PLDT, Smart empower Filipino women in the workplace, communities

Weaver Anecita Gemoya from General Luna Kapit-Bisig Association in Negros Occidental is a beneficiary of PLDT, through its partnership with the Community Crafts Association of the Philippines (CCAP).

PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continue to champion women in the workplace and in their communities, showcasing how they thrive in their various careers including those empowered by technology.

“We celebrate women—as hardworking members of the organization, leaders, mothers, wives, daughters, farmers, advocates, professionals, athletes, and talented individuals who contribute to the growth and development of the Filipino people,” said Gina P. Ordonez, Chief People Officer of PLDT and Smart.

Gender equality is high in the agenda of the group’s Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives, as an equal opportunity employer in the country. In 2021, PLDT and Smart became the first Philippine telcos that signed up as members of the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE), to achieve large-scale organizational transformation through evidence-based strategies and best practices in the workplace. To gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities and strengths of PLDT and Smart in relation to Workplace Gender Equality, PBCWE reviewed the company using the Gender Equality Assessment Results and Strategies (GEARS) and found out that the telco achieved a “Leading Practice” status on the following Focus Areas: mainstreaming flexible work for performance and support; professional development, mentoring, sponsorship; preventing and addressing gender-based harassment and discrimination, sexual harassment, and domestic violence. Through GEARS, Smart also achieved “gender balance” in terms of recruitment and promotion processes in all levels of the organization, including a gender balanced board, while the combined data of PLDT and Smart shows high retention rate for both men and women — scoring above 90% standard in retention across all 5 levels of the organization. 

To commemorate Women’s Month, PLDT and Smart will feature inspiring stories of women who are making ripples and waves in their chosen fields or influence their communities to use technology for good. PLDT and Smart’s commitment to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower women and girls is evident in the partnerships that they have established with their communities.

In Negros Occidental, PLDT has partnered with the Community Crafts Association of the Philippines (CCAP) to support the General Luna Kapit-Bisig Association (GENLUKBA), a group of women weavers, by providing livelihood opportunities to mothers to help them send their children to school.

Smart has also teamed up with several women-led organizations for the rollout of its education-focused Dynamic Learning Program in the provinces, Digital Farmers Program initiatives, disaster preparedness efforts, child protection projects, and mental health and wellness programs nationwide.

The PLDT group has also put in place a broad diversity and inclusion policy, adopted non-discriminatory and equal opportunity practices in the company.

PLDT and Smart also supported social impact tech startup Connected Women, particularly in their Elevate Artificial Intelligence Data Annotation (AIDA) program, which led to job opportunities for stay-at-home moms or those who were laid off during the pandemic. Smart also provided additional training on how to become retail agents for mobile load to help them augment their income for their families.