It was the year 1921 when the Philippine government established the first cement plant in the Philippines: The Cebu Portland Cement Company (CEPOC). It started operating with a single wet-process kiln producing around 4,000 cement bags per day. After over countless changes, and several innovations later, CEMEX acquired and modernized that same plant in 1999. Today, the APO Cement Plant, located at Barangay Tina-an in Naga City, Cebu, has an installed annual capacity of 3.8 million metric tons (MMT) of cement per year – a testament to the legacy this brand has built over the years.
On its 100th year since its establishment, APO Cement looks back on how it has helped build sustainable structures for families, communities, and the nation – spanning generations of strength, resilience, and innovation. This proudly Filipino and proudly Cebuano facility built a vital industry that not only provided livelihood to grassroots communities but fostered nationwide economic growth as well.
“APO Cement’s past is part of CEMEX Philippines’ strong foundation,” says CEMEX Holdings Philippines President and CEO Ignacio Mijares, emphasizing that the company’s ingenuity and its people are among the many reasons APO Cement is what it is today, 100 years strong.
“A century of dedication, innovation, and invaluable service is what makes APO Cement the plant it is today. The teams of the past century have persevered, have stayed determined, and have set an esteemed example that helped pave the way for this hundred-year milestone,” Mijares shared. “In the years to come, we hope to uphold this legacy with more strength, innovation, and a love for building this nation,” he added.
Continuing APO’s legacy
A century of providing excellent quality cement has led to the establishment of some of the country’s renowned infrastructures, including the Congress Building in Manila (now National Museum), the Customs House, the Quezon Bridge, as well as the soon to be completed Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway. The Cebu-Cordova Express Link connects Cebu City to the Municipality of Cordova in Mactan island. The 8.9-kilometer toll bridge paves a new and safe passageway to an estimated 50,000 vehicles daily which could ease heavy traffic, provide convenience to travelers and locals, and increase economic growth in Cebu and the Visayas region. Taking part in shaping infrastructure such as these is part of CEMEX’s unwavering commitment to building a better future as it continues to invest in the betterment of the country.
Upholding Sustainability
In keeping with its commitment to a sustainable future, CEMEX’s global climate action strategy, aptly named Future in Action, continues to be the driving force behind APO’s sustainability direction. Apo cement is currently a partner of Nestle in its plastic neutrality program, where plastics collected are co-processed in Apo’s cement kiln. Nestle recently reported that a total of 27,000 metric tons of plastic was diverted from landfills and bodies of water. Co-processing is a proven sustainable waste disposal solution in which segregated plastics are processed at extremely high temperatures to break materials down into simpler compounds.
In collaboration with Sinoma Energy Corporation (Cebu) Waste Heat Recovery Co., Inc., a waste-heat recovery facility is expected to be completed by the 1st quarter of 2022 inside APO cement’s plant. This facility will help increase efficiency and reduce the plant’s carbon footprint.
Furthermore, APO Cement recently earned an ISO 50001:2018 Certification for Energy Management Systems (EnMS). The EnMS certification means that the plant has minimized environmental impact by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions thus making CEMEX Philippines the first and only cement producer in the country to have facilities with these credentials. The only other facility with this recognition is also CEMEX’s own Solid Cement Plant in Antipolo.
Embodying APO’s values
Matibay, Matatag, at Maaasahan.
These are the values that CEMEX’s APO Cement celebrates in its centennial year. The years may have passed but the commitment to build a better future stays. The company recognizes that building the nation has been possible through its strong foundation and resilient people.
As it continues to build, CEMEX cements these values by contributing to community upliftment and nation-building that has, and will continue to stand the test of time.CEMEX is a global construction materials company that is building a better future through sustainable products and solutions. CEMEX is committed to achieving carbon neutrality through relentless innovation and industry-leading research and development. CEMEX is at the forefront of the circular economy in the construction value chain, and is pioneering ways to increase the use of waste and residues as alternative raw materials and fuels in its operations with the use of new technologies. CEMEX offers cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and urbanization solutions in growing markets around the world, powered by a multinational workforce focused on providing a superior customer experience, enabled by digital technologies. For more information please visit: www.cemexholdingsphilippines.com
