FIRST Balfour was named the overall winner of the Mother Nature Award during the 46th Pollution Control Association of the Philippines Inc. (PCAPI) national annual convention and general assembly held in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, recently. The recognition highlights the company’s commitment to embedding sustainability into  projects, operations and long-term business strategy.

Organized by PCAPI in partnership with the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, this year’s convention carried the theme “Supercharging Innovative Strategies with Equitable and Naturebased Solutions for a Brighter Future.” The event gathered environmental leaders, policymakers, industry practitioners and sustainability advocates from across the country to share innovative approaches that promote environmental stewardship and sustainable development.

The Environmental Sustainability Awards recognize organizations and individuals that demonstrate outstanding commitment to environmental protection, pollution prevention, waste minimization and sustainable development. Among the six award categories presented during the convention, the Mother Nature Award is regarded as one of the highest distinctions for organizations that exemplify environmental leadership and sustainability excellence.

First Balfour’s recognition followed a rigorous evaluation process that began in March 2026. Entries were reviewed through document submissions, presentations and panel interviews where organizations were assessed on environmental performance, leadership, governance, transparency, measurable results and sustainability impact.

During the judging process, Jasmin Jill Dumasig presented First Balfour’s environmental initiatives and responded to questions from a panel of environmental experts and industry leaders.

First Balfour emerged as the overall winner of the Mother Nature Award, placing ahead of other organizations from various industries. According to feedback shared by the awards committee, the company stood out for presenting a compre hensive sustainability approach supported by measurable results and key performance indicators.

Rather than focusing on a single initiative, First Balfour demonstrated environmental programs covering air emissions, carbon reduction, water stewardship, biodiversity protection, environmental governance and continuous improvement across its operations. Judges noted the company’s ability to support its sustainability claims with concrete data and documented performance improvements. “Choosing First Balfour as the overall winner among eight strong candidates came down to their comprehensive approach,” shared Engr. Gretchen Fontejon-Enarle, MSc., chair of the PCAPI awards committee. “While many companies focus on just one area like waste or water management, First Balfour stood out by addressing all aspects of sustainability, including air quality, carbon reduction and ecosystem protection. What really set them apart for our panel of judges was their evolution from basic regulatory compliance to a data-driven sustainability model. Instead of just showing photos, they backed up their claims with concrete numbers and clear performance improvements.”

In addition to the company’s organizational achievement, First Balfour’s entry was recognized as a finalist under the Environmental Sustainability Success Story Awards. The featured success story, “The Reef Dome: A Marine Habitat Restoration,” was spearheaded by the Negros Island Geothermal Complex Project team led by project OSH lead Frefil Mark Benemerito and project manager Antonieto Opelario Jr. Developed in partnership with BPI Bayan, the corporate social responsibility program of BPI in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, this five-year initiative utilizes marine-grade concrete domes across Dumaguete City’s marine protected areas to combat climate change and restore vibrant marine ecosystems (see sidebar).

Further solidifying its longterm alliance with the organization, First Balfour received an award for lifetime membership, underscoring its enduring dedication to PCAPI’s mission of environmental sustainability.

A highlight of the convention was the awarding ceremony, where First Balfour was formally recognized as the Mother Nature Award overall winner, while corporate sustainability officer Angeline Abibuag was individually honored with the Outstanding Managing Head award.

Accepting the awards, Abibuag expressed gratitude to the PCAPI awards committee and acknowledged the collective efforts of the teams and individuals who have championed environmental and sustainability initiatives throughout the organization. She shared that the recognition came as an inspiration for the company to continue advancing its sustainability journey.

“Honestly, we did not expect this recognition, especially as we are only at the beginning of our decarbonization journey. But we will take this as a source of inspiration—to push further, to do more and to contribute meaningfully to the protection
of our planet.”

Abibuag concluded her message with a reminder that sustainability extends beyond regulatory compliance.

“At the end of the day, caring for Mother Earth is not just about compliance—it is about leaving a legacy, ensuring that future generations can live comfortably and sustainably on this planet we call home.”

For First Balfour, the award serves as motivation to continue pursuing innovative and impactful sustainability programs.  Macky de Lima, First Balfour vice president and head of strategic business planning and sustainability, emphasized that collaboration is key to this journey.

“We are thankful to the PCAPI national chapter for the awards. They are an inspiration to us in First Balfour as we endeavor in our sustainability journey. There is much to be done and we look forward to learning more from the PCAPI and other alliances we have,” De Lima said.

Driven by this commitment, First Balfour continues to advance its decarbonization and environmental stewardship efforts, creating long-term value to help build a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Vice president Macky de Lima and the First Balfour team during Arbor Day, which the company observed with a nationwide tree-planting initiative held across all
its project locations

Corporate sustainability officer Angeline Abibuag accepts the Mother Nature Award overall winner trophy on behalf of First
Balfour

Frefil Mark Benemerito, Angeline Abibuag, Jasmin Jill Dumasig and Antonieto Opelario Jr. display First Balfour’s accolades, which include the Mother Nature Award, Outstanding Managing Head award and recognition for their Negros project as a finalist for the Environmental Sustainability Success Story Awards

The First Balfour Leyte project management team inspects a small snake during the ‘Out in the Wild’ biodiversity monitoring program at the Tongonan Geothermal Project site in Leyte

The First Balfour corporate sustainability team conducts an audit at a Burgos CWRMS project site for the Best in Sustainability Award for Projects