Daily Tribune editors had a tough experience in picking the Filipino of the Year awardee, which eventually led to SM Group heiress Teresita Sy-Coson. Among the serious contenders for the annual title is Aboitiz Group president and CEO Sabin M. Aboitiz.

Aboitiz led the group’s technological transformation that resulted in the coining of the term “techglomerate” which leverages technology, innovation, and startup culture to revolutionize its operations and amplify its impact.

His selfless initiative to serve the country also merited his being among the worthy candidates for People of the Year.

The Aboitiz Group ranks alongside global giants such as Apple, Microsoft and BMW, following the release of TIME and Statista’s “World’s Best Companies of 2024” ranking.

The recognition was the result of an evaluation based on employee satisfaction, revenue growth, and environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) performance.

Aboitiz, in July 2022, was named head of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), a herculean task that he assumes aside from being the leader of one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines with interests in energy, banking, food, real estate, infrastructure, construction, technologies, data science and artificial intelligence.

At the start of his tenure, Aboitiz maintained that the close partnership between the public and private sectors would continue to deepen with the establishment of PSAC under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., airing his optimism that by working hand-in-hand with the government to develop the five priority areas, “we will see a revitalized economy that all Filipinos will benefit from.”

Fighting for food security, hunger alleviation

Based on a September 2024 survey, 22.9 percent of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger, or being hungry and not having anything to eat, at least once in the past three months.

The September 2024 hunger figure was 5.3 points above the 17.6 percent in June 2024 and is the highest since the record-high 30.7 percent in September 2020, during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Hunger was experienced the highest in Mindanao at 30.7 percent of families, followed by 26 percent in Visayas, while hunger in Metro Manila was at 21.7 percent, and 18.1 percent in balanced Luzon.

Last year, Aboitiz spearheaded advancing efforts to promote food security and sustainability through the Brown Rice or Single-Pass Rice Initiative and the Half-Cup Rice Initiative.

Conserving precious rice

These programs were focused on reducing rice waste, encouraging healthier consumption habits, and improving the nation’s rice self-sufficiency.

“These efforts go beyond just addressing food security. They represent a meaningful step toward sustainability, healthier living, and making more efficient use of our resources. By increasing awareness of brown rice’s benefits and addressing rice wastage through the Half-Cup Rice Initiative, we can collectively create impactful change,” Aboitiz imparted during a meeting with PSAC members.

The Brown Rice Initiative aims to position the less popular grain variety as a healthier and more sustainable alternative to white rice.

With its nutritional advantages, higher milling recovery and lower production costs, brown rice has the potential to increase the country’s rice self-sufficiency from 80 percent to 90 percent.

“Promoting brown rice adoption is not just about a healthier option — it’s about building a more resilient and sustainable future for Filipino agriculture,” Aboitiz said.

The Half-Cup Rice Initiative, on the other hand, seeks to reduce wastage by piloting smaller portions in government institutions and encouraging responsible consumption through public campaigns.

“Simple changes, like serving half-cup portions, can have a profound impact. By reducing rice waste, we can save enough rice to feed millions of Filipinos and optimize resources more effectively,” he said.

Both initiatives emphasize collaboration among government agencies, private sector leaders and local communities. “Our approach is clear: we work together as a nation. These programs are a testament to the strength of private-public collaboration, and I’m optimistic that these efforts will deliver meaningful results,” Aboitiz added.

Through these initiatives, the government and private sector aim to address critical food security and sustainability challenges, ensuring long-term benefits for Filipino communities.

Full private-sector support

While the Marcos administration parted ways with some allies in the past years, Aboitiz and PSAC are totally different from them, as they pledged to continue working with the Marcos administration to help attain its goal of transforming the economy.

As PSAC’s strategic lead convener, Aboitiz expressed the council’s full support for the President’s visionary approach to fostering economic growth.

The private sector official, in March 2024 lauded Marcos’ strong resolve to attract more investments, enhance the Filipino workers’ skills and adopt new technologies to spur development in the country.

Aboitiz spearheaded advancing efforts to promote food security and sustainability through the Brown Rice or Single-Pass Rice Initiative and the Half-Cup Rice Initiative.

He also commended Marcos for prioritizing the upskilling and reskilling of the Filipino workforce to meet the demands of the evolving economy.

He said the training programs and technology transfer initiatives undertaken by the government would equip workers with the specialized skills needed to thrive in the global labor market.

Aboitiz said Marcos’ forward-thinking is aligned with the private sector’s objectives to foster an environment conducive to sustainable growth and development, which is why he is backing the President in his bid to entice more investments in sectors that yield profitability and contribute to growth and development.