FINEX Sustainability Handbook

In a time when climate risks are no longer distant threats but daily realities, the FINEX Foundation Environment Committee chaired by Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) Director Gaudencio “Goody” Hernandez, Jr. launched the Sustainability Handbook, a timely and expanded version of the earlier publication called Primer on Climate Change and Natural Farming.

- FLOR G. TARRIELA

The event signaled a renewed call for collective responsibility and practical action toward building a climate-resilient Philippines.

Held in the boardroom of LANDBANK, President and CEO Lynette Ortiz was the main guest and sponsor who underscored the urgency of embedding sustainability into everyday decision-making.

“The FINEX Sustainability Handbook is a timely and meaningful contribution to our shared efforts in building a more resilient and responsible future for the Philippines,” she said at the launch event. “Sustainability is neither an abstract ideal nor a policy buzzword. It is shaped by deliberate decisions made daily.” She noted that farmers, cooperatives, and rural communities across the country are already confronting the harsh realities of climate change. What they need, she emphasized, are tools that transform awareness into action, something the handbook seeks to provide through clear, practical guidance grounded in real-world experience.

Ms. Lynette also cited LANDBANK’s recent issuance of the ASEAN Sustainability or ASENSO Bonds, which successfully raised P50 billion to finance projects supporting agriculture and rural development, accelerating green and climate-resilient initiatives, and expanding economic opportunities. Demonstrating the bank’s institutional commitment, she introduced Sustainability Officer Celine “Pips” Pastor, reinforcing that sustainability is firmly embedded in LANDBANK’s strategy.