The theme was particularly interesting — operating a business not just for profitability but for sustainability and for the benefit of the community. This was the focus of the conversations for our segment during the 2021 Asian Family Enterprise Excellence Conference held last June 25 and 26, 2021. I was invited to speak alongside Amaya Cristina Aboitiz-Fansler, President and CEO of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), and Glenda Antonio, Founder, President & CEO of Spring Rain Global.
The topic appealed to me because as an architect, I want my work to reflect my personal principles. My interest and my work toward sustainable development, green design, and the use of renewable energy sources are aligned with the way I live my own life. Human development must always be aligned with the laws of nature; this allows us to have enjoyable experiences.
I shared the work of my firm, Italpinas Development Corp. (IDC), in the field of design and development of sustainable buildings, and how we envision the Philippines to be a role model as far as sustainable development goes. We at IDC are committed to developing green buildings in emerging locations to be able to help turn the Philippines into a multipolar country.
When more Filipinos migrate back to the provinces and make investments in their own cities (centrifugal migration), power may be distributed more evenly among various centers nationwide. This is an important aspect of sustainability, creating continuous growth and contributing towards the development of the nation as a whole. This, in fact, has been a mainstream trend during the pandemic where more people are increasingly becoming more interested in leaving congested areas for a better, less toxic environment.
I firmly believe that inclusive growth is the only way to go. There could be no development without it. When we take care of our environment, we are also taking care of our customers and ensuring that our business will be healthy in the years to come. Helping one another and taking care of each other’s needs is the only way to sustain the life and growth of our enterprises.
An economy that is restorative and regenerative by design, a circular economy, presents us with plenty of opportunities, particularly in the Philippines and other developing countries. As a design-driven developer of sustainable properties in the Philippines, IDC embraces these opportunities to redefine growth and development by using renewable energy sources, building natural capital, and regenerating natural systems, for example, using natural ventilation and natural lighting, etc. Through our work, we hope to help the country reach its environmental objectives.
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