Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar 
GLOBAL GOALS

From opportunity to impact: Advancing communities at scale

Together with partners from the government and private sector, we focused on strengthening our programs on education, livelihood and climate action.

Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar

Achieving sustainable growth requires patience and long-term commitment. It takes root in systems that work — schools that prepare future leaders, programs that unlock livelihood opportunities, and climate solutions that help communities become better prepared for environmental shocks.

That mindset shaped the work of Aboitiz Foundation in 2025. Together with partners from the government and private sector, we focused on strengthening our programs on education, livelihood and climate action with the goal of creating meaningful impact in people’s lives. 

Education remains one of the clearest places to start. In 2025, Aboitiz Foundation supported 199 new Future Leaders scholars, bringing the total number of scholarship beneficiaries nationwide to 1,212. For these young people, support extends well beyond academics. It includes guidance from mentors and exposure to opportunities that help shape values-driven leadership. This came to life when scholars listened to a former NASA aerospace engineer speak candidly about representation and perseverance, and when they joined Brigada Eskwela to help prepare public schools for the new school year — learning early that leadership begins with service.

Access, however, continues to determine who benefits from opportunity. Through AuroraPH, Aboitiz Foundation and its partners brought solar-powered electricity and digital connectivity to 44 last-mile public schools, reaching more than 4,000 students and teachers. Reliable power does more than keep lights on. It allows schools to function consistently, teachers to plan effectively, and students to connect with the wider world. Just as important, connectivity extends beyond school grounds — opening pathways for communities to explore online livelihoods and new sources of income. Infrastructure, when done right, multiplies impact.

The same logic applies to livelihoods. Through the Elevate AIDA program, around 1,340 women graduated in 2025 with skills in digital tools, artificial intelligence and data. Skills matter most when they translate into sustained income and stability. In communities facing economic exclusion or conflict, these opportunities are especially critical. When women participate meaningfully in the digital economy, households become more secure and communities more resilient. In this way, economic inclusion becomes a practical contributor to long-term peace.

Climate action requires equal discipline. Through CarbonPH, Aboitiz Foundation committed 71,000 hectares to forest protection and restoration in Cebu — organizing communities, establishing nurseries, and strengthening watersheds that protect lives and livelihoods. But implementation alone is not enough. We also helped convene conversations on decarbonization and nature-based solutions, working to ensure that carbon markets are grounded in science, inclusion, and real benefits for communities. Climate solutions only work when policy, capital, and local stewardship move together.

Disasters put that approach to the test. Working in close coordination through One Aboitiz, we reached over 63,000 families across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with timely relief. But our response did not end there. Beyond immediate assistance, we focused on recovery — supporting families as they rebuilt homes, restored stability, and regained the confidence to move forward. That continuity of support makes recovery more durable, helping communities not only recover faster, but emerge stronger and better prepared for future shocks.

The takeaway from 2025 is simple: impact scales when institutions work together to achieve a shared goal. This year, Aboitiz Foundation will deepen partnerships with government and the private sector to reach more last-mile communities. By widening access to opportunity, caring for critical ecosystems, and strengthening resilience, we are helping Filipinos build stronger futures and shape a more inclusive and resilient country, one community at a time.