Joseph Araneta Gamboa l May 22, 2024 l Business Mirror
The Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex) partnered with global law firm Latham & Watkins in hosting a forum on “Unlocking Philippine Investment Opportunities in the Year of the Dragon” last May 16 at Shangri-La BGC in Taguig City.
Finex President Augusto Bengzon welcomed the forum participants prior to the morning keynote address of Department of Finance (DOF) Undersecretary Renato Reside, who spoke about the DOF’s role in supporting the growth of Filipino companies.
This was followed by a panel discussion on the latest trends, issues, and strategic approaches involving foreign investments in the Philippines. Panelists came from Globe Telecom, Navegar, Morgan Stanley, and Romulo Law.
Another keynote address was delivered by Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) President Ramon Monzon, which set the tone for the panel discussion on local, regional, and dual listings with panelists from PSE, Vista Land, UBS Singapore, and Picazo Law.
The afternoon session on the “State of the Philippine Energy Situation” was keynoted by Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla, who compared the current problem of under-capacity with his first stint as DOE chief in the mid-2000s, when the issue then was over-capacity.
A panel discussion on exploring the real potential of renewable energy in fulfilling the Philippines’ future needs featured panelists from ACEN, Aboitiz Power, Bank of America Hong Kong, and Divina Law.
Department of Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan delivered the final keynote address on the “State of the Philippine Economic and Infrastructure Situation.” His talk was a prelude to the panel discussion on the latest trends influencing infra projects and investments that involved panelists from PhilTower, Prime Infra, Ayala Corp., and SyCip Salazar Law.
To wrap up the forum, speakers from San Miguel Corp. and Latham & Watkins discussed the latest developments in the international arbitration space with a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions as well as investment-related disputes. Highlighting the full-day conference for many of the attendees were the sessions on cross-border investments, sustainable energy, and private capital.
Meanwhile, Singapore-based tech firm Hashstacs Pte. Ltd. (STACS) and Global Compact Network Philippines (GCNP) have joined forces to help Filipino businesses in navigating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) regulations through a sustainability workshop last May 15 at the Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower Two.
Through their partnership, the ESGpedia digital platform of STACS will enable GCNP’s ecosystem of businesses to easily kickstart their ESG reporting journey, especially the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that account for 99.5 percent of existing businesses in the country.
Amid upcoming regulatory requirements, SMEs are under increasing pressure to embrace sustainability reporting and full supply chain transparency. In 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will require publicly listed companies to use the Sustainability Reporting Form (SuRe), which is scheduled for launching later this year.
STACS will integrate the SuRe Form into its ESGpedia reporting platform. This tool shall be in the form of a digital assessment —equipped with guidance notes to provide additional information to businesses on disclosure requirements.
SEC Director for Corporate Governance & Finance Rachel Remalante explained the sustainability reporting rules for publicly listed companies using the SuRe Form, which will become mandatory in the next two years.
GCPN Chairperson Ma. Victoria Tan said: “In the Philippines and across Asia, the regulatory landscape surrounding ESG is rapidly evolving, reflecting the growing recognition of sustainability as a critical driver of economic development.”
For his part, STACS Managing Director Benjamin Soh believes that “digital enablement is key in helping companies and SMEs navigate the evolving ESG regulations and maintain competitiveness in the global supply chain.”
As a network under the United Nations Global Compact, GCNP is part of the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. This global movement has more than 20,000 businesses, five regional hubs, and over 60 national networks covering 167 countries.
***Joseph Gamboa is the vice-chair of the Finex Ethics Committee and director of Noble Asia Industrial Corp. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of these institutions and the BusinessMirror. #FinexPhils www.finex.org.ph . Photo from Pinterest.