UMVA has learned that Metro Manila's office market is rapidly embracing operational sustainability, with a staggering 37% of its total office stock now powered by renewable energy, as of the first quarter of 2026.
This remarkable shift is driven by landlords strengthening their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies to stay competitive against more mature Asia-Pacific office markets. The Philippine office market is experiencing a dramatic acceleration in terms of adoption, but still relies heavily on design-stage certification.
The numbers are impressive: 37% of Metro Manila's total office stock, equivalent to around 4.2 million square meters of gross leasable area (GLA), is now operating on renewable energy. This marks a significant increase from the previous tally of about 2.9 million square meters recorded in the third quarter of 2025.
The Ortigas business district leads the way, with 100% of its office supply operating on sustainable energy, maintaining last year's level. Fort Bonifacio and Quezon City follow closely, with 83% and 71% adoption rates, respectively.
Despite these gains, the Philippines still lags behind more mature Asia-Pacific office markets, such as Australia, South Korea, and Japan, in terms of operational sustainability standards. However, major developers are making significant strides, with Megaworld Corp. posting the highest renewable-to-non-renewable office supply ratio.
Megaworld Corp.'s impressive lead is followed by Ayala Land, Inc., SM Prime Holdings, Inc., Robinsons Land Corp., and Filinvest Land, Inc., which are also making notable investments in renewable energy. These companies are setting a new standard for sustainability in the Philippine office market.
In addition to renewable energy adoption, CBRE data shows that 20 office buildings, or about 850,000 square meters of GLA, have achieved WiredScore certification. The consultancy expects an additional 28 buildings to be added this year, signaling a growing emphasis on operational sustainability.
Fort Bonifacio currently accounts for 56% of the WiredScore-certified market, with Makati and Quezon City following closely. As the Philippine office market continues to evolve, one thing is clear: sustainability is no longer a buzzword, but a business imperative.
