As part of a continuing process of validating material topics with their key stakeholders, PLDT Inc. and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) recently conducted a consultation with children and youth representatives from different parts of the country to gather insights on the impact of various environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues on young Filipinos today, as well as their perspectives on sustainability.

In a focus group discussion (FGD) with participants aged 13-26 years old, organized by Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL), an international non-government organization committed to preventing and stopping child exploitation, PLDT and Smart talked about their approach to embed sustainability in business operations and facilitated conversations on ESG areas that impact children in communities where they operate.

Discussions included twelve identified ESG areas that comprise PLDT and Smart’s sustainability roadmap, revolving around promoting innovation and narrowing the digital divide, managing environmental impact, taking care of stakeholders and upholding the highest standards of corporate governance.

Important ESG issues

When asked to select the most important ESG issues that in their opinion should be prioritized by PLDT and Smart, children and youth participants chose child protection, cybersecurity and data privacy, and climate-related risk management.

During the FGD, participants also articulated specific qualities and actions that make companies responsible in their operations, such as integrating end-user safety in the design of their services, being open to customer feedback and criticism, and having empathy to address people’s needs especially during disasters.

“Companies should care about people who are using their services. Their services should be designed to have the best interests of end-users so that customers can enjoy their services while also being safe as they use them,” one participant said.

Concrete expectations for businesses

Another participant shared concrete expectations for businesses in the Philippines. “Companies must be responsible in their actions and must act in a way that does not contribute to different issues that are faced by today’s generation, which include child labor. Companies must contribute to developing and making the country better,” she said.

When asked why companies should be responsible in their operations, participants responded that doing so builds credibility, trust, patronage and loyalty among customers.

This FGD was part of PLDT and Smart’s participation in TdH NL’s 2024 Children and Youth Summit event which convened children and youth representatives from various parts of the country to ensure representation of young people in the national electoral discourse and in other key societal endeavors that impact the country’s development.