RLC Residences recently forged a groundbreaking agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), committing one million square meters (GFA) of net zero carbon and resilient condominiums by 2031.

The pledge was spearheaded by RLC Residences Senior Vice President and Business Unit General Manager Chad Sotelo during IFC’s 2nd Climate Forum at Ayala Museum. Sotelo was joined by Angelo Tan, Country Lead for IFC World Bank Group’s Climate Business in the Philippines, Malaysia and the Pacific. The partnership will focus on identifying, evaluating, and implementing green building measures to help achieve net zero carbon using Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) certification from IFC Additionally, they will assess and verify the resilience rating of RLC Residences projects to be built moving forward through IFC’s Building Resilience Index (BRI) tool.

“We started this journey on sustainability back in 2022 and we’re happy to have known enough to get our first building, Le Pont Residences in Bridgetowne [Destination Estate], to be EDGE-certified. With this fantastic partnership we have with IFC, we’re learning that there’s a lot of work involved but at the same time, it’s part and parcel of what we do on a day-to-day basis. We are thankful to IFC for helping us understand sustainability and resilience better and how we can improve our residential projects with that in mind,” shared Sotelo during the Forum.

As the residential division of the property giant Robinsons Land Corporation, which is also active in sustainability efforts on a corporate level, RLC Residences is now taking a proactive stance on designing developments that are efficiently built. Despite being a newcomer in sustainable residential developments, RLC Residences got its first preliminary EDGE Certification for Le Pont Residences Tower 1 at Bridgetowne East in Pasig City, recognizing its energy and water efficiency measures and sustainability features for future homeowners.

“RLC Residences’ commitment to green and resilient initiatives is commendable and a vital step towards a sustainable future. Achieving EDGE Preliminary Certification for Le Pont Residences reflects a forward-thinking approach that benefits the environment and the local community.” Says Ommid Saberi, IFC’s Global Lead for EDGE and Building Resilience Index. “IFC will also be supporting the resilient assessment of its projects. As a hot spot for disasters, it is crucial to explore how the Philippines can incorporate climate resilience practices into the design and construction of buildings.”

Developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies), is a free software and green building standard and certification system. The prestigious certification aims to empower developers to build sustainable properties through cost-effective and environment-friendly means while delivering high-quality buildings.

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