PLDT Inc. and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. were featured in the Philippines’ 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR) presented by the Department of Economy Planning and Development (DEPDev) at the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development 2025 in New York City in July.
The DEPDev report, which underscores the country’s progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from 2015 to 2024, included the telco giants among private sector companies actively contributing to national targets, specifically through initiatives like the PLDT Smart IDEATe Program.
The program is designed to promote economic, social, and educational equity by providing access to skills, digital tools, and opportunities for all sectors, including people with disabilities, Indigenous People groups, and senior citizens.
As founding members of the DEPDev-led Stakeholders’ Chamber on the SDGs, PLDT and Smart are the only telecommunications companies in the chamber, working with the government to leverage digitalization for inclusive growth.
“By continuously investing in a strong network infrastructure and making our digital services accessible to every Filipino, we are helping build systems that support inclusive, sustainable development,” said PLDT chief operating officer and head of network Menardo Jimenez Jr.
“Digitalization is a strategic lever for growth, and we are using our reach and influence to drive impact across sectors,” he said.
As of end-June 2025, PLDT reported its fiber footprint reached around 1.2 million cable kilometers nationwide, passing over 19.0 million homes in 74 percent of the country’s towns and 91 percent of total provinces.
Smart’s combined 5G/4G network covers around 97 percent of the population, enabling broader access to health, education, livelihood and other basic services.
PLDT and Smart chief sustainability officer Melissa Vergel de Dios said that beyond embedding sustainability in the group’s operations, “we aim to continue contributing to the SDGs by using our voice and engaging on meaningful collaborations with our supply chain.”
The companies are advocating for SDG-aligned practices throughout their supply chain, focusing on human rights, environmental stewardship and ethical business conduct.
DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan welcomed the private sector’s engagement, emphasizing the necessity of collective action to meet the 2030 Agenda.
“As we chart the path ahead, we urge the government, civil society, private sector, academia, and development partners to redouble our efforts, innovate boldly, and work inclusively toward the 2030 Agenda,” Balisacan said.
The VNRs are annual reviews that aim to strengthen government policies and mobilize multi-stakeholder support for the implementation of the SDGs, which serve as a global blueprint for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and promoting peace and prosperity by 2030.
