Ateneo de Manila launches Sustainable University Master Plan with targets until 2050

Last 12 February 2026, Ateneo de Manila launched the Sustainable University Master Plan in an event organized by the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability (AIS).

Spearheaded by AIS, the Sustainable University Master Plan outlines the seven principles on how Ateneo de Manila envisions to operationalize sustainability. This includes the University’s adoption of the triple-bottom line definition of sustainability, which goes beyond environmental stewardship by highlighting its intersection and interdependence with social well-being and economic management. Moreover, according to the memo by University President Fr Roberto C Yap SJ, the document details the seven-part definition and 22 end states of a sustainable Ateneo de Manila, as well as the 55 sustainability targets of the University in the short- (by 2027), medium- (by 2030), and long-term (by 2050). 

^{Relive the Launch of the Sustainable University Master Plan!}

During the launch event, Dr Ma Assunta C Cuyegkeng (AIS Founding Director and Executive Director of The Lily Gokongwei Ngochua Leadership Academy), Dr Leland Joseph R Dela Cruz (Assistant Vice President for Social and Environmental 
Engagement for Development and Sustainability), and Dr Emmanuel D Delocado (AIS Director and Head of Ateneo Biodiversity Research Laboratory) recapped the journey of Ateneo de Manila in the pursuit of sustainability and integral ecology. Their presentations highlighted how sustainability in Ateneo de Manila has always been a combination of administration directive and numerous grassroots movements from different units.

Building from this, the presentations also highlighted that the Sustainable University Master Plan is “a collective reimagination” of a sustainable Ateneo de Manila. The Master Plan was developed through a recursive and consultative process spearheaded by AIS which took 18 months to complete. This included scoping of numerous University documents, preliminary meeting with target offices, 27 community consultations, two rounds of asynchronous review, and the subsequent approval of the Board of Trustees last 15 November 2025.

The event was well attended by representatives from different units in the University, including administrators, faculty members, professionals, staff, and students. Messages of Support were also delivered by Dr Benjamin Gerardo T Tolosa, Jr (Vice President for Mission Integration), Dr Maria Luz C Vilches (Vice President for Higher Education), Fr Joaquin Jose Mari C Sumpaico III, SJ (Vice President for Basic Education), Ar Michael M Canlas (Director of Central Facilities Management Office), Hxyll N. Almonguera (IV BS ES, Scholar’s Sector Representative), and Deo Albert M. Serrano (Grade 10 - Sitjar, Head of AJHS Fair Committee). Attendees of the launch also signed a Statement of Support to the Sustainable University Master Plan.

Reminiscing how strong the community support was during the Master Plan development as well as in the launch event, Dr Delocado shared that collective reimagination and collective action served as an inspiration for AIS in the 18-month process. “Hope amidst the complex network of socioecological crises is indeed hard to find,” said Dr Delocado. “But hope springing from a community inspires us to embrace uncertainty and to reimagine our reality,” he said.

On his end, Fr Yap encouraged the University community to extend the same passion and energy such that the 55 targets outlined in the Master Plan can be realized. “Given that sustainability is a multifaceted issue, and in light with our view of sustainable development as a common but differentiated responsibility, I invite everyone to continue to contribute to our shared ministry on integral ecology,” said Fr Yap.

On the week of the launch, 9 to 13 February 2026, AIS organized a week-long mini-exhibit at the Doghouse. The exhibit featured a video presentation of the Master Plan, as well as a showcase of toolkits and knowledge products developed by AIS through the years. AIS personnel and interns stayed at the Doghouse to facilitate an interactive game and to entertain questions from the entire community on the Sustainable University Master Plan.

^{The Sustainable University Master Plan can be accessed via https://go.ateneo.edu/SustainableAteneo}