PCCI-Iloilo pushes sustainability as business advantage

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Sustainability Summit Iloilo, a two-day “Sustainability Unplugged” event held April 28–29, gathered local and international experts to bridge global sustainability standards with local implementation, focusing on urban planning, digitalization, and circular economy solutions in the region.

For the first time, Sustainability PH Inc. held the summit outside Metro Manila in partnership with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Iloilo Chapter, drawing about 150 participants from the business sector, local government units, academia, nongovernment organizations, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and youth groups.

The event featured keynote plenaries, panel discussions, and capacity-building workshops aimed at translating sustainability concepts into practical applications for industries and communities in Iloilo and nearby areas.

Shawntel Nicole Nieto, founder of Sustainability PH Inc., said the summit aims to expand the conversation by including perspectives from both local and external stakeholders.

“The summit will now bring voices both within the region and outside the region to talk about how we can further advance sustainability in the city, province, and the region,” she said during a press briefing on Monday, April 27.

Atty. Lcid Crescent Fernandez, program chairperson of the PCCI-Iloilo Chapter, underscored the need to shift perceptions of sustainability from a cost burden to a business advantage.

“We think of it normally as corporate social responsibility projects like tree planting, mangrove planting. To an extent it is corporate charity work and at the same time community involvement. That is the mindset that we want to change,” he said.

“We want sustainability not to be viewed as a cost center; it’s something that we do with the goodness in our hearts. It is something that we do because it helps us optimize our businesses. If we have sustainable practices, it actually lowers our cost, it gives us a more productive workforce, it stabilizes our supply chains; these are best practices that we can learn in order to find our path forward,” he added.

Fernandez said the goal is not to replicate foreign practices but to adapt relevant lessons to local conditions, especially for Iloilo’s growing business community.

PCCI-Iloilo President Jerduen Dongor said sustainability is increasingly becoming a requirement in global supply chains, particularly for exporters and MSMEs.

He cited examples such as coffee suppliers needing certifications to ensure products are not sourced from deforested areas, noting that compliance can open access to larger markets and improve competitiveness.

“I want the event to really help us focus on initiatives that can build stronger, smarter, and more competitive Ilonggos and especially the business sector,” he said.

Dave Jesus Devilles, co-founder of Sustainability PH Inc., said participants are expected to leave the summit with actionable frameworks they can apply in their organizations.

“At the end of the two-day summit, you will have a sort of template you can bring back to your organizations,” he said.

Devilles emphasized that sustainability efforts should extend beyond the conference and be embedded in long-term strategies.