Representatives from Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines joined the United Nations Global Compact Network Philippines (UN GCNP) 2026 General Assembly, reinforcing the firm's commitment to advancing sustainable and responsible business practices.
Atty. Mara Angeli Villegas, Atty. Theressa Fely Enriquez, and Lianna B. Capuno represented PwC Philippines at the assembly, held at the Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2 on 3 March 2026. The gathering convened leaders from the UN and across the public and private sectors to collaboratively chart the network’s direction for the year ahead.
UN Resident Coordinator calls on private sector to lead
In his keynote address, UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Arnaud Peral delivered a compelling call to action, vaunting the critical role of the private sector in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Peral emphasized that while digital transformation and artificial intelligence hold immense potential to accelerate progress, their impact will only be realized if solutions are intentionally aligned with the global goals.
“Digital transformation and AI can accelerate progress toward the global goals — but only if we scale up solutions that are aligned with them. In this critical moment, private sector leadership is essential. Let us strengthen partnerships to drive meaningful and lasting impact,” he said.
Peral also took the opportunity to recognize current and outgoing Trustees for their contributions to the network, reinforcing the importance of sustained leadership and collaboration in driving the global sustainability agenda forward. His message set a powerful tone for the assembly, framing 2026 as a pivotal year for translating ambition into measurable results.
A year of action
GCNP Executive Director Ma. Victoria Tan opened the assembly by outlining a decisive shift from commitments to implementation through three strategic pillars: equip, catalyze, and advance.
Trade and Industry Secretary Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, represented by Jeremiah Reyes, underscored that sustainability standards are becoming increasingly stringent and that Philippine companies must be prepared to comply. She called for responsible business practices across all organizations, with particular emphasis on governance, environmental impact, and the empowerment of women entrepreneurs and MSMEs.
Meanwhile, ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC) Philippines Chairperson Jose Maria Concepcion III spoke on strengthening entrepreneurship and cross-sector collaboration to drive sustainable and inclusive business growth.
PwC Philippines among new GCNP participants
The assembly noted that 17 new participants joined GCNP in 2025, including Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines, bringing the network's total membership to 79 as of March 2026.
As a new GCNP participant, the PwC Philippines team has been welcomed into the SDG Innovations Accelerator Programme for Young Professionals (Philippine Track). The team has also signed up for the UN Global Compact Academy, gaining access to learning materials, on-demand resources, and global session registrations — further strengthening the firm's capacity to contribute meaningfully to the SDGs.
PwC Philippines remains committed to embedding sustainability at the core of its operations and to collaborating with stakeholders across sectors to drive sustained positive impact.
Board election and key announcements
Another highlight of the assembly was the nomination and election of new Board of Trustees members. Atty. Villegas represented our firm as a voting participant. The new trusteeship was officially announced on 5 March 2026.
The assembly also featured the launch of the SDG Ambition Accelerator (Philippines) — the first-ever Philippine cohort and the first localized program tailored to the local business context. The five-week, hands-on accelerator, offered free and exclusively to GCNP participants, officially began on 16 March.
Additionally, the UN Global Compact Academy 2026 offerings were presented, covering topics such as gender equality, human rights, anti-corruption, circular economy, and net zero standards. The UN Global Leaders' Summit 2026, scheduled for 22-23 September 2026 in New York, was also highlighted as a key event for the year.
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