PBSP elects Tayag chair, ushers in new leadership phase

Insider Spotlight

• Philippine Business for Social Progress elected Manolito T. Tayag as chair and named Manuel V. Pangilinan its first chair emeritus.
• Margot B. Torres was elected vice chair, Rossana A. Fajardo treasurer, and Carolina A. Racelis corporate secretary.
• PBSP is pushing its NextGen programs after investing P10 million in 2024 and securing renewed PCNC accreditation.
  
  

Philippine Business for Social Progress has elected former Accenture Philippines country managing director Manolito T. Tayag as chair, marking a leadership transition at one of the country’s biggest corporate-led social development organizations.

The group also named Margot B. Torres as vice chair, Rossana A. Fajardo as treasurer, and Carolina A. Racelis as corporate secretary. Manuel V. Pangilinan, PBSP’s longest-serving chair, will become its first-ever chair emeritus while continuing as a trustee.

Why it matters

The move signals a new leadership phase for PBSP as it expands its role in education, maternal and child health, sustainability, and private sector-led nation-building.

Pangilinan’s elevation to chair emeritus also formalizes his legacy after serving as chair since 2000, a period in which PBSP said it broadened programs, deepened partnerships, and reinforced the private sector’s role in social development.

The big picture

Tayag steps into the role after more than a decade of involvement in PBSP, serving as trustee since 2014, audit committee member and later chair, and vice chair from 2022 to 2025.

He brings experience in technology, consulting, and digital transformation, and also serves as vice chair of Philippine Business for Education, trustee of the Makati Business Club and ASA Philippines Foundation, and independent director at PHINMA Education Holdings, Robinsons Retail Holdings, and FWD Insurance Philippines.

Torres, managing director of McDonald’s Philippines, joins the leadership team as vice chair after her election to the board in 2025. 

Fajardo, SGV & Co. country managing partner, continues as treasurer after joining PBSP’s board last year.

What’s next

PBSP said it aims to scale its NextGen initiatives, which include the MaMa program focused on maternal care, nutrition, and early childhood development, and LETRA, which targets literacy outcomes for Grades 1 to 3.

The organization is also helping companies comply with the Extended Producer Responsibility law, with proceeds supporting its flagship social programs.

PBSP also said it has secured renewed accreditation from the Philippine Council for NGO Certification, its sixth since 1999, underscoring its focus on governance, accountability, and financial sustainability. —Ramon C. Nocon | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma