First Philippine HoldingsFirst Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPH) has bagged a gold award for the company’s maiden entry to the 6th Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards (ASRA) held recently by CSRWorks International.

FPH’s 2020 integrated report earned the gold, the highest award in the Best Integrated Report (First Time) category during the exclusive Singapore event held last month that was broadcast live in a virtual setting.

ASRA, considered the most prestigious international awards for corporate reporting, drew more than 250 senior business leaders and sustainability practitioners from 20 countries, as well as dignitaries from the academe, embassies, trade associations and advocacy organizations.

“First Philippine Holdings Corporation report shows exceptional leadership in transparent reporting of its sustainability performance and reflects its readiness for a resilient future,” said Rajesh Chhabra, managing director and founder of CSRWorks, a nonprofit group that holds the annual ASRA to identify and honor sustainability reporting leaders.

“In our own small way, we try to inspire our stakeholders—our customers, cocreators, investors and host communities, to name a few—by providing them a comprehensive analysis of the company’s performance, especially how this performance creates value and provides services for them. Included in our 2020 report were the steps we took to minimize the impact of the pandemic that allowed us to continue serving our stakeholders,” said Ricky Carandang, FPH vice president and head of corporate communications.

The maiden FPH 2020 integrated report marked the year FPH declared as a conglomerate-wide mission “to forge collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future.” FPH crafted the new mission after it realized that incremental sustainability does not help reverse climate change.

FPH’s climate change advocacy explains why its subsidiary First Gen Corporation prioritizes the use of clean and renewable energy sources as fuel to run its power plants.

Carandang explained that “the challenges confronting us today from problems associated with climate change are daunting. The steps that FPH are taking admittedly are not enough to reverse this existential threat to mankind.

“But our collaboration with CSRWorks not only inspires us to press forward but it also provides us with a platform to reach out to other groups that share with us a resolve to help achieve a decarbonized and regenerative future. We are hopeful of forging partnerships with these groups in the future,” Carandang said.