GCash Secures Double Recognition at ESGBusiness Awards 2025

Guided by efforts that broaden access to finance and partnerships that uplift communities, GCash, the Philippines’ #1 finance superapp and largest cashless ecosystem, was recently recognized at the prestigious ESGBusiness Awards 2025, earning honors in the Digital Inclusion Award and Cross-Sector Collaboration Award categories. These distinctions highlight how the country’s top finance super app continues to drive sustainability by embedding inclusive finance into the everyday lives of Filipinos.

The Digital Inclusion Award affirms the role of GCash in transforming access to financial services. By offering simple, secure tools such as GSave, GGives, GFunds, and GInsure, the app has made it possible for millions—including women, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) owners, and those outside Metro Manila—to save, borrow, invest, and protect themselves financially. At the same time, initiatives like PeraTalks and GLearn ensure that financial literacy keeps pace with access, equipping Filipinos with the knowledge to make confident money decisions.

 

“These awards are a recognition not just for GCash, but for the collective effort of our partners, communities, and everyday users who continue to embrace digital finance as a tool for empowerment. At GCash, we believe that progress is defined by inclusion, because true growth leaves no one behind,” said GCash AVP and head of sustainability CJ Alegre.

 

Meanwhile, the Cross-Sector Collaboration Award recognizes GCash partnerships with government agencies, local governments, schools, NGOs, and community groups to expand financial empowerment nationwide. Flagship initiatives such as PalengQR PH, launched with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), have integrated over 134,000 public market vendors and tricycle drivers into the digital economy.

 

In addition, the GCash Pera Outlet network, now with more than 175,000 partners, has extended cash-in, cash-out, and payment services to over 6 million Filipinos in hard-to-reach communities. Educational collaborations with institutions like the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, UP Los Baños, and De La Salle Lipa have also introduced financial literacy and digital tools to students and professionals alike.

 

“By joining hands with different sectors, we are able to remove barriers, create more opportunities, and ensure that every Filipino has a fair chance to participate in the digital economy. This is a reminder of what’s possible when collective action drives change to improve the lives of millions of Filipinos,” GCash VP and head of public sector Cleo Celeste Santos added.

 

The ESG Business Awards celebrate organizations across Asia that demonstrate excellence in advancing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. The awards spotlight companies whose initiatives deliver meaningful impact in sustainability, inclusion, and innovation, setting standards for responsible growth.

 

For more information, please visit www.gcash.com.

 

What is an MSCI ESG Rating and Why Security Bank’s ‘A' Matters

ESG ratings have become a key benchmark for investors, regulators, and customers to evaluate how well companies manage long-term environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks. Among these standards, the MSCI ESG Rating is one of the most widely recognized globally—used by asset managers and analysts to assess companies’ resilience to issues like climate change, labor practices, and corporate ethics.

What is an MSCI ESG rating?

MSCI ESG Ratings aim to measure a company's resilience to long-term ESG risks. Companies are scored on a scale ranging from AAA (leader) to CCC (laggard), relative to industry peers. Ratings are based on a company’s exposure to ESG risks and its ability to manage those risks effectively. MSCI assesses multiple factors, including:

- Environmental: Exposure to carbon-intensive sectors, environmental policies, and resource efficiency

- Social: Labor practices, customer protection, product safety, and community impact

- Governance: Board independence, shareholder rights, and transparency in management practices

A higher rating signals to investors that the company is well-positioned to manage ESG challenges and seize opportunities in a changing business environment.

Why Security Bank’s ‘A’ rating stands out

Recently, MSCI upgraded Security Bank (PSE:SECB) to an ‘A’ rating, making it the only Philippine bank to hold this score today. This positions the Bank on par with leading banks in the Asia-Pacific region for ESG risk management.

MSCI cited the following as key drivers of the upgrade:

- Enhanced corporate governance: Stronger Board oversight, improved transparency, and better executive accountability practices

- Leadership in consumer protection: Top-tier performance in complaint resolution and customer data protection

- Robust cybersecurity measures: Strong controls around encryption, access management, and information security standards

- Refined ESG risk oversight in lending: Updated sustainability framework to moderate exposure to environmentally intensive sectors

“Being the only Philippine bank with an MSCI ESG ‘A’ rating is a clear signal that our governance, risk management, and sustainability practices are helping us realize our vision to be the best-in-class in sustainable banking,” said Sanjiv Vohra, President and CEO of Security Bank. “An MSCI ‘A’ rating is not just a badge—it’s a sign that we are managing ESG risks as effectively as the best in our industry.

Why it matters for customers and investors

For customers, an MSCI ‘A’ rating means the Bank is building systems and safeguards that protect their interests and the environment over the long term. For investors, it signals resilience and strategic foresight in navigating regulatory, environmental, and societal shifts.

The MSCI upgrade is one of several advancements in the Bank’s sustainability agenda this year. In May, the Bank became the first Philippine bank to join the Alliance for Green Commercial Banks, a global initiative spearheaded by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to accelerate sustainable banking practices. 

Additionally, the Bank partnered with IFC to expand its green financing portfolio and strengthen its institutional sustainability framework—enabling greater support for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate-resilient projects.

These developments, combined with the MSCI ESG ‘A’ rating, reinforce Security Bank’s position as a forward-looking organization committed to building a sustainable and inclusive economy.

Embracing Sustainability in the Workplace

In line with its commitments, Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PPCPI) continues to develop programs and methods to ensure that its employees can fully appreciate and embrace the value of sustainability as part of their lives. The exclusive manufacturer and distributor of well-loved brands such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and Gatorade, PCPPI holds itself accountable to three key pillars in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals: inclusive business, water stewardship, and circular economy. 

“Today’s consumers exercise a keener sense of discernment, particularly when it relates to the values of the companies they support,” said Atty. Carina S. Bayon, PCPPI’s Chief Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Officer. “For PCPPI, sustainability has always been at the heart of our operations. From encouraging process and technological innovation to employee education and engagement, we make a conscious effort to create positive impact on society, the environment, and the communities where we operate,” she added. 

Caring for the environment remains a top priority for PCPPI, and programs that encourage employees to adopt mindful habits is key. For example, waste segregation is practiced across its facilities as part of its guidelines. There are separate bins for recyclable and non-recyclable waste materials to allow the proper handling and recycling of items that may still be processed for alternative use. 

Select PCPPI offices also utilize LED and motion sensor lights, as they consume less energy compared to regular incandescent lights. Through the annual Working Environment Measurement (a sampling method for measuring work environment or conditions) review conducted by its Environment, Health, Safety, and Security (EHSS) team, management gets to ensure that all of PCPPI offices and production facilities observe optimal working conditions for employee well-being and operational productivity. 

PCPPI employees are also encouraged to bring their own reusable utensils at work, like stainless utensils and bamboo tumblers. Water refilling stations are also set up to minimize the use of plastic cups when employees refresh themselves throughout the day. Going digital also allows employees to reduce paper use, as emails, conferencing platforms, and other network-based channels facilitating information exchange and collaboration across PCPPI’s offices nationwide. 

Atty. Bayon shared that aside from saving on expenses, implementing sustainability-focused policies in the workplace can contribute to employee health and well-being, as well as a shared sense of purpose. “Achieving sustainability is a shared responsibility—there’s no single team or department that carries it forward. It is the promise of creating a better future for generations to come drives us at PCPPI to champion this cause as we practice responsible operations,” she said. 

PCPPI is the Philippines’ exclusive manufacturer and distributor of well-known beverage brands such as Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Tropicana, Lipton Iced Tea, Sting, Premier, Chum Churum Soonhari, and Milkis. For more information about PCPPI, please visit www.pepsiphilippines.com. 

VFS Global Sets New Benchmarks in its Sustainability Reporting

VFS Global, the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions, shared new milestones in its sustainability journey. 

The new findings were published in the fourth edition of the organisation’s Integrated Sustainability Report 2022, released on 3 July 2023. The report indicates consistent improvement in the organisation’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance in 2022. The report has been prepared following the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and Sustainability Accountability Standards Board’s (SASB).

