Insider Spotlight
The funding expansion represents a jump from P53 billion in 2024, translating into more than 2,000 megawatts of installed renewable capacity across the Philippines.
These projects span 27 initiatives covering solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal developments aimed at strengthening the country’s long-term energy security.
Why it matters
The surge in financing underscores how Philippine banks are increasingly channeling capital into renewable infrastructure as the country moves to diversify energy sources and reduce carbon emissions.
RCBC chief sustainability officer Armi Lamberte said the bank views renewable financing not just as a lending opportunity but as a long-term national investment.
“For over six years, renewable energy has been the driving force behind RCBC’s eligible sustainable portfolio,” Lamberte stated.
The details
According to a company release, renewable energy projects now account for nearly half of RCBC’s total sustainable finance portfolio, cementing clean energy as a strategic pillar of the bank’s lending approach.
The portfolio includes projects across major renewable technologies, helping expand the Philippines’ clean power capacity while supporting the country’s transition toward lower-carbon energy systems.
Between the lines
RCBC was also the first Philippine bank in 2020 to publicly commit to stopping funding for new coal projects, a decision that positioned the lender early in the region’s shift toward greener finance.
The bank aims to fully phase out exposure to coal borrowers by 2031. As of April 2024, RCBC said its renewable energy portfolio had already exceeded its remaining exposure to coal power projects.
Today, the bank’s renewable energy exposure is nearly three times larger than its coal-related exposure, signaling a decisive pivot toward cleaner energy investments.
Industry recognition
RCBC’s sustainability strategy has earned multiple recognitions. In 2025, the bank received The Asset Corporate Sustainability Leadership Awards Platinum Award for the fourth consecutive year, alongside the Asia CEO Awards Circle of Excellence Awardee for Sustainability Company of the Year for the second straight year.
The bank also received the Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines’ Best Sustainability Drive award.
The bottom line
Now in its 65th year and ranked as the fifth largest privately owned bank in the Philippines, RCBC is deepening its role in financing the country’s energy transition while positioning sustainable lending as a central growth driver. — Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
