The Aboitiz Group has been elected into the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE) Governing Council, an assemblage of industry leaders advocating for workplace gender equality and promoting the economic empowerment of women in the country. For the Aboitiz Group, Women’s Month is every month. It is integral to remember that advocating and empowering women is a year-round mission, and the PBCWE believes in approaching workplace gender equality from the “right thing to do” perspective.
“Empowering women isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. Gender equality isn’t just a moral imperative, it’s a business imperative. When we create a workplace that values and supports women, we unlock the full potential of our organizations and set ourselves up for long-term success,” said Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) First Vice President and Chief Sustainability and Reputation Management Officer Ginggay Hontiveros, who represents the Aboitiz Group before the PCBWE Governing Council.
The Governing Council is elected by fellow PBCWE members, and the Aboitiz Group’s election is a testament to its industry-setting standard of gender diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and influence in the wider business community. Together, Aboitiz Group and its fellow PBCWE members are transforming workplace culture, practices, and breaking down policy barriers.
AEV is an equal opportunity employer with embedded diversity and inclusion initiatives and gender-related programs. This includes the adoption of a flexible work arrangement based on consultations with team members; the Safe Spaces e-learning program, which is an initiative on the prevention of gender-based harassment and discrimination; the highly in-demand Mentoring Partnership Program, a development intervention tailored to individual team members; and year-round learning opportunities on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belongingness.
Based on the results of the Gender Equality Assessment, Results, and Strategies (GEARS) assessment conducted by PBCWE in 2022, AEV has achieved gender balance in its workforce and in its male-to-female board composition ratio. AEV also adapts a learning and development strategy that puts a premium on training and info sessions on addressing biases, mentoring, coaching, and sponsorship.
Established in 2017, PBCWE’s membership is composed of influential businesses that are committed to improving gender equality and influencing other businesses to do the same.
Along with Aboitiz Group companies Aboitiz InfraCapital and Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), PBCWE is comprised of Accenture in the Philippines, Asialink Finance Corporation, Ayala Land Corporation, AXA Philippines, Cebu Landmasters, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Concentrix, DDB Group Philippines, ESCA Engineering, FactSet Research Systems, Inc., First Philippine Holdings, Greenbulb Communications, Home Credit, Insular Life Assurance Corporation, JLL, KPMG Philippines, L’Oréal Philippines, Magsaysay Group of Companies, Meralco, Natasha, P&A Grant Thornton, PLDT Global, PLDT, Smart Communications, Philippine National Bank (PNB), Sanofi, SGV, SSI Group, Teleperformance, Telus International, Villacruz, Villacruz & Co., and Morison Global.
The elected Governing Council will be formally established in the upcoming 11th PBCWE Governing Council Meeting on Tuesday, April 11.
