Philippine Companies Embrace ESG, Spotlight Children’s Rights in Sustainability Reports
UNICEF Philippines/UNI827152/Dragaj The Philippines is making significant progress in corporate sustainability, with 95% of publicly listed companies now submitting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as of 2024. This marks a major leap from 2019, when the SEC first mandated sustainability reporting for Publicly Listed Companies (PLCs). A recent study titled Investing in the Future: Why Do Children Matter in the Public Listed Companies Sustainability Reports , commissioned by UNICEF in partnership with the SEC, sheds light on how businesses are beginning to integrate children’s rights into their ESG frameworks. Reviewing 86 publicly available 2023 reports—roughly 30% of all PLC submissions—UNICEF found growing awareness and inclusion of child-focused policies and programs. The study aims to establish baseline evidence for integrating child rights into corporate sustainability, aligning with UNICEF Philippines’ broad...