Metro Pacific Tollways South Management Corporation (MPT South), subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road development arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), has been awarded a LEED Gold Certification for its headquarters, MPT South Hub.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is
a globally recognized symbol of excellence in green building. LEED
certification ensures electricity cost savings, lower carbon emissions and
healthier environments where people live, work, learn, play, and worship.
MPT South Hub achieved a LEED Gold Certification as it
excelled in using sustainability practices in the way that it was designed and
constructed, garnering a score of 66 points. It sits in a 5,237 sqm, four-story
building located in Imus, Cavite. It has a biophilic design with a full view of
the outside surroundings and natural daylight and ventilation. The HUB consumes
at least 40% less indoor water with the use of modern water-efficient fixtures
and 50% less outdoor water through rainwater harvesting. The building also has
an EV charging station for the company’s e-vehicles, as it plans to convert its
fleet to EVs as its vehicles reach attrition. It is also the very first MPTC
infrastructure that acquired LEED certification.
The certification was awarded to MPT South by Green Business
Certification Inc. (GBCI), USGBC’s unit that administers LEED, from technical
review, verification, and certification in a virtual ceremony. The
certification was received by MPIC Chairman and President, Manny V. Pangilinan,
MPTC President and CEO Rodrigo E. Franco, MPTC Chief Finance Officer and Senior
Executive Sponsor, Mr. Christopher C. Lizo, and MPT South President and General
Manager, Mr. Roberto V. Bontia and First Vice President for Tollway Development
and Engineering, Arturo H. Monge.
"MPTC is committed to advancing sustainability. We are
extremely honored to have one of our facilities certified by a world-renowned
body as a green building. This inspires us to continue the implementation of
our infrastructure projects with the least disruption to the communities and
the environment,” said Rodrigo E. Franco, MPTC President, and Chief Executive
Officer.
Also, through MPT South, MPTC has repeatedly proven its
expertise in building sustainable infrastructure. “It already began integrating
energy-efficient and resource-saving technologies while maintaining the high
standard of road safety features along CALAX. Existing toll plazas of the
operational sections of CALAX were equipped with rooftop solar panels that
power its own operations. Roadway lighting systems use LED fixtures, thereby
improving energy efficiency, said Christopher C. Lizo, MPTC CFO and executive
sponsor for sustainability”
"The hub exemplifies our commitment to building
sustainable infrastructure in alignment with MPTC and MPIC sustainability
efforts guided by the United Nation’s Sustainability Goal target of upgrading
all industries and infrastructure for sustainability. “said MPT South President and General Manager, Mr.
Roberto V. Bontia.
MPIC Chairman and President, Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan,
congratulated MPTC for its achievement.
“Attaining a LEED Gold Certification for MPT South Hub is no
easy feat, and so for that I would like to extend my congratulations to our
MPTC team. It is a testament as to how serious our organization is in
integrating sustainability in the way we build and operate our businesses, in
hope of safeguarding a resilient and sustainable future for generations to
come.” said Manny V. Pangilinan.
Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan, Managing Director - Southeast
Asia and the Middle East, GBCI India, said, “I would like to congratulate MPTC
on achieving a LEED Gold Certification. LEED is the foremost framework for
creating healthy, resilient, and sustainable buildings. It plays a pivotal role
in laying the foundation for new buildings in the design phase by providing
guidance that connects design principles to corresponding sustainable outcomes.
It also helps existing buildings become more efficient and sustainable by
suggesting strategic retrofits that lower the emission levels of these
structures. At GBCI, we believe, sustainability must be at the heart of every
business strategy and all initiatives must be implemented to achieve the
greatest positive impact for our members and for our future generation. This
certification highlights MPTC’s commitment to better the lives of its employees
as well as build a sustainable future for generations to come.”
Just last year, the tollway company entered partnership with
United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its
Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans, and Landscapes (SIBOL)
program, to further strengthen its sustainability effort in converting CALAX
into a 'green highway'.
Aside from CALAX and CAVITEX, other concessions held by MPTC are the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the NLEX Connector Road, and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) in Cebu. #
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