Following the announcement of the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the local adoption of sustainability and climate-reporting disclosures based on standards developed by the IFRS Foundation’s International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), PLDT is reinforcing its focus on sustainability and supporting efforts to strengthen environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting among the country’s publicly listed companies (PLCs). 

In the inaugural episode of the “Sustain-A-Buzz” podcast of by the Philippine Sustainability Reporting Committee (PSRC), PLDT Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa Vergel de Dios highlighted the company’s commitment to actively participate in the evolving ESG reporting landscape and further integrate sustainability into its core business strategy.

Vergel de Dios shared insights on how PLDT’s purpose has been guiding the company’s sustainability journey, emphasizing that sustainability is not just a compliance exercise, but a strategic imperative that drives responsible growth and stakeholder trust. “Everything begins with purpose. Once you define it, you start seeing what truly matters to your stakeholders—and that becomes your roadmap,” she said. 

PLDT continues to advance its sustainability agenda through business activities that create economic value through digital inclusion, promote human rights, take action on climate change, and uphold the highest standards of corporate governance. 

PLDT has been reporting on its sustainability journey since 2016, ahead of the mandatory disclosure requirement for Philippine PLCs. To uphold transparency in its ESG performance, the company aligns with relevant principles, indicators, and disclosure standards of the Global Reporting Initiative Standards, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, the Ten Principles of United Nations Global Compact, Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, and GSMA ESG Metrics for Mobile, among others. 

PLDT was also the first Philippine company to support the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, which underpins the SEC’s adoption of IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards S1 and S2.

“As we support the SEC in localizing global standards, and as we strengthen inclusion of sustainability and climate-related disclosures in our financial statements, we hope to ultimately encourage more companies and investors alike to support adoption responsible business practices that positively impact society and the Planet,” said PLDT Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Risk Management Officer Danny Yu. 

Affirming its leading practices, PLDT has achieved back-to-back inclusion in S&P Global’s Sustainability Yearbook for 2025 and 2026, placing the company among the world’s best performing companies in corporate sustainability. 

Joining PLDT at the Sustain-A-Buzz podcast were De La Salle University Full Professor of Accountancy Dr. Arnel Onesimo Uy and PSRC Chairperson and SGV Sustainability Leader Benjamin Villacorte as hosts, and Filinvest Development Corporation Head of Sustainability Mark Tom Mulingbayan and P&A Grant Thornton Chief Sustainability Officer and Partner for Advisory Services Christopher Ferareza as co-panelists. 

The PRSC operates under the Philippine Regulatory Commission’s Financial and Sustainability Reporting Standards Council to contextualize ISSB sustainability disclosure standards for local adoption. 

The Sustain-A-Buzz podcast aims to serve as a platform for thought leaders, practitioners, and advocates to share experiences, challenges, and best practices in ESG reporting. 

To listen to its episodes on ESG standards, click here: Understanding the ISSB Standards (Part 1) | Sustain-a-Buzz: PSRC Podcast and Understanding the ISSB Standards (Part 2) | Sustain-a-Buzz: PSRC Podcast