UN Global Compact Launches Local Network in the Philippines

(Manila, 29 July 2016) – The UN Global Compact officially launched Global Compact Network Philippines in Manila during the 47^th Philippines Annual Marketing Conference.

The event, organized by the Philippines Marketing Association (PMA), featured remarks by the Vice President of the Philippines, H.E. Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo, who spoke about the Filipino economy and the increasing gaps in wealth in the country. She emphasized the need to put a human face to the economy by advancing social and financial inclusion, and highlighted the tremendous role business has in bridging these gaps. The Secretary of State, H.E. Ramon Lopez further supported her sentiments by encouraging collaboration between all Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to achieve these ends.

Several meetings and roundtables were held prior to the launch event, including a session on the Local Network SDG Action Plan aimed at promoting the initiative among non-Global Compact companies and determining the priorities of current participants. The session was attended by Ola Almgren, UN Resident Coordinator and Deputy Director of the National Development Office for Policy and Planning, the body responsible for coordinating activities around the SDGs in the Philippines. Organizers capped the event by presenting the Philippines Vision 2040, a government initiative established to ensure that the country’s activities on development issues, which are based around the SDGs, will stay consistent through changes in political leadership.

Nearly 500 participants attended the event, including several Ambassadors from the ASEAN Region and Representatives of Global Compact Local Networks in Indonesia and Thailand.