 

“The report documents measurable improvements in our sustainability journey in 2022, as well our continued commitment towards achieving higher targets this year. Based on the five fundamental pillars of our Sustainability strategy – Contributing to Sustainable Economic Growth, Delivering Good Governance, Nurturing our Colleagues, Protecting our Environment, and Supporting our Communities, the report reiterates strong alignment to our business strategy and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals,” said Shireen Mistree, Head – ESG, VFS Global.

 

IR 2022 highlights

 

Protecting our environment

·   More than 200,000 trees have been planted across the globe, as part of our contributions to reforestation and nature regeneration initiatives providing 10,000 tCO2e in VCS carbon credits.  This has also resulted in addressing social issues like poverty alleviation while contributing to women’s empowerment. Over 70% of the planting staff are women who now have a steady source of income to provide for the everyday needs of their families.

·   Marked a reduction in carbon emissions of 40 percent in 2022, compared to the base year of 2019, due to the greater usage of renewable energy, energy efficiency initiatives as well as the use of carbon credits.

·   Certified eco-friendly paper was used for more than 90% of our marketing material.

·   Continued our commitment to responsible e-waste disposal in accordance with local regulations resulted in 10,035 kg of waste being treated, in India alone.

·   Target for 2023 is to reduce our carbon footprint intensity by 10%.

 Nurturing our colleagues

·   Maintained a strong gender balance with a ratio of 57:43 for women to men in 2022. Women hold 27% of our leadership positions. The goal is to exceed 30% representation of women in leadership in the next 3 years. 

·   Introduced the inclusive language guide with inclusive terminologies and Dos and Don’ts as a tool to develop sensitivities and enable mindful behaviour among colleagues.

·   Globally, more than 129 nationalities work with VFS Global, bringing the benefit of a wide variety of world views.

Supporting our communities

·   Undertook over 80 community initiatives touching the lives of more than 59,000 individuals across 35 countries in partnership with more than 40 charitable, social and community organisations.

·   Set social priorities of caring with empathy, promoting education, and preserving the environment guide investment in community programmes throughout the global network.

Sustainable Economic Growth

·   Visa Application Centres around the world create local jobs, and as of end of 2022, VFS Global employed 8,883 colleagues worldwide.

·   Digitise the end-to-end Visa application processing including Digitisation of Visa Application, which leads to reducing our carbon footprint

·   In 2022, local suppliers accounted for 86% of total procurement spend for engagement exceeding CHF 20,000.

 

Delivering Good Governance

·   Updated employee and supplier code of conduct to include ESG criteria ensuring that as users and providers of services, all operate in a socially responsible manner.

·   Mandatory ESG training for all employees in 2022 and for suppliers in 2023

·   RSA Archer, enterprise risk management tool includes ESG questions for suppliers as part of the due diligence process.

 

Read the full report here: https://www.vfsglobal.com/en/PDF/CSR/integrated-sustainability-report-2022.pdf

About VFS Global

 

VFS Global is the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions. VFS Global is the trusted partner of 68 client governments, operating a global network with more than 3,300 Application Centres in 145 countries. The company has processed over 264 million applications since its inception in 2001. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport, and consular services for its client governments, enabling them to focus entirely on the critical assessment task. VFS Global has its headquarters in Zurich/Switzerland and Dubai/United Arab Emirates.

VFS Global is majority-owned by funds managed by Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager. Blackstone seeks to create positive economic impact and long-term value for their investors, the companies in which they invest, and the communities in which they work. Blackstone’s USD 991 billion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets, and secondary funds, all on a global basis.

The Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation and EQT, a global investment organisation, headquartered in Stockholm/Sweden, hold minority stakes in VFS Global.

Jollibee Group Launches Global Sustainability Agenda entitled Joy for Tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines. March 29, 2023 –The Jollibee Group launched last March 16 its Global Sustainability Agenda dubbed Joy for Tomorrow, which aims to further strengthen the company’s commitment to sustainable business practices. 

