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’ broader mission to embed children’s welfare into responsible business conduct. As ESG reporting becomes more robust and inclusive, the Philippines is positioning itself as a regional leader in ethical and socially conscious corporate governance.

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