QUEZON CITY, Metro Manila—PNOC has partnered with the Philippine Association of National Advertisers Foundation (PANAF) to support the PANAnaw Awards 2024. This year’s event, held on November 22, 2024, focused on the theme “Innovative Approaches to Resolving the Philippine Energy Trilemma”, bringing attention to the interconnected challenges of energy security, energy equity, and environmental sustainability.
Highlighting the event’s impact, PNOC President and CEO Oliver Butalid remarked, “This is one of the best returns on investment for PNOC. By sponsoring the case study, we’ve gained access to a wealth of innovative ideas. It’s incredibly inspiring to see young people so passionate about tackling real-world problems—issues that require everyone’s involvement.”
The competition featured 22 exceptional entries from top universities nationwide, with finalists presenting their PHP 10 million campaign proposals to a prestigious panel of judges. This year’s awards upheld a rigorous blind-judging process, ensuring impartiality by keeping participants’ school affiliations confidential.
The judging panel, led by PCEO Butalid, comprised of prominent leaders from the energy and marketing sectors, including National Power Corporation President and CEO Fernando Roxas, Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella, Alternergy Chairman Vicente Perez, Smart Communications, Inc. Assistant Vice President and Head of Mobile Advertising Mick Atienza, Digital Marketing Association of the Philippines Board Director Kit Ramos-Disini, and Ms. Catherine Santiago.
The “ENER-G” campaign by San Beda University Manila emerged as the champion of the PANAnaw Awards 2024, earning a PHP 100,000 cash prize. Their comprehensive plan combined youth education, corporate partnerships, government collaboration, and public engagement, ensuring a multi-faceted approach to addressing the energy trilemma and promoting a sustainable future.
De La Salle University Dasmariñas claimed the 1st runner-up title with a prize of PHP 50,000, while the Polytechnic University of the Philippines secured 2nd runner-up, winning PHP 36,000. Rounding out the top five were UP Visayas and UP Tacloban, who won as 3rd and 4th runners-up, each receiving PHP 25,000.
Reflecting on the role of youth in energy advocacy, Usec. Fuentebella emphasized, “We want the youth to be spokespersons for the Philippines’ energy transition plan, empowering them to inspire action and participate in emerging markets like carbon credit monetization.”
PNOC committed to implementing elements of the proposed campaigns as part of its efforts to raise awareness and inspire future leaders to take an active role in addressing the country’s energy challenges. “The Gen Zs are the perfect segment for the competition. In many ways, we’re borrowing their environment now, and we have to make sure we pay it back with a sustainable future,” Chairman Perez stated.
This initiative, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2024, underscored PNOC’s dedication to innovation, sustainability, and youth engagement as part of its corporate social responsibility. The success of the PANAnaw Awards 2024 highlighted the power of collective action in addressing sectoral challenges while empowering the next generation to lead transformative efforts. Both PNOC and PANAF expressed eagerness to explore further collaborative opportunities, advancing shared goals of promoting energy awareness, sustainability, and meaningful community impact.
