For the 5th straight year, PLDT and Smart Communications (Smart) celebrated Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) Week to reaffirm their commitment to fostering a safe, healthy, and environmentally responsible workplace. The week-long observance brought together employees, partners, and advocates to promote proactive practices that protect people and the planet.
“Resilience and community engagement are not just themes—they are part of our DNA,” said Anastacio R. Martirez, Chief Operating Officer of Smart Communications, Inc. “Resilience reflects the strength of our network and support systems, while community engagement drives our commercial initiatives. Together, they define how we operate and how we care for our people.” Chief People Officer Gina P. Ordoñez emphasized the importance of institutionalizing EHS practices: “We’ve been through challenging times, and those experiences raised the bar for how we protect our people and our environment. Through partnerships with the public and private sectors, we aim to bring EHS practices to the community level and make them part of our culture.”
The theme, “EHS in Action: Strengthening Resilience, Empowering Communities,” reflects the companies’ ongoing efforts to embed EHS values into daily operations. Through a series of programs, talks, and collaborative initiatives, EHS Week encourages mindfulness, shared accountability, and community engagement across all levels of the organization.
Representing the Department of Labor and Employment - Occupational Safety and Health Center (DOLE-OSHC), Executive Director - Engineer Jose Maria Batino highlighted the importance of prevention and shared responsibility: “Government can only advocate for prevention—it’s the responsibility of establishments to implement it. When companies take ownership of safety and health, we reduce risks and protect lives.”
Jesus "Jesse" Martinez Tanchanco, Jr., Vice President of Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies, Inc. (BEST), speaking on behalf of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - National Solid Waste Management Commission, emphasized the role of innovation in sustainability: “We’ve seen firsthand how improper waste disposal contributes to flooding and environmental degradation. Through programs like Trash to Cashback, we incentivize segregation and responsible waste management. It’s encouraging to see PLDT and Smart actively participating in these efforts.”
This observance also aligns with the broader global agenda for sustainable development. By prioritizing workplace safety, health, and environmental responsibility, PLDT and Smart contribute meaningfully to the goals of the United Nations—particularly Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, which advocates for ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.
