Green advocate Ramon F. D. Rufino named Philippines’ Real Estate Personality of 2015

Rufino, executive vice president of acclaimed premium office developer The Net Group, was elected in 2013 as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC), a national non-stock profit organisation that promotes knowledge-sharing on best green building practices.

As chairman – and co-incorporator in 2007 – of PHILGBC, Rufino successfully represented the 300-corporate member organisation in 2014 to become an emerging member of the World Green Building Council, which has since recognised BERDE (Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence), the national voluntary green building rating tool that has also been adopted by the country’s Department of Energy.

“I’m very honoured and humbled to be receiving this award. To me, this award is in recognition of successfully combining one’s passion for business and for making a positive difference,” said the 37-year-old who graduated with a major in Business Management and minor in Industrial Psychology from the Ateneo de Manila University, and later with a Master’s in Real Estate Development from New York City’s Columbia University.

Formerly a Young Leader Board member of the Urban Land Institute, Rufino has a rich background in office, commercial and mixed-use real estate development, having been a managing director at RHL Properties & Development Corporation, project coordinator for Industrial Property Developers Inc, consultant for several Megaworld Corporation ventures and the Philippine Real Estate Investment Trust Structure, account manager for Castel Realty, and director for property holding and investment firm Carella Management.

“I hope this award brings added visibility to the efforts of PHILGBC so we can receive even greater support and participation from the real estate industry,” he commented, sharing his vision for the country’s thriving real estate industry. “The awareness and desire for sustainability is already strong, but we really need to improve on the level of commitment and action. There are so many areas to work on but our top priority is for more and more companies and projects to secure green building certification.”

“This honour has inspired me to work even harder in pushing the transformation of Philippine real estate towards green building and sustainability not only with the developments of our company, The Net Group, but also through the many projects and initiatives of the Philippine Green Building Council,” he added.

During the second annual Philippines Property Awards 2014, his company’s The Net Park project, which is expected to be completed this year, was a Highly Commended winner for the Best Commercial Architectural Design (Office). It is the first and currently the only building in the country that is targeting a five-star BERDE rating. The Net Group’s entire portfolio of seven office buildings is already undergoing green building certification, and by early next year, Rufino’s company hopes to be the first and only developer with 100% of its projects certified as green buildings.

Rufino will personally receive this prestigious award in front of his industry peers during the black-tie gala dinner at the Raffles and Fairmont Makati on 9 July.

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