BDO senior vice president and chief compliance officer Federico P. Tancongco received the ACES trophy in a virtual event.

BDO Unibank was recently conferred with prestigious Asia’s Top Sustainability Advocates Award at the 2021 Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability (ACES) Awards, an event that features the finest corporate leaders in Asia.

The award is given to companies that show genuine interest in the well-being of their stakeholders through corporate social responsibility initiatives that are integrated into policies and operations, with a high level of employee and top management involvement on community engagement, environment, and social empowerment programs.

BDO is one of the only five awardees in the region and the only bank to receive the honors.

“This recognition is a testament to how much BDO Unibank embodies the values of sustainability and incorporates them in everything the Bank does. This inspires us to further elevate our sustainability efforts and make them more inclusive to benefit our various stakeholders,” said Marla Garin-Alvarez, BDO vice president for its sustainability office.

The ACES jury highlighted BDO’s Sustainable Finance program that funds renewable energy projects nationwide, and the BDO Foundation’s financial education program embedded in the public school K-12 curriculum, as pioneering initiatives to promote positive environmental and social impact in the country.

This is a fitting follow-up to the recognition BDO received from ACES two years ago.

In 2019, BDO was named a “worthy captain” of the Philippine banking industry after receiving the Industry Champion of the Year award during the 2019 ACES Awards.

The Industry Champion of the Year is presented to companies that “have a distinct competitive edge, set the industry trends, and have commendable best practices in place. Winners in this category have shown the ability to evolve the focus of their enterprises along with the dynamic changes of the industries they serve.”

BDO was also recognized for its leadership position across different business segments, robust balance sheet, expansive market reach, the scope of innovative products and services, and sustainable growth.

The ACES Awards is organized annually by the MORS Group, an organization committed to assisting companies, corporate leaders, and eminent industrialists share a platform to exhibit leadership and sustainability excellence.