UA&P Center for Social Responsibility

The UA&P Research and Extension (R&E) Cluster held a meeting to provide updates on its activities this academic year. It served as an avenue to share practices and insights across each area of expertise, encouraging collaboration among various units.

The meeting was attended by UA&P President, Atty. Philip Yeung, along with Management Committee members, Dr. Gladys Golo and Ms. Viory Janeo. The R&E Cluster is composed of the Center for Social Responsibility (CSR), Center for Research and Communication (CRC), Center for Food and Agri Business (CFA), and the Professorial Chairs on Social Economics, Family and Youth Education, and Migration.

Under the customized training series with GCash, the UA&P Center for Social Responsibility (UA&P-CSR) delivered a session on Strategic Thinking: Integrated Value Creation for Sustainability, focusing on how integrated thinking strengthens business decision-making and long-term value creation.

Mr. Colin Legarde Hubo highlighted the adoption of integrated thinking within GCash and its strategic implications on revenue, cost, and risk. He also discussed a multi-capital approach to value creation, aligned with the International Integrated Reporting Framework.

The UA&P Center for Social Responsibility (UA&P-CSR) conducted a session on Organizational Development and Human Resource Management for Sustainability as part of its customized training series for GCash.

Dr. Steffi Manhit discussed how to apply organizational development principles to align structure, systems, and culture in relation to sustainability. She also provided actionable employee strategies for sustainability that encourage participation and build a sense of ownership.

Washington Moves to Reassess Climate Disclosure Framework. The U.S. SEC has launched a formal review of climate-related disclosure rules, inviting public input on possible updates to Regulation S-K and S-X. Investor demand for consistent and comparable ESG data has surged since the SEC’s 2010 guidance, exposing gaps in current reporting frameworks. The consultation will examine whether companies should disclose more standardized information on climate risks, opportunities, and financial impacts.

If adopted, new rules could significantly reshape corporate reporting, capital allocation, and climate risk pricing, while influencing global alignment with emerging ESG standards.

A potential turning point: climate transparency may soon move from interpretive guidance to enforceable disclosure requirements. 🌍

The UA&P Center for Social Responsibility (UA&P-CSR) conducted a session on Sustainable Finance: Role in the Fintech Industry as part of its customized training series for GCash. Dr. Winston Conrad Padojinog discussed the fundamentals of sustainable finance and how investment and financing decisions can drive enterprise value. Through a simulation activity, participants learned to integrate financial considerations into strategic decision-making.

𝗦𝗘𝗖 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗦𝗚 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

The transition is no longer coming. It has begun. Beyond the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) mandate to adopt the International Sustainability Standards Board's (ISSB) IFRS S1 and S2 for publicly listed companies and large non-listed enterprises, it has now issued a draft Memorandum Circular (dated February 5, 2026) expanding mandatory annual board governance training to explicitly include global standards, ESG, and sustainability reporting.

This is not routine compliance. It is a governance inflection point. By embedding ESG into required board education, the SEC is making one thing clear: climate and sustainability risks are now core fiduciary responsibilities. For companies, the message is urgent:
• Sustainability competence is now a boardroom expectation
• ESG oversight will face sharper scrutiny
• Financial and sustainability reporting are rapidly converging
• Board capability gaps are now governance risks

The University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), through the Center for Social Responsibility (CSR), holds a clear edge in this space, built on years of technical work, standards alignment, and real-world advisory.

Below are some related articles on the draft memorandum:
• https://business.inquirer.net/574892/sec-drafts-future-ready-governance-training-rules
• https://www.philstar.com/business/2026/02/19/2508886/sec-updating-rules-governance-training
• https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/18/sec-moves-to-toughen-standards-for-philippine-corporate-directors
• https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2026/02/09/729136/sec-proposes-annual-governance-training-for-directors-officers/

In relation to its ongoing engagement with San Miguel Global Power (SMGP), the UA&P Center for Social Responsibility also conducted a stakeholder consultation for the Company’s power plant and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility in Masinloc, Zambales.

This initiative forms part of SMGP’s Materiality Assessment, which aims to identify and prioritize the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues most significant to the Company and its stakeholders.

UA&P-CSR expresses its sincere gratitude to SMGP for its continued trust and partnership.

As part of the customized training series for GCash, the UA&P Center for Social Responsibility (UA&P-CSR) conducted a session on the External Environment: Sustainability Trends, Risks, and Opportunities. Dr. Winston Conrad Padojinog discussed emerging trends, potential risks, and strategic opportunities that can drive growth and innovation in the digital finance sector. By anticipating market shifts and adapting proactively, GCash is better positioned to make informed decisions and shape the future of inclusive and sustainable financial services.

💼🔥The UA&P Center for Social Responsibility, together with Mr. Colin Legarde Hubo, Executive Director, and Prof. Aurora Hidalgo, CSR Consultant, had the distinct opportunity to conduct🔥 a strategic briefing of the Steering Committee representing three companies within the Lopez Power Group: First Gen Corporation, Energy Development Corporation, and Pi Energy. The committee is led by Harvard-educated executive Mr. Jay Soriano, head of the group’s strategy and planning. The conversation with the company's decision makers and top executives reframed sustainability from compliance to strategy -- anchored on capital allocation, market positioning, and organizational capability. A key message: Governance, risk, strategy, and metrics & targets are non-negotiable under ISSB-aligned expectations. Format is strategic. Substance is mandatory. We are honored to support Lopez Power Group leadership at this critical stage -- where sustainability becomes a strategic lever for resilience and long-term value.

Jollibee taps First Gen for renewable energy shift. Jollibee Group has switched to 99 percent renewable electricity for its Philippine commissaries and logistics sites, sourcing 11 MW of geothermal power from First Gen. The move is expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by over 70 percent while strengthening operational resilience as the company expands locally and globally.