The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), the first bank in the Philippines to hold up Sustainable Energy Financing programs, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), underscore the need to shift to Sustainable Energy as a viable component of business and operations, in a forum held recently at the Asian Institute of Management Conference Center in Makati. The forum is the bank’s way of continuing its dedication to advance Sustainable Energy Financing (SEF) in the Philippines.

The forum, attended by different companies, noted how Sustainable Energy can help maximize cost efficiency and boost profitability of a business and its operations. Members of the IFC, led by Jesse Ang, Resident Representative and Dr. Romel Carlos, Project Manager of the SEF Program shared valuable insight on how entrepreneurs and managers can save electricity costs by as much as 30% by switching to the SEF program.

The forum also highlighted the successful efforts of Makati Medical Center (MMC), led by its President and CEO Rose Montenegro, in transforming the facility as an institution that uses Sustainable Energy with the help of BPI Leasing Corporation’s funding at low costs.

BPI Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Banking Division Alfonso Salcedo stressed the need for companies to switch to Sustainable Energy through the SEF program. He says, “Since 2008, BPI has been partnering with IFC and it has produced us great results. IFC has equipped us with the proper knowledge to strengthen our company by reducing risks and costs. And as we need to develop this market, companies should see that this is advantageous to them in the long-run.”

BPI is the first bank in the Philippines to leverage on IFC’s SEF program. The bank also won the prestigious G-20 SME Finance Challenge, an online competition for innovative solutions that help SMEs secure financing for their green energy projects.

Photo shows: (From left to right) Dr. Romel Carlos, Project Manager, Sustainable Energy Finance Program, IFC Philippines, Nanette Biason, AVP and Head of Specialized Lending Unit and Sustainable Energy Finance, BPI, Albert Pascual, SVP for Corporate Banking Division, BPI, Jesse Ang, Resident Representative, IFC Philippines, Alfonso Salcedo, EVP and Head of Corporate banking Division, BPI, and Danny Reyes, Head of BPI Leasing Corporation.