L-R: Corporate communications head Frances Ariola and corporate relations and communications division head Nancy Ibuna receive EDC’s awards for Green Leadership, Social Empowerment, and Corporate Sustainability ReportingEnergy Development Corporation (EDC) earned three recognitions at the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA) 2024 held at the Hilton Saigon in Vietnam. The awards ceremony, organized by Enterprise Asia, celebrated EDC’s commitment to sustainable practices and responsible business leadership in Asia.

Area honors organizations that demonstrate outstanding achievements in corporate sustainability, social empowerment, green leadership and more. EDC was recognized in multiple categories for its impactful initiatives, including Corporate Sustainability Reporting for its 2022 integrated report, Social Empowerment for the Baslay Coffee Farm initiative and Green Leadership for EDC BINHI: 15 Years of Greening the Future.

“We dedicate these recognitions to our colleagues in EDC as well as our 121 host communities and over 200 BINHI partners. Our collaboration with them has been instrumental in continuing to generate a positive impact in our work,” said Nancy Ibuna, head of corporate relations and communications at EDC.

EDC’s 2022 integrated report, “It’s Worth It,” highlights the company’s commitment to forging collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future, driven by its stakeholder pentad framework and the Integrated Reporting Framework’s value creation model.

The Baslay Coffee Farm initiative transformed kaingineros (slash-and-burn farmers) in Negros Oriental into four generations of forest protectors and sustainable coffee farmers. The project has rehabilitated 220 hectares of land and generated significant income for the community through high-grade coffee production and cooperative efforts.

The EDC BINHI program aims to conserve, propagate and protect the Philippines’ native tree species. Over the past 15 years, it has planted nearly seven million trees across more than 10,260 hectares of degraded forests, earning global recognition and partnerships for its extensive conservation efforts.

Now in its 13th year, AREA is known for its rigorous evaluation process and for recognizing businesses that embody the principles of responsible entrepreneurship across various sectors and industries. EDC stood out for its innovation, measurable impact and contribution to sustainable development goals.