The PLDT Group continues to embed sustainability in all aspects of the business.
In its Communication on Progress submitted to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) in June 2021, PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) highlighted how they continue to champion supplier engagement as part of their sustainability initiatives.
In 2020, the Philippines’ largest integrated telco reinforced vendor commitments to environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies by incorporating Sustainability Guidelines in its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which embodies the requirements for vendor qualification and renewal. The Code is reinforced by a Supplier-Contractor Relations Policy that promotes equal opportunity for, and honest treatment of all partners. In addition, it requires the vendor’s conforme and commitment to Sustainability Principles for Suppliers.
“We aspire to maintain relationships with like-minded partners that uphold our core values of fairness, accountability, integrity, and transparency in their businesses. In addition, given the importance of sustainability not only to our business but society at large, we are using our voice to influence our stakeholders, including our supply chain partners, to share the responsibility of being stewards of this planet for the next generation,” says Alfredo S. Panlilio, President and Chief Executive Officer of PLDT and Smart.
Supplier-Contractor Relations Policy
As a Philippine company listed in both the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE: TEL) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:PHI), PLDT abides by applicable laws and regulations, including the Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) Act and those on anti-corruption. This commitment has been communicated to, and has been affirmed by, 100% of PLDT’s and Smart’s business partners.
“We are committed to pursuing sustainability in all facets of our business operations. We recognize that to effectively manage our ESG impact, we must ensure that our suppliers are doing the same,” says Os Dela Paz, Chief Procurement Officer for PLDT and Smart.
“Our partners are highly encouraged to integrate ESG and sustainability into their core decision-making and to implement best practices to improve overall supply chain performance,” Dela Paz adds.
Globally-recognized framework
Already integrated into a significant number of supply chain contracts, PLDT’s Child Safeguarding Policy is part of the company's commitment to UNICEF’s Children's Rights and Business Principles framework.
Mobile subsidiary Smart similarly requires its vendors and business partners to support Smart’s Code of Business Ethics, including the Sustainability Guidelines, its Child Safeguarding Policy, and other policies that uphold sustainability principles.
UN commitment
The Group’s sustainability provisions for partners are aligned with its commitment to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s largest voluntary corporate sustainability initiative. PLDT and Smart are the only Philippine telco UNGC Participants -- a tier higher than Signatories limited to local engagement--committed to integrate the organization’s Ten Principles on human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.
For more information, send an email to sustainability@pldt.com.ph.
