decrease its carbon footprint. 

Beyond compliance and as effective stewards of the environment, MPTC also engages in activities which conserve and promote the protection of ecosystems located near our expressways. NLEX Corporation launched the Greening the NLEX program in 2006 to help strengthen the company’s efforts in building our roads for a greener future. To date, more than 100,000 trees, such as dita, narra, banaba, agoho, mahogany, and balacat, have been planted by NLEX Corporation volunteers along NLEX-SCTEX. 

In 2010, NLEX Corporation launched the Tullahan River Cleanup together with volunteers from communities near the river. Since then, the company has regularly conducted regular cleanups along the 1.5-kilometer stretch of Tullahan River. NLEX Corporation, through the NLEX Tullahan Junior Patrol, educates and engages the youth from nearby communities on the importance of protecting and preserving the environment, especially the Tullahan River. With the program, NLEX Corporation hopes to inspire them to join regular cleanup drives in their respective areas. 

Meanwhile, MPTSouth is partnering with the United States Agency for International Development’s Sustainable Interventions for Biodversity, Oceans, and Landscapes (USAID SIBOL) to further its sustainability efforts by turning CALAX into a green highway. Through the partnership, MPT South and USAID SIBOL will collaborate on a biodiversity program that includes improving natural resources management capacity, advanced science-based decision making, community engagements, promotion of sound environmental practices, tree planting along CALAX, and transforming CALAX’s biodiversity program as an income-generating project for communities. 

Moreover, as a testament to this strategy, MPT South’s headquarters, called the MPT South Hub, is vying for the LEED- Gold certification. This certification recognizes that the building is designed and constructed as a healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green building. The Hub will be powered with 50% renewable energy through solar and includes other features such as a water catchment system, materials recovery facility, e-vehicle charging stations, and lush greenery. 

MPTC is looking into expanding its supplier accreditation criteria to require its suppliers to incorporate sustainability considerations and go beyond compliance in relation to environment- and labor-related laws, rules, and regulations. 

Waste management practices are deeply ingrained in MPTC. The company implements operations standards for waste management and conducts informational and educational campaigns for waste handling and segregation and adhering to waste-related laws, rules, and regulations mandated by DENR. 

MPT South makes use of the Public Estates Authority Tollway Corporation’s materials recovery facility (MRF) to produce compost from biodegradable waste in CAVITEX which is used as fertilizer for a backyard vegetable garden, the produce from which is enjoyed by employees. On the other hand, non-biodegradable waste is transformed into plant boxes, traffic cones and bollards, fence panels mixed with asphalt or cement, and substrate signage components. 

MPT South’s headquarters also houses its own MRF to improve circularity by redirecting waste from landfills. MPTC aims to build MRFs in other company headquarters and in our toll service facilities as a way to show our commitment to design, build, and operate with least environmental disruption. 

Critical to promoting sustainability in our company is ensuring that our stakeholders are with us on this journey. MPTC conducted deep-dive sessions with both top management and rank-and file employees to align performance management and operations of the business units to the sustainability direction of the company. Sustainability education sessions are in the pipeline to strengthen the appreciation of employees to its sustainability agenda and increase the awareness of its applicability in the corporate setting. MPTC’s current focus is on creating awareness on the company’s sustainability roadmap and securing commitment from all employees and external stakeholders to contribute to achieving targets and adopting more sustainable practices.

Maynilad: Mitigating the environmental and social impacts of operations

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As a service provider, water is both a resource and a product for Maynilad. The biggest environmental impact of the company is on its water sources, thus making it necessary for the company to minimize the impact of its operations on water sources. Maynilad adheres to government regulations to control water pollution and extends wastewater management services to its residential and business customers. 

Maynilad complies with environmental regulations on the collection, conveyance, treatment, and discharge of effluents in  accordance with DENR Administrative Order 2016-08 and 2021-19. To promote sanitation and prevent diseases, Maynilad provides sewerage management for residents and establishments in key parts of the concession area, such as Tondo, Paco, Sampaloc, Dagupan, Sta. Cruz, Tondo Foreshore, Legarda in Manila, Malabon, Navotas, Caloocan, Projects 7 and 8 in Quezon City, Magallanes Village in Makati, and parts of Muntinlupa connected to its sewerage system. Maynilad also offers free septic tank cleaning services every 5 to 7 years for residential and semi- business customers outside its sewerage network.

LRMC aims to soften its environmental quality of Estero de Tripa de Galina and footprint by significantly reducing its waste production. The company has cut down the amount of its solid and liquid wastes in 2021 through waste reduction, reusing, and recycling initiatives. As much as 2.8 metric tons of used lead-acid batteries (ULAB) were sent to recycling facilities while 60.0 metric tons of solid waste have been diverted from disposal for reuse or recycling. 

LRMC reduced water stress by conserving up to 455.8 cubic meters of water, equivalent to 227.9 kg in GHG savings, by reducing the company’s wastewater generation and by reusing water. With respect to wastewater, LRMC adheres to DENR Administrative Order No. 2016-08 on Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards. LRMC has also invested P34 million for the Maynilad interconnection project which will allow all domestic water to go to Maynilad’s Pasay Water Reclamation Facility by the second quarter of 2022. The interconnection of the public water systems will help ensure water supply sustainability. 

