Following its consecutive inclusion in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook for 2025 and 2026, PLDT Inc. (PLDT) reaffirmed its dedication to embedding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) excellence into its core operations.
While recently identified as eligible for the Dow Jones Best-in-Class (DJ BIC) index, the Group remains focused on its long-term sustainability roadmap, recently completing a comprehensive revalidation of its materiality assessment. This study identified Cybersecurity and Data Privacy, Customer Experience, and Customer Welfare as the highest-priority issues for its stakeholders.
PLDT and its wireless subsidiary, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), continue to lead in protecting the Philippine digital ecosystem. Key achievements include:
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Cyber Defense: Preventing 1.4 billion cyberattacks and disabling 198,000 mobile numbers linked to phishing, SMShing, and vishing.
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Child Safety: The Group’s Child Protection Platform has blocked over 2.1 million URLs associated with the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) since 2021.
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Digital Literacy: Reaching over 7,000 individuals through empowerment programs, including active participation in Quezon City’s Safer Internet Day.
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance service reliability, Smart has partnered with Edgepoint Infrastructure for a solarization pilot. The initiative targets 20 Smart-leased cell sites in off-grid areas, replacing diesel generators with solar panels and battery storage to ensure greener, more consistent power.
PLDT Group’s social initiatives are delivering measurable impact for underserved communities:
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Livelihood: The IDEATe program successfully transitioned 11 scholars into gainful employment.
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Agriculture: Showcasing the #KonektedForLivelihoods program at a digital forum in Seoul, the Group highlighted how its interventions have helped farmers and MSMEs increase their incomes by up to 400%.
The Group is ensuring ESG goals are integrated at every level of the organization. From aligning employee KPIs with decarbonization and circularity targets to onboarding customer communities into the “Be Kind. Recycle.” program, sustainability is becoming a shared responsibility.
Furthermore, PLDT is championing corporate leadership through the UN Global Compact Philippines, where PLDT’s Chief Sustainability Officer now serves as Chairperson, and through its involvement with the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE).
The Group’s efforts earned prestigious citations this quarter:
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Thomson Reuters Foundation: PLDT received a “Special Mention” for Workforce Action and was shortlisted for the 2025 WDi Workforce Transparency Awards.
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GSMA: Smart was recognized for its Digital Farmers and eBizNovation programs, cited as global benchmarks for bridging the digital usage gap.
