Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
The ILO has partnered with Philippine employers to launch a pioneering programme that will support sustainable and inclusive business growth
Philippine enterprises face rising pressure to meet global supply chain and trade standards tied to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. With ILO support, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) launched “Elevate. Sustain. Grow: Good for Business, Great for the Planet” on 31 July 2025, expanding training services to help companies adapt.
18 August 2025
MANILA (ILO NEWS) Enterprises in the Philippines are under increasing pressure to adopt responsible business practices as global supply chains and trade agreements increasingly link market access to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance.
To support companies in this transition, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), launched a new program — “Elevate. Sustain. Grow: Good for Business, Great for the Planet” — on 31 July 2025 during ECOP’s annual National Conference.
The initiative expands ECOP’s services to members with a comprehensive ESG support package, including:
- ESG Training Program – A six-module course helping enterprises of all sizes integrate ESG, from basic concepts to sustainability reporting.
- Philippine ESG State of Play Report – A first-of-its-kind overview of the national ESG landscape, regulations, risks, and enterprise perspectives.
- ECOP Policy Framework – An evidence-based guide to strengthen advocacy for an enabling ESG policy environment.
- Learning Session Series – Updates on ESG and the SDGs, global and local regulations, and business case studies.
- ECOP NaviGate – An AI-powered tool giving MSMEs real-time access to labor standards and compliance resources.
- MALKIA – A leadership course designed for Filipina managers.
ECOP Vice President Perry A. Ferrer emphasized that the new program is a strategic response to business realities:
“This program is more than just a service offering. It is a strategic response to the challenges and opportunities of our time. ESG today is a licence to operate, a signal of credibility, a determinant of market access, and a driver of long-term business value.”
ACT/EMP Director Deborah France-Massin commended ECOP’s leadership:
“ESG has become a key framework for sustainable business, helping enterprises manage risks while making a positive societal impact. I warmly commend ECOP for this far-sighted and comprehensive program of support for Philippine business.”
With this initiative, ECOP aims to position Philippine enterprises — from large corporations to MSMEs — as future-ready, responsible, and competitive players in the global economy.
ECOP President Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr. underscored the urgency of adopting ESG practices not because ESG is trending, but because it is necessary. In this era of climate risk, social inequality, and rising compliance pressure, doing business as usual is no longer an option.