Agnes C. de Jesus, the chief sustainability officer of Lopez-led conglomerate First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPH), earned the Pearl of Legacy Award for Environmental Governance from the Society of Sustainability Practitioners, Inc. (Sustainability PH), during the association’s fifth anniversary celebration last April 29 in Iloilo City.
According to Sustainability Ph, de Jesus’ career, like a pearl, reflects resilience through industry transitions and systemic environmental reforms. She contributed to the strengthening of environmental governance frameworks and demonstrated how businesses support national goals through deep commitment to environmental science and social responsibility.
In accepting the award, de Jesus called on the sustainability practitioners and advocates to continue to be the conscience of their localities and help move our country forward. She likewise reminded them that, as environmental and social issues become more complex, more connected and more consequential, sustainability’s integrative role will be more important than ever.
Sustainability PH, a professional and industry association registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, consists of a community of sustainability practitioners who work with, and support one another towards a shared goal of elevating their sustainability practices. It actively connects the community of practitioners, builds sustainability capacities across sectors and industries, and recognizes the changemakers and innovators who are transforming the Philippines into a sustainable nation.
Lopez-led FPH is a conglomerate with a long history and a strong advocacy to fight adverse and destructive climate change. As part of its advocacy, FPH declared 10 years ago that it will not build, develop, or invest in any power plant that runs on coal, a fossil fuel with intensive carbon dioxide emissions whose release to the atmosphere contributes significantly to climate change.
FPH’s advocacy explains why its energy arm First Gen Corporation prioritizes the use of clean and renewable energy to run First Gen power plants. Today, First Gen stands out as the country’s leading clean energy leader with 1,700 megawatts of capacity, all from renewable energy power plants.
De Jesus was appointed to her current FPH post in 2014. Prior to her current position, she served as senior vice president for environment and external relations and concurrent compliance officer of First Gen subsidiary Energy Development Corporation, the Philippines’ biggest vertically integrated geothermal company with a pure renewable energy portfolio of assets consisting additionally of wind, hydro, and solar power plants.
