PLDT has been recognized as a Leader in the Global Child Forum’s (GCF) latest global children’s rights and business benchmark, a global assessment and report on the state of children’s rights across 1,108 companies, in eight sectors and six regions.

Conducted by the GCF in collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group, the report aims to assess the degree to which children’s rights have been addressed and integrated in a meaningful way by a company.

PLDT achieved an 8.9/10 overall rating—four points above the technology and telecom sector average, and the highest among PH companies rated by the GCF. PLDT scored perfect marks in 21 out of 25 indicators across the areas of governance, workplace, marketplace, and community and environment, underscoring the Group’s concrete steps and success in developing and implementing policies and practices that address its impact on children’s rights.

“We are proud of this recognition by the Global Child Forum that underscores our longstanding commitment to create a safe and sustainable environment for important members of society our children. As the country’s largest integrated telco, we recognize our important role in nurturing and protecting children as the prime movers of the digital space, and the future leaders of the world,” Alfredo Panlilio, President and CEO of PLDT and Smart.

The Group’s 2023 rating is a big improvement from its 2020 to 2022 results, where PLDT received Improver and Achiever status. As benchmark Leader, PLDT has been recognized for developing and implementing policies and practices that address its impact on children’s rights.

In particular, PLDT received perfect marks in five out of five workplace indicators, underscoring that it has built safe, decent, and family-friendly working conditions for its employees and business partners. Meanwhile, PLDT received 9.4/10, 8/10 and 8/10 overall scores in the areas of governance, marketplace, and community and environment.