BPI working toward blue bond issuance
Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) said Thursday it is looking to offer blue bonds, issuances designed to finance marine and ocean-based projects, with the lender seeking to hit P1 trillion worth of sustainability-linked loans by 2026.
According to BPI chief finance officer and chief sustainability officer Eric Luchangco, the bank is now working on a blue bond framework which will specify that the proceeds will go to eligible uses.
"Our goal is to finalize that framework within the year… I believe we'll be able to finalize the framework within the year. The timing of the issuance will be dependent on the funding requirement so I cannot specify at this time," he told reporters in Makati City.
Blue finance will cover sustainable water management, sustainable management of waste and wastewater; sustainable shipping; marine transportation, and port logistics; marine renewable energy; sustainable fisheries; sustainable tourism services; and solid waste management, among others.
Luchangco said the company aims to hit P1 trillion worth of sustainability-linked loans by 2026, a target the bank set in 2021.
The bank ended the first quarter with close to P900 billion worth of such loans, equivalent to 39.13% of the P2.3 trillion total loan book during the period.
"If it were to trend at its current trend, we would be able to achieve that objective, that P1-trillion objective. Of course, you know, we do have to see that pan out over the next year and a half, but I think we're confident that we remain committed in this journey and therefore we will be able to achieve this goal," he said.
Aside from the P1-trillion target, Luchangco said BPI is also aiming to have half of its total loan book be sustainability linked by the end of 2026.
"Our goal is that at least 50% of our book should be sustainability linked. P900 billion out of P2.3 trillion is not 50%, so there's still a bit of a way to go from that perspective that at least 50% should be sustainability linked, but the goal is that by the end of 2026, that's what we're shooting for. I'm not sure we're gonna get there, but that continues to be our goal," Luchangco said.
"I think we'll achieve the P1 trillion earlier than expected. The 50% of total loan book, you know, between those two goals, I think that one will be the more challenging to achieve because the non-sustainability-linked side is also growing well," he added.
BPI said its sustainable development finance (SDF) portfolio has so far covered 485 projects, including 177 in energy efficiency, 145 in renewable energy, 80 in climate resilience, 74 in sustainable agriculture, and six in sustainable water.
The bank ended 2024 with a P958-billion sustainable development goal (SDG) portfolio—P409 billion on industry, innovation, and infrastructure; P192 billion to zero hunger; P128 billion to affordable and clean energy; P105 billion to decent work and economic growth; P58 billion to sustainable cities and communities; and P66 billion to others.
Luchangco said BPI is also set to increase the size of its one-and-a-half-year peso-denominated Supporting Inclusion, Nature, and Growth (BPI SINAG) bonds, citing strong demand.
"I think we haven't publicly disclosed the size, but it will definitely be larger than the initial disclosed offer which I believe was P5 billion, so I think the demand for this bond has been very, very strong. I'm happy to say that it's been very, very strong," he said.
The issuance comprises the first tranche of a P200-billion bond and commercial paper program, carrying an interest rate of 5.85% per annum paid quarterly. The offer period was initially scheduled to close on May 30, but was cut short to May 26. Listing with the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. will push through as scheduled on June 10, 2025. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
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