Officials of the Global Compact Network Philippines (GCNP) said they recently met with Arnaud Peral, the newly-appointed United Nations Resident Coordinator to the Philippines, to discuss how the UN can support GCNP’s initiatives and the role the private sector can play in light of global challenges and shifting political landscapes impacting global sustainable development goals.
“The role of the private sector in advancing sustainable development is more crucial than ever. The UN welcomes opportunities to collaborate with GCNP and its members to drive meaningful impact in the Philippines, particularly by creating an enabling environment for investments and job acceleration,” Peral said.
GCNP presented an overview of its current programs and strategic priorities, with a particular focus on its commitment to the UN Global Compact’s Forward Faster initiative. The global call to action mobilizes businesses to fast-track progress across five key areas: gender equality, climate action, living wage, water resilience, and finance for the SDGs.
Through participation in the UN Global Compact, GCNP participants commit to aligning their strategies and operations with the Ten Principles on human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption—and to taking action in support of the SDGs.
“GCNP remains committed to strengthening partnerships with the UN and other stakeholders to create an enabling environment for sustainable and responsible business in the country. By working together, we can scale up solutions that contribute to both national development and global sustainability targets,” said Vickie Tan, chairperson of the GCNP board of trustees.
Peral reaffirmed the UN’s support in enhancing private sector engagement and encouraged more frequent dialogue to leverage cross-sector synergies and accelerate the country’s sustainable development efforts.
GCNP counts 65 participating organizations from diverse sectors, including some of the country’s top corporations such as SM Investments, BPI, Ayala Corp, Globe Telecom Inc., International Container Terminal Services Inc., Megaworld Corp., Manila Electric Co., PLDT Inc., Converge ICT Solutions Inc., D&L Industries Inc., Manila Water Co. Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.
