How does PHL’s air quality compare with other countries?

The "Air Quality Life Index" is not an official 2025 report itself but a metric from the University of Chicago, which has been a key component of reports highlighting the severe impact of air pollution on life expectancy.

The most significant official air quality-related information for 2025 includes the World Health Organization (WHO) releasing its updated global database of air quality standards in February 2025 and the European Environment Agency (EEA) publishing its annual Air Quality Status Report in April 2025. 

Key Insights from 2025 Information:

• Air Quality Life Index (AQLI):The AQLI is a metric that quantifies the impact of air pollution on human health and life expectancy, not a specific 2025 report. A recent report using this metric for Bangladesh, released in August 2025, found a reduction in average life expectancy by 5.5 years due to air pollution. 

• WHO Global Database:The WHO released an updated database of air quality standards in February 2025, containing data from over 7,000 settlements in more than 120 countries to aid in monitoring and policy changes. 

• EEA Air Quality Status Report:The European Environment Agency released its 2025 report in April, providing a baseline assessment of air quality in Europe and identifying potential hotspots for air quality roadmaps from 2026 onwards. 

• Global Trends:A report by Oizom indicated India as the most polluted country in 2025 with an average AQI of 155, while Thailand had the cleanest air with an average AQI of 14 due to strict emission laws and clean transport initiatives. 

• WHO Guidelines:Reports highlight that only a handful of countries met the World Health Organization's guideline for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) of 5 micrograms per cubic meter, demonstrating a global challenge in achieving safe air quality levels. 

Source: Business World

Fair incomes, safety nets, career progression urged for PHL workers

The Government needs to ensure that gig workers receive fair and transparent earnings to unlock the full potential of the gig economy, market research company Ipsos said.

Despite sharp swings in monthly pay, most Filipino gig workers remain upbeat about their prospects.

The findings come from Gig Life PH: Understanding the Realities and Preferences of Filipino Gig Workers, a new Ipsos Strategy3 study, which showed that many earn more without giving up full-time jobs, though monthly earnings fluctuate by 10 percent to more than 30 percent.

Alongside flexibility, workers said they want a safety net, with 64 percent prioritizing retirement planning and 58 percent seeking access to healthcare.

“The Philippine gig economy provides workers with a flexible and empowering source of income, presenting a dynamic avenue for economic growth,” Ipsos Strategy3 Principal Christine P. Dugay said at a briefing.

She said the government and gig platforms need to support such workers by ensuring fair and transparent earnings, investing in data systems, protecting workers, and offering skills development and career progression.

“(Workers) have to be provided breakdowns of earnings, bonuses, and deductions,” she added.

“There is really a need to standardize what we would call gig work principles,” she said, including defining base pay for gig workers.

“The government has to actually work with the gig platforms because they should see the pay structure … The government has to understand how they are defining base rates and what would be considered base pay,” she added.

She said that gig platforms can help by providing a detailed breakdown of earnings, bonuses, and deductions and adopting standardized definitions for base pay, search rates, and incentive schemes.

The Ipsos Gig Life PH study found that 64% of gig workers are actively planning for retirement, while 58% value access to healthcare.

“Given their preferences, we recommend there should actually be an improvement of social protection and retirement security for gig workers,” she said.

“We also are recommending that the government create benefits schemes. Gig workers want to be in control of their social protection; this is why you should allow them flexible app-based enrollments and contributions to enhance their social security,” she added.

Source: Business World

Green is good: Why more developers eye green certifications for buildings

Philippine property developers are increasingly seeking green certifications for office buildings not only because of government energy mandates but also rising demand from multinational companies.

It’s no longer uncommon to find developers touting the sustainable features of their new office buildings, which have received certifications like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE), Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) and WELL Building Standard.

To get a green building certification, a project must meet certain environmental and sustainability standards. These usually ensure that a building meets high standards of energy efficiency, resource conservation, air quality, among others.

“We see the increase (in green certifications) because of the mandates by the government, such as the Department of Energy, to comply with the laws to Republic Act No. 11285 or known as the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act,” Jess Niño H. De Villa, Head of Engineering, Energy and Environment of Knight Frank said.

The law requires Philippine businesses to monitor energy consumption, which is the top contributor to net-zero emissions.

“Certification helps ensure compliance with these requirements, avoiding potential fines or legal issues, making it a top reason for properties to adopt green certifications in the Philippines,” Mr. De Villa said.

Green certifications can make a big difference in attracting potential tenants.

“A green-certified building can be more attractive to potential tenants who prioritize environmental responsibility. Green certification can set a building apart, making it a preferred choice for tenants and investors who value sustainability,” he added.

