Philippines
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has built a growing presence in the Philippines through sustained capacity building, partnerships, and policy engagement to advance sustainability reporting.
Since the late 2010s, GRI has worked closely with Philippine regulators, companies, and civil society—supporting guidance and training on sustainability reporting, including collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Today, this engagement is anchored through GRI’s ASEAN regional hub, which provides country-level support through tailored programs, training, and partnerships aligned with Philippine policy and market needs.
Sustainability Bridge Course: Empowering MSMEs Through the SMIC–GRI Partnership
The Sustainability Bridge Course is anchored on the partnership between SM Investments Corporation (SMIC) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), combining private-sector reach with global sustainability expertise to scale sustainability capacity building for Philippine MSMEs. Implemented under Project SPARK of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the program targets at least 8,000 MSMEs in its initial phase.
Priority learners include MSMEs within SMIC’s extensive supplier ecosystem, export-oriented enterprises working with international buyers and economic zones in partnership with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), and MSMEs in high-impact sectors such as manufacturing, agribusiness, food processing, energy, and water and waste services. The course also supports SMEs seeking financing where ESG or sustainability reporting is increasingly required.
To ensure broad and inclusive access, the Bridge Course adopts a hybrid delivery model, combining online modules hosted on the GRI Academy with in-person and facilitated sessions delivered through DTI-SPARK activities, partner organizations, chambers, cooperatives, and direct engagements within corporate supply chains—positioning sustainability as a pathway to real business opportunities rather than a compliance burden.
GRI and DTI Mark SME Graduation in Sustainability Program
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently marked the graduation of over 50 Filipino small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from a sustainability capacity-building program under Project SPARK (Sustainable Practices and Reporting Kickoff).
The program delivered introductory training sessions and guided exercises covering climate action, basic mitigation measures, transition planning, and first-time sustainability reporting. Designed for beginners, the initiative focused on practical, low-cost actions that SMEs can implement despite limited data, time, and resources.
Participating SMEs were guided to identify at least one mitigation action and one forward-looking transition step relevant to their operations—linking sustainability to everyday business concerns such as energy costs, operational risks, supply-chain requirements, and access to finance.
The graduation represents an early milestone in the broader GRI–DTI collaboration to scale sustainability capacity building for SMEs nationwide, supporting their readiness as sustainability expectations from buyers, banks, and regulators continue to expand.
GRI Advances GRI-ISSB Interoperability in Collaboration with the SEC
As part of the continuing collaboration between the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), GRI delivered a dedicated presentation and technical workshop on GRI–ISSB interoperability during the 12th Annual Corporate Governance Forum. The partnership reflects the shared commitment of GRI and the SEC to strengthen sustainability capacity building, support evidence-based policymaking, and guide Philippine companies through the transition toward more robust and globally aligned sustainability disclosures.
Dr. Allinnettes Go Adigue, GRI’s Director of ASEAN Regional Hub, led the technical workshop on aligning the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and GRI sustainability reporting standards. The session provided practical guidance on how companies can navigate evolving disclosure requirements by integrating impact-based reporting under GRI with financially focused disclosures required by the International Sustainability Standards Board.
The presentation highlighted how interoperability between GRI and ISSB helps organizations reduce reporting duplication, enhance clarity and consistency, and respond more effectively to the needs of regulators, investors, and other stakeholders. By situating technical guidance within the broader GRI–SEC collaboration, the session reinforced the role of sustainability reporting not only as a compliance exercise, but as a strategic tool for better governance, accountability, and long-term value creation.
PEZA and GRI launch sustainability reporting guide for exporters
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) have launched the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines for Exporters (SuRGE) to support Philippine exporters in sustainability reporting.
SuRGE offers PEZA-registered enterprises a simple, standardized framework to track and communicate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, helping businesses stay competitive in global markets.
A pilot phase in 2025–2026 will involve selected manufacturing exporters to the United States and European Union, where sustainability requirements are becoming more stringent. Insights from the pilot will guide wider implementation starting 2026.
While reporting remains voluntary, PEZA noted that growing buyer and regulatory expectations are making sustainability disclosure increasingly essential for exporters.
