PNB recognized by a joint program of the European Union and UN Women
26 October 2021 — Philippine National Bank (PSE: PNB) was honored by a joint program of the European Union and the UN Women as Champion for Transparency and Reporting in the UN Women 2021 Philippines Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Awards.
“We are grateful to the organizers at WeEmpowerAsia led by the UN and EU for recognizing our transparency reporting and gender equality initiatives at PNB,” said PNB President and CEO Wick Veloso.
WeEmpowerAsia is a joint program of the European Union and UN Women aimed at increasing the number of women who lead and participate in private-sector businesses in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, thereby advancing inclusive and sustainable growth along with stronger links between European and Asian markets through gender-sensitive trade and supply chain.
Veloso said, “We do not only aim to cultivate an inclusive and collaborative work culture. We also want to provide our employees equal access to opportunities to help develop their skills and capabilities, regardless of gender and background.”
The Lucio Tan-led bank was cited for its commitment to transparency and reporting that reflects gender data and indicators, with the intention to measure, analyze, and report on performance and impact of gender on its adaptive policies and programs, tracking performance in progress towards gender equality, and women’s economic empowerment.
Including gender data in our sustainability reporting is important to reflect the level of support and commitment a company has for gender equality, Veloso said, adding that “This report helps us gain insights on how we can retain and attract talent regardless of gender.”
PNB is the first Philippine bank to be certified as gender-equal after receiving its Economic Dividends for Gender Equality (EDGE) Certification in 2019. The Bank was likewise recognized as a Leader for Women by Asiamoney in its Women In Finance supplement. Among 60 banks in Asia, PNB was one of the banks with the highest percentage of women in its overall workforce.
The second edition of the 2021 Philippines WEPs Awards was presented by WeEmpowerAsia, a UN Women Programme funded by the European Union, and with support from The Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE) and Investing in Women (IW), an initiative of the Australian Government. The WEPs Awards recognized innovations in the private sector promoting gender equality across six categories: Leadership Commitment, Youth Leadership, Gender-Inclusive Workplace, Gender-Responsive Marketplace, Community and Industry Engagement, and Transparency and Reporting. This year, the Awards also celebrated SME Champions.