As of now, 31.2% of the 8.5 million square meters (sq.m.) of existing office supply within Metro Manila have varying levels of LEED certifications, Mr. De Villa said.

He noted the NEO Property Management’s real estate portfolio in the Philippines was the first in the world to secure the International Finance Corp.’s (IFC) EDGE Zero Carbon certification. NEO’s entire portfolio is powered by Cleanergy, which delivers 100% renewable energy.

While the cost of securing green certifications can be costly, it can still be worth it for developers.

“In general, (the cost of the) certification is still quite low in terms of the savings that you can be able to gain and for the revenue,” Mr. De Villa said.

STRONG DEMAND

Demand for green certified buildings in the Philippines is also driven by multinational companies.

“It’s largely because of the Western companies and Western tenants moving to the country, requiring their buildings to be LEED certified. Their head offices in, let’s say, London and the US, have certain requirements for the office space that they need to occupy here,” Leechiu Director of Research Roy Amado L. Golez, Jr. said.

Mr. Golez said most of the newer buildings are compliant with green building standards, mainly because they don’t want to lose out on the tenants whose parent companies are based or headquartered in Western countries.

“It has become a must-have. If you don’t have it, your market might be smaller,” Mr. Golez said.

CBRE Philippines Country Head Jie C. Espinosa said global companies make green building standards a “first hurdle” when choosing office spaces.

“There are certain cases, that these occupiers consciously negotiate provisions in their contract, that down the road developers need to be proactive in providing sustainable features into their buildings,” Mr. Espinosa said.

Green leases, rental agreements where tenants and landlords set sustainability-related targets, benefit both parties by raising the value of the property and creating incentives for tenants.

Mr. De Villa said domestic companies also see green-certified office buildings as an ideal location for their operations, as they also seek to comply with evolving environmental standards.

He also noted that tenants that want to integrate sustainability in their operations are willing to pay premium rates to secure office spaces in buildings with green certifications.

ADOPTION HIGH IN METRO MANILA

Central business districts in Metro Manila have seen significant gains in green building adoption in recent years, CBRE Philippines Director of Advisory and Transactions Services Garri Amiel P. Guarnes said.

Based on CBRE data, the office segment in Fort Bonifacio has seen its green building adoption rate jump to 73% in 2024 from 63% in 2022.

For Alabang, the green building adoption rate inched up to 67% this year from 49% two years ago.

The green building adoption rate in Ortigas rose to 66% in 2024 from 42% in 2022, while in Quezon City, it went up to 45% in 2024 from 42% in 2022.

However, green building adoption in provincial locations is lower than in Metro Manila, Mr. Guarnes said.

“This was due to developers being more focused towards third-party outsourcers but moving forward, these companies or the clients they serve would implement their sustainability targets,” he said.

In Davao, 24% of the office stock is green certified, followed by Cebu with 23%, Iloilo with 16% and Pampanga with 8%.

However, Cebu is leading in terms of the rate of increase in adoption, Mr. Guarnes said.

In Cebu, 44% of the recent completions between 2020 and 2024 have green certifications, while 16% are still under application.

FIVE-STAR BERDE

For Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc., its 800-hectare LIMA Estate in Lipa-Malvar, Batangas, is one of the strongest examples of a green-certified property.

“It’s been recognized as a five-star BERDE, which means it is implementing sustainable practices that are aligned with the global standards,” Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. Economic Estates Vice-President for Inventory Generation Group Jolan P. Formalejo said.

BERDE is a local green building system rating that was developed by the Philippine Green Building Council.

Mr. Formalejo said the developments inside the estate, such as the Outlets at Lipa and the LIMA Tower 1 were five-star BERDE certified in 2022.

LIMA Tower 1 holds a BERDE certification for environmental sustainability, and has pre-certification from the WELL Building Standard, which assesses features promoting health and well-being.

“Hopefully, once we start to operate LIMA Tower 1, all the tenants will appreciate the operational savings that they can achieve,” Mr. Formalejo said.

He said the Smart Water Network, wherein its water facilities turn into interconnected and intelligent systems, operated by LIMA Water Corp., resulted in 30% savings in operations and uptime of 99.3%. It is also less than 5% in terms of wastage of non-renewable water.

“Soon we will be developing our Tower 2. We’ll also gear up for these certifications,” he said, adding that The West Cebu Estate and Mactan Economic Zone 2 Estate are aiming for five stars this year.

Mr. Formalejo noted these green certifications make the locators feel secure knowing their business operates inside a sustainable development along with the assurance that all these facilities and systems are future proof.

Source: Business World