by Jun Marfori
Photo credit to PASIA.
The Sustainability Event 2024 of PASIA was successfully held last July 26, 2024, with its Chairman and (also Transprocure’s) CEO Charlie Villasenor, leading the conference with the theme “Turning Sustainability Commitments into Actions,” at the Marriott hotel in Pasay City. The conference focused on exploring future-focused sustainable practices and driving real action for companies to protect the environment, contribute to social enhancement, and improve governance. The event featured engaging sessions and networking opportunities with industry leaders from both the public and private sectors.
We, in POWERinU, were privileged to have been invited to emcee and host the one-day event, which included moderating panel discussions in the morning and afternoon, on a broad range of topics that covered the sustainability theme across all fronts and disciplines as current and emerging practices in the business segment and beyond.
The highly engaging and esteemed resource speakers, representing local, regional and global companies, associations and institutions, and spoke extensively about a broad range of relevant, timely and pressing themes. In the morning, featured were Fr. Francisco Gustilo, President of Don Bosco School of Theology (Circular Economy Initiatives), Jennifer Pham who is Regional Advisor on Sustainable Value Chains at the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam and Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Navigating EU Regulations on Sustainability and Due Diligence), and Mon Segismundo, Funding Chairman and Chief Organization and Management Adviser, One HRX Singapore (Sustainability Leadership)
The afternoon had Katreena Pillejera (Global Reporting Initiative), Dr. Ben Teehankee (Management Association of the Philippines and DLSU), Atty. Marc Anthony Cox (Coca Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc.), Caitlin Punzalan (Mondelez International), Dr. Neil Aldrin Mallari (Center for Conservation Innovation Philippines), Atty. Kaye Celera (Manila Waters), Ricky de Castro (PwC Philippines).
Needless to say, the event tackled the issues and challenges that we confront in implementing sustainability practices across an ever growing front, many of which elude us, largely due to the need for a multi-pronged and all-hands-on-deck urgent call for action – but to go beyond speaking about it, but really committing to the actions and implementing it.
The entire day was a good and positive step in that direction, as all the speakers not only raised the level of awareness, but also shared best practices and provided directions for those wanting to take first steps to implementation. The panel discussions engaged the audience and created levels of curiosity and affirmation that the conference was well-timed and should be followed by many more initiatives.
Kudos to Charlie Villasenor and the PASIA. We all know that Sustainability is a long-term game. We, in POWERinU, commit to join you in this endeavor. We shall together seek to continue turning sustainability commitments into actions!
