As the Philippines faces the twin challenges of narrowing the digital divide and protecting its megadiverse ecosystems, PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are continuing to embed biodiversity safeguards into their network rollout and supply chain operations. For millions of Filipinos who rely on PLDT and Smart, this means enjoying digital connectivity through a robust network that strives to operate with greater care for the environment.

To this end, PLDT and Smart held a specialized workshop with their tier-1 suppliers that cover over 85% of their 2024 network spend which includes, but not limited to, network equipment, planning and engineering, build, operations, power, and permitting processes nationwide, as well as 10 of the country’s registered Independent Tower Companies (ITCs).

The workshop set the tone for technical learning, consultations, and collaborative planning. It included a deep dive into PLDT and Smart’s sustainability roadmap, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments and reportorial requirements, supplier code of conduct, and biodiversity policies and initiatives. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Biodiversity Management Bureau’s Assistant Director Mariglo Rosaida Laririt meanwhile provided expert insights into Philippine biodiversity and how businesses could contribute to national and global action plans for biodiversity conservation.

Discussions comprised further of PLDT and Smart’s key takeaways from their ongoing discussions with the DENR on the newly launched Sustainable Forest Land Management Agreement, particularly focusing on its relevance to telco permitting.

Workshop participants also included internal proponents from PLDT and Smart’s network, legal and regulatory, supply chain management, and corporate sustainability teams. Joining suppliers and ITCs, they engaged in breakout sessions focused on mapping out biodiversity dependencies, risks, and involved stakeholders, and aligning on mitigation strategies as identified in PLDT and Smart’s biodiversity policies, including programs on reforestation, waste management, energy efficiency, strategic collaborations, and use of technology for conservation.

Given the good turnout and active participation of PLDT and Smart suppliers and partner ITCs in the workshop, Rai Antonio de Jesus, PLDT’s Vice President and Head of Category Management, has expressed confidence in a continuing cadence of sustainability-aligned collaborations across PLDT and Smart’s value chain.

“Through our collective efforts and impact, we can help set a benchmark in the Philippine telco sector—showing that connectivity and conservation can indeed thrive together,” De Jesus said.

In March 2025, PLDT and Smart’s Board of Directors approved the enactment of biodiversity policies that commit to “No Net Deforestation” and “No Net Loss in Natural Forest Cover,” ensuring that any ecological disruption from business activities is offset through reforestation projects and nature-based solutions.

“Key to the realization of our sustainability goals are our partnerships with suppliers and business partners. Going beyond transactional relationships, we aim to cultivate these meaningful connections with them, not just to achieve our revenue goals but also to share our values and align with our commitment towards principled and responsible ways of doing business,” said Melissa V. Vergel de Dios, PLDT and Smart’s Chief Sustainability Officer.

These initiatives aim to support the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2024 – 2040 and reinforce PLDT and Smart’s contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The PLDT Group also aligns with principles and frameworks of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures and the United Nations Global Compact.