The companies renewed their membership in the Stakeholders’ Chamber, the nongovernment representation in the Development Budget Coordination Committee-Subcommittee on SDGs chaired by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).
PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart are the only telecommunications companies represented in the Chamber and have been members since the body was established.
2030 targets
The 17 SDGs were adopted by all United Nations member states, including the Philippines, in 2015 as a framework for improving well-being, protecting the environment and promoting sustainable economic development by 2030.
Since 2022, Stakeholders’ Chamber members have worked with the government to align programs and initiatives with the country’s SDG roadmap and contribute to monitoring its progress.
DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan recently led the ceremonial oath-taking of new and renewing Chamber members at the agency’s office in Mandaluyong City.
“Having been part of the DEPDev Stakeholders' Chamber since it was established, we reaffirm our support for the Chamber's objectives of fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration, strengthening partnerships, and advancing the achievement of the SDGs,” PLDT and Smart chief sustainability officer Melissa Vergel de Dios said in a company statement.
“We remain committed to working alongside government, civil society, academia, and the private sector to promote inclusive and sustainable development and create lasting positive impact for all Filipinos,” she added.
Digital role
Vergel de Dios said PLDT and Smart would use their participation to demonstrate how connectivity and digital technologies could support sustainable development.
“As the Chamber's only telco members, we look forward to sharing how connectivity and digital solutions can help create opportunities, strengthen resilience, and contribute to the country's sustainable development goals," she said.
PLDT and Smart said their sustainability initiatives include investments in connectivity, digital skills development and technology-based solutions aimed at expanding access to services and opportunities and strengthening community resilience.
Global stage
The group’s digital inclusion initiatives were featured in the Philippines’ 2025 Voluntary National Review Report, which DEPDev presented at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York in July last year.
PLDT and Smart also represented the Philippines at the UN Global Compact Leaders’ Summit 2025 SDG Innovation Pitch Showcase in New York, where they presented a locally developed technology solution supporting climate and disaster resilience.
The companies said their continued participation in the Stakeholders’ Chamber would allow them to collaborate with government and other sectors on the country’s sustainable development priorities. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