While Jollibee Group has made significant strides over its 45-year history in various social and environmental projects, it is now purposely integrating all its sustainability efforts into a more cohesive framework that unites the Jollibee Group community, including employees, business partners, suppliers, vendors, and other stakeholders, toward a set of shared sustainability goals.

With Joy for Tomorrow, Jollibee Group stays true to its mission of bringing the joy of eating to everyone, acknowledging that this mission extends not only to its customers and stakeholders today, but also to future generations. The company recognizes that it must use its global scale, resources, and expertise to help usher a more sustainable future for society and the planet.

“Our challenge in Jollibee Group is how to sustain our success while creating positive impact to our society and planet. As one of the fastest growing restaurant companies in the world, and with our vision to become one of top companies in our industry, we recognize that we have a significant role and responsibility in impacting positive change,” said Jollibee Group President and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong. 

The Joy for Tomorrow Sustainability Agenda centers on three pillars namely Food, People, and Planet. These pillars consist of 10 focus areas: Food Safety, Food Quality, Nutrition & Transparency, Employee Welfare, Farmers Livelihood, Community Support, Good Governance, Packaging & Recycling, Waste Reduction, and Energy & Water Efficiency. Each focus area sets goals and initiatives that contribute and align to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). 

According to Jollibee Group Chief Sustainability and Public Affairs Officer Pepot Miñana, Joy for Tomorrow serves as the company’s roadmap for achieving the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit. 

“It’s a call to action for everyone in Jollibee Group, amid the pursuit of our sustainability pillars of Food, People, and Planet. It is our commitment to future generations to preserve and improve natural resources from which they can benefit,” Miñana said. 

Serving food that people trust 

Jollibee Group prioritizes food safety and quality to maintain the trust of its customers worldwide.

In 2022, the company conducted over 15,000 Food, Service, and Cleanliness (FSC) Audits across its stores worldwide, while over 125,600 online training hours were devoted to Food, Service, Cleanliness & Condition. Moreover, 100% of its stores, commissaries, and logistics facilities have undergone rigorous Quality Management audits. The group also achieved a global Net Promoter Score of 82, exceeding industry benchmark of 50, showcasing customer satisfaction and loyalty for the various brands. 

Helping make people’s lives better

Jollibee Group recognizes the invaluable role in fostering an inclusive work environment for its employees, partners, farmers, and communities.

In 2022, women made up 59% of management positions and 51% of the total workforce.   Through training courses on Unconscious Bias, Inclusive Leadership, and Anti-Discrimination, the company educates its employees on the value and benefits of a diverse and inclusive workplace. As a measure of high employee engagement, the group achieved the 70th percentile of Gallup’s Q12 percentile ranking. 

Outside of the organization, Jollibee Group Foundation’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) has enabled over 700 smallholder farmers across the Philippines to deliver their produce directly to Jollibee Group. Today, the white onions, green bell peppers, tomatoes, calamansi, ginger, and other vegetables that the company uses in Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Mang Inasal products come from FEP farmers. 

Treating the planet responsibly 

In terms of environmental sustainability, Jollibee Group focuses on the key areas of packaging and recycling, energy, water, and waste. 

By the end of 2022, Jollibee Group manufacturing sites in the Philippines achieved 21% reduction in energy use ratio, 23% reduction in water use ratio, and 38% reduction of waste, with almost 50% of waste now being recycled versus the company’s 2020 benchmarks. On the store level, each solar panel installed reduces about 3-7% of consumption form the grid. 

Progress over perfection

“We understand that assessing our impact is a continuous process of ambition and refinement. We will track the success of our strategies over the coming years, and periodically review our material topics and stakeholder engagement process. We will set agile goals and targets to help us significantly impact society and the environment in more meaningful ways,” Tanmantiong said.

Apart from establishing a unit dedicated to sustainability and the appointment of a Chief Sustainability Officer as part of its Executive Team, Jollibee Group also instituted an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Council to ensure that its business operations are aligned with the sustainability goals. 

“Our Global Sustainability Agenda represents our belief system in conducting business more ethically. As a global food company, we are responsible and deliberate with our actions and their impact, and we are making our sustainability measures the way of the future,” added Miñana.

Find out more about Jollibee Group’s Sustainability Agenda by visiting https://jollibeegroup.com/sustainability/

About Jollibee Group 

Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC, also known as Jollibee Group) is one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world. It operates in 34 countries, with over 6,300 stores globally with branches in the Philippines, United States, Canada, the People's Republic of China, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Panama, Malaysia, South Korea, India, and Australia. 

Jollibee Group has eight wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger); five franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, PHO24, and Yoshinoya in the Philippines, and Tim Ho Wan in certain territories in China); 80% ownership of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf; 60% ownership in the SuperFoods Group that owns Highlands Coffee and PHO24; and 51% ownership of Milksha, a popular Taiwanese bubble tea brand. 

Jollibee Group, through its subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL) owns 90% participating interest in Titan Dining LP, a private equity fund that ultimately owns the Tim Ho Wan brand. It also has a joint venture with the THW Group to open and operate THW restaurants in Mainland China. Jollibee Group also has a business venture with award-winning Chef Rick Bayless for Tortazo, a Mexican fast-casual restaurant business in the United States.

Jollibee Group was named the Philippines' most admired company by the Asian Wall Street Journal for ten years. It was also honored as one of Asia's Fab 50 Companies and among the World's Best Employers and World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes. In 2020, Gallup awarded the Jollibee Group with the Exceptional Workplace Award, making it the first Philippine-based company to receive the distinction.

Jollibee Group has grown brands that bring delightful dining experiences to its customers worldwide, thus spreading the joy of eating to everyone.

To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com

AXA, ECCP Tie Up to Help Filipinos Become More Responsible Investors

To help educate the public on responsible investing, AXA, together with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), will mount a series of webinars from June to July this year to help local investors integrate sustainable practices within their investment strategies to promote a more responsible way of growing and protecting their wealth.

“External factors like the pandemic and climate change have prompted all of us to reassess every activity that we do, including our business practices,” said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer of AXA Philippines. “We at AXA have always believed that external factors like these have a long-term effect not just on the way we do business but also on our customers. Measures should be implemented to counter these effects and that is through integrating sustainability within our business practices and our customers’ investment strategies.”

For AXA, sustainability involves integrating three important factors to promote responsible investing among local investors and fund managers: environmental, social, and governance (ESG). This approach allows stakeholders to achieve two things: gain competitive returns on their investment in the long run and make a social impact through their investment.

With this, AXA reinforces its commitment to act for human progress by protecting what matters through AXA for Progress Index, a tool that was launched to help track the progress of the organization’s actions on climate and inclusive insurance. This index provides a holistic approach to sustainability as it covers three main fields where AXA intends to excel: as an investor, as an insurer, and as an exemplary company. AXA also maintains its leadership position in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) / Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) which ranks its global ESG performance in comparison with its main competitors.

In the educational webinars, AXA and the ECCP will take participants through the importance of sustainability, how the financial sector is key to influencing sustainable outcomes, and the role of investors in redefining business practices.

In the first webinar, “Understanding ESG and Responsible Investing”, participants will have an in-depth understanding of what ESG really means and take a deep dive into the attitudes and sentiments of the Philippine market regarding responsible investments.

As ESG finds its footing in the investment space, the second webinar titled, “Integrating ESG into the Investment Process,” will give an overview of how ESG is factored in the overall investment analysis and decisions of a fund manager, and in the construction of an investment portfolio.

Finally, in the third webinar, “Walking the Talk: How Companies Are Embracing ESG”, the speakers from companies at the forefront of sustainability, will share insights and highlights on their journey through sustainability. AXA Investment Managers will join as one of the key speakers for this session.

Through the webinars, AXA and the ECCP hope to provide an informative platform where local investors can equip themselves with the knowledge needed to become more responsible in their investment decisions and for fund managers to effectively guide them through the whole process.

For schedules and to know more about the Responsible Investing webinars, follow the AXA Philippines Facebook page or visit http://bit.ly/AXAECCP. For more information on Responsible Investing topics, check out https://www.axa-im.com/responsible-investing.