MANILA, Philippines — Telco giant PLDT Inc. continues to ramp up its green and sustainability efforts by rolling out renewable energy facilities in 20 of its buildings.
“We are set to power 20 PLDT and Smart facilities nationwide with renewable energy – true to our commitment to practice,” PLDT and Smart Communications Inc. president and CEO Alfredo Panlilio said in a Facebook post.
The telco recently completed its largest solar powered rooftop facility in PLDT’s biggest business center in Cebu City.
The project consists of over 200 photovoltaic (PV) panels rated at 450 watts each which will complement energy sourced commercially.
Panlilio said in a text message that “the total capacity is 21.455 kilowatt-hours (kwh) per annum capacity equal to savings in greenhouse gas emissions of 152 tons equal to 15,600 trees planted.”
Sustainability is one of the PLDT Group’s key fulcrums.
“A vital part of my corporate agenda is ensuring a more responsible way of doing business, which includes strengthening green initiatives that are tightly linked to what we do as the country’s largest integrated telco,” Panlilio said.
Last year, the PLDT Group and subsidiaries of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) joined forces for new energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives that promote responsible energy use and reduction of carbon footprint.
PLDT signed a partnership with Meralco Energy Inc. (MServ) and Spectrum Inc. to pursue eco-friendly energy solutions.
Also under the partnership, Spectrum will install solar PV systems with a total capacity of 483.9 kilowatt-peak (kWp) in five PLDT sites within the Visayas region.
Meanwhile, PLDT said it is also augmenting its service vehicle fleet with electric vehicles as part of stepping up its sustainability efforts.
The electric vehicles will initially be assigned to selected service personnel handling home broadband installation and repair within Metro Manila.
As electronic vehicle technology matures and with the improvement of the supporting infrastructure like the availability of charging stations nationwide, PLDT said it will add more electronic vehicles to its fleet under its Green Fleet Program.
These efforts underscore PLDT’s commitment to help the Philippines meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals particularly United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG) 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and UNSDG 13 on (Climate Action).