Manila Bulletin hosts Sustainability Focus Session at the University of Santo Tomas

MANILA – The Manila Bulletin held a Sustainability Focus Session on Monday, September 30 at the University of Santo Tomas, gathering professionals, supporters, and specialists to explore fresh angles on sustainability.

The event emphasized critical themes such as renewable energy and real estate, aiming to inspire attendees to pursue a greener future. Makati City Mayor Abby Binay delivered the keynote address, underscoring the importance of local government commitment to environmental initiatives.

Mayor Binay highlighted the interconnectedness of various climate issues, stating, “The success of any environmental project requires the commitment of the community.” She noted that would activate participation from local government units (LGUs) and the community, efforts to address environmental concerns, such as waste management and disaster preparedness, would face significant challenges.

She also called for a collective approach among municipalities in Metro Manila, “It has to be a cohesive and collective effort,” she stated explaining that environmental problems, like flooding, impact all areas and require cooperation across borders.

“I think it's high time that we recognize that there is a problem… Wala pa nga tayo sustainability eh. Sustainability medyo malayo pa ‘yan ha baby steps muna. One is how do we become resilient when it comes to disaster caused by climate. Resiliency then comes sustainability. It is a call to action not just for government but for every household in the entire country,” Binay added.

“We are not being resilient and climate change weather patterns natin is not going to change any time soon. It’s only gonna get worse kaya dapat tayo maging handa at maging resilient para maging sustainable,” she warned, emphasizing the need for communities to prepare for increasingly severe weather patterns due to climate change.

Philip Cu-Unjieng of Manila Bulletin noted the event’s goal of raising awareness about sustainability beyond environmental issues. “Raising the level of conversation about sustainability because when you think about it, up to this day, it's still not trickling down. There’s still difficulty in terms of people understanding what sustainability is about in terms of it being beyond just the environment,” he said.

“We’re hoping that people will be appreciative of these efforts [and] try to see the content as we upload it on our Facebook page and basically further the talk about sustainability,” he added.

The session is part of a broader initiative with plans for a follow-up forum scheduled for November, according to Cu-Unjieng.