To further protect water resources, LRMC has successfully improved the water increased volunteer engagement in 2021 under its Adopt-an-Estero program. Started in 2016 together with DENR, this initiative seeks to address the deteriorated condition of the estero through rehabilitation and restoration. LRMC also focused on enhancing the water quality of at least 3 kilometers of what is considered the longest creek in Manila through regular cleanup and removal of water hyacinths along Balihatar Creek. LRMC has allocated a total of P1.2 million annually to continue financing this initiative. The cleanups brought together 138 volunteers from LRMC and the Department of Public Works and Highways as well as the barangays and local government units of Pasay, Las Piñas, and Parañaque.

MPIF’s strategic program has evolved throughout its thirteen years of existence and is now geared towards four fronts of Social Infrastructure: Environment, Education, Economic Empowerment, and Disaster Response & Relief Operations. MPIF, alongside the rest of the Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) Group of Companies, also recently launched the six MVP Gabay Advocacies for a Sustainable Philippines – Gabay Kalikasan, Gabay Kabuhayan, Gabay Komunidad, Gabay Karunungan, Gabay Kalusugan, and Gabay Kabataan – creating umbrellas for the entire group’s social responsibility initiatives. 

MPIF is committed to implementing all its programs, especially to benefit communities, organizations, families and individuals in the areas in which MPIC portfolio companies operate. As MPIC continues to grow and expand, so will MPIF’s involvement and participation in noteworthy and transformative corporate social responsibility initiatives continue to evolve. 

Inauguration of Mangrove Propagation and Information Center and Induction of Mangrove Eco-guides in Cordova, Cebu

MPIF together with the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) and the Cordova LGU inaugurated the Mangrove Propagation and Information Center – the only one in the Visayas region and the third in the whole country. 

The Foundation’s legacy project for Filipinos also provided green livelihood opportunities for four (4) Cordova locals, who were inducted as their Mangrove Eco-guides. They will serve as their stewards for ecotourism and environmental conservation.

Mangrove Eco-guides Training 

The Foundation, with the help of its Shore It Up! Consultant, conducted joint training sessions with the ten Mangrove Eco-guides across all three Mangrove Centers in Alaminos, Pangasinan; Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte; and Cordova, Cebu. 

They underwent a rigorous training program where they learned efficient tour guiding, extensive information about mangroves, and basic first aid and rescue. It also served as a platform for them to get to know one another, as well as share best practices with their counterparts in other locations. 

The Mangrove Eco-guides program has also continuously provided salaries for the ten eco-guides for the entire year. 

Marine Protection, Inspection, and Conservation (MPIC) Guardians Sustainability Assessments
Sustainability assessments for the Marine Protection, Inspection, and Conservation (MPIC) Guardians Programs in Medina, Misamis Oriental and Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro were conducted to determine the status of marine pollution, illegal fishing, fish catch, implemented activities and efforts; appraise their fulfillment of their day-to-day responsibilities and the involvement of barangay officials and other community members; and to determine the sustainability of the programs in the municipalities. 

All 36 MPIC Guardians (nine in Puerto Galera, 27 in Media) were also continuously given their monthly financial compensation to serve as an additional means of income for them and their families. 

Marking the One-Year Anniversary of Bayan Tanim! MPIF’s fundraising drive for sustainable living
In September, MPIF marked the one-year anniversary of Bayan Tanim, the community gardening program that helps disadvantaged communities cope with the adverse impacts of the pandemic by providing them the resources to cultivate food sustainably. Surpassing its initial goal of 1,000 planting kits, MPIF distributed 2,905 Bayan Tanim planting kits to 31 communities, benefiting 3,004 families in 2021. In total, 3,497 Bayan Tanim planting kits, benefiting over 3,564 families in 38 communities have been distributed since the initiative started. Bayan Tanim also raised P1.24M in donations from individual benefactors and partner companies, P950,500.00 of which was raised in 2021. 

Puhunang Pangkabuhayan: MPIF’s Alternative Livelihood Program & Bike for Livelihood
Branching from the MVP Group’s Bike for Livelihood Program and First Pacific Co. Ltd.’s 40th Anniversary, the Foundation developed Puhunang Pangkabuhayan, an alternative livelihood program mobilized as a long-term solution to the resulting unemployment brought about by the pandemic. 

The goal of this initiative is to provide out-of-work individuals, primarily displaced tourism workers, with livelihood tools such as bicycles, sewing and edging machines, pocket Wi-Fi units, and Smart retailer kits for them to secure their own sources of income. MPIF’s beneficiaries included the LGUs of Pasig, Manila, San Juan, and Quezon City; Mabini, Batangas; Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte; and Alaminos, Pangasinan. MPIF distributed over 110 alternative livelihood tools that benefited individuals, as well as women’s/people’s organizations and LGU tourism sectors.