Lopez-led First Philippine Holdings Corp received United Nations honors for championing women's rights.

FPH earned the recognition from the group UN Women, when the organization concluded late in October the Philippine phase of the 2022 Asia-Pacific Women Empowerment Principles Awards, an annual event that UN Women holds in Asia as a way of recognizing leaders and business organizations that promote gender inclusivity and women empowerment.

FPH was adjudged by UN Women second runner-up under the Gender Responsive Marketplace category of the WEP Awards for the company's ratification and implementation early this year of its social safeguards policies.

UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Stronger value chain

The FPH social safeguard policies integrate into the value chain the conglomerate's recognition of gender equality and diversity, on top of human rights, rights of indigenous people, recognition of IP cultural heritage, as well as FPH commitment to protect the environment and manage its assets in a responsible manner.

The integration of the safeguard policies encompasses FPH's partners and host communities.

Aside from ratifying the social safeguard policies, FPH chairperson and CEO Federico Lopez himself earlier joined a global movement of top corporate executives who signed the "CEO Statement of Support for the Women's Empowerment Principles."

In his statement of support, Lopez declared: "Solving the pressing issues of planet and society requires the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders. Guided by the (WEPs), we commit to provide a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment for our employees and co-creators (suppliers, contractors), respect the rights of our host communities, deliver the best products and services to our customers, and satisfy the expectations of our investors.