Globe Telecom, Unilever Philippines, Bayo Manila, Ayala Corporation sustainability initiatives recognized at 1st SDG Awards

The Global Compact Network Philippines (GCNP), the local network in the Philippines of the United Nations Global Compact, held the 1st SDG Awards virtually during the network’s sixth year anniversary on July 29, 2022. The awards were given to participating companies of the UN Global Compact in the Philippines which have made outstanding achievements in their sustainability programs under the four categories of people, planet, prosperity and micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME), and a special award for 5-year contribution to GCNP.

GCNP Board Chairperson, Ms. Ma. Victoria Tan of Ayala Corporation opened the event and introduced how GCNP was established in 2016 by Ayala Corporation, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, Nestle Philippines, Manila Doctors Hospital, Landbank of the Philippines and the Philippine Marketing Association. Ms. Tan stated that, “The local network aims to espouse the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and be the champions of the Sustainable Development Goals in the country”. The GCNP participants are from business and non-business entities in the Philippines whose main goal is to unite business for the world. She further added that the SDG Awards are given to companies who have tremendous impact for people, planet, prosperity both from big corporations and MSMEs.

Globe Telecom received the award for Outstanding Contribution to People for its internal digital programs such as DUDEbot, HopeChat, Wanda, and GCheck which were developed to support and enhance their employees physical and mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. These efforts are covered by SDGs 3, "Good Health and Well-being" and 9, "industry, innovation and infrastructure". Ms. Nico Bambao, People Experience Director received the award and emphasized the commitment of Globe to continue serving the people in creating connectivity to our nation and positive societal impact.

Unilever Philippines won the award for Outstanding contribution to Planet through the Misis Walastik program which aimed to improve plastic waste collection by providing incentives, preventing plastic leakage, and educating waste pickers, junkshops and households. More than 100,000 families participated in this project and 150 collection hubs were established in 400 barangays across Metro Manila and nearby provinces. These programs covered SDG 8, "decent work and economic growth"; SDG 12 "responsible consumption and production" and SDG 17 "partnerships for the goals."

Unilever also bagged the award for Outstanding Contribution to Prosperity with the Kabisig Summit program, an online program which upskilled around 600,000 sari-sari stores on business management skills, selling techniques, and customer service using digital platforms. The program also created access to capital from microfinance institutions and banks. More than 90% of the participants are women and are first timers in this kind of initiative. Kabisig Summit covered SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth; SDG 4: Quality edaucation; SDG 5: Gender equality and SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals. Mr. Ed Sunico , Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs and Special Projects, Unilever Philippines received the award where he highlights Unilever’s commitment on sustainable packaging and their support to the most vulnerable sector of their value chain, the sari-sari stores.

Bayo Manila Inc. was awarded Outstanding MSME. Bayo’s “Journey to Zero” is a fulfillment of Bayo’s objectives for the people, planet, shared prosperity, peace, and partnerships. It integrates environmental-friendly practices into Bayo’s core activities by tracing its carbon emissions and partnering with new stakeholders to increase supplier diversity and improve supply chains like including women weavers, farmers, and the government. Bayo Manila’s Co-CEO and Chief Creative Officer Ms. Anna Marie Lagon, accepted the award, and recognized that being a member of the GCNP firmed up the commitment to the achievement of the SDGs.

The Special SDG Award for 5-Year Contribution to GCNP – outstanding contribution and participation in GCNP Programs is given to Ayala Corporation. Ayala has been a part of the GCNP since 2015, supporting the activities of the network through active participation in the Board of Trustees, Sustainability Summit, and other major milestones of the Network. Ms. Maria Meliza Principe, Sustainability Associate of Ayala Corporation.

Ms. Yayu Javier, Vice Chairperson of the GCNP closed the program. She narrated, “When we conceptualized the MSME Recovery and Resilience Program back in 2020 as our response to the pandemic, we have not only envisioned to support it through our UN System Framework of People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships but also through recognizing the initiatives of our members in supporting the MSMEs during these thriving times. The SDG Awards was established to recognize the initiatives of GCNP participants and encourage each one to share their best practices and knowledge, so we leave no one behind”. Ms. Javier announced that the SDG Awards will open its nominations for the second edition. The 2nd SDG Awards winners will be announced during the Annual Sustainability Summit on November 22, 2022. The GCNP looks forward to know more about more inspiring stories in uplifting the lives of MSMEs and also continue to discover more initiatives in uniting business for a better world.