PLDT has successfully secured a ₱4-billion Green Loan from the Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank). This is PLDT’s first green loan secured from a local financial institution.
Similar to PLDT’s initial ₱1-billion green loan from HSBC Philippines last March, the loan proceeds are earmarked for the nationwide expansion of PLDT’s fiber footprint which will not only narrow the country’s digital divide, but also ensure a fast and reliable internet experience facilitated by an energy-efficient network.
To reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions, Smart has also deployed in all its wireless radio sites an innovative ‘green radio’ network solution, which has also enabled the company to save on cost. The AI-powered solution enables remote and automatic adjustments to capacity and power usage depending on load conditions, which enables the company to consolidate and conserve radio resources.
From implementing this green network innovation, Smart has reduced over the last twelve months power consumption by around 10,900MWH, equivalent to greenhouse gas emissions from more than 1,690 gasoline-powered vehicles driven for a year, or carbon dioxide emissions from electricity consumption of 920 homes for a year.
Smart continues its deliberate drive for higher energy usage savings with the adoption of predictive and machine-learning capabilities on its mobile network starting this year.
PLDT and Smart are also scaling up their initiatives on waste management and circularity by teaming up with the SM Group. Under this partnership and through the SM Electronic Waste Collection Program, PLDT and Smart will be deploying e-waste collection bins in 85 SM malls nationwide to encourage Filipinos to recycle their e-waste and contribute to the fight against climate change. The e-waste collected will be transported for proper treatment and disposal.
The PLDT Group is collaborating with Huawei Technologies Phils. Inc., the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to deploy the technology of US-based non-profit organization Rainforest Connection (RFCx).
Under the partnership, which aims to strengthen local forest conservation efforts and enhance enforcement of environmental laws, bioacoustics monitoring devices called RFCx “Guardians” deployed to the protected forest areas of Taytay, Palawan to help combat illegal logging and deforestation.
PLDT and Smart have also added new international certifications, boosting the Group’s industry leadership in Business Continuity Management System (ISO 22301:2019) and Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2015), reinforcing PLDT Group’s commitment to embed sustainability in the business and elevate customer experience through enhancing operational excellence, and ensuring continuous improvement in practices in the face of disruptions.
PLDT and Smart also continue to pursue strategic partnerships with like-minded institutions to promote inclusive technology in the areas of digital wellness, disaster resilience, education, inclusion and livelihood.
For their whole-of-nation approach to online child protection, PLDT and Smart were recognized at the inaugural Project Safety for Children and their Rights OnLine (SCROL)Summit organized by Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL) in Bangkok. Addressing the need to drive digital inclusion among Filipinos, PLDT and Smart also successfully concluded the pilot run of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Advocacy through Technology (IDEATe) program for livelihood. for women, providing them with training and desktop computers to help their digitally upskilling and aid their search for remote tech jobs.
The Group also expanded its partnership under the Digital Farmers Program with the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) to launch FarmTech, a tech-driven farmers training kit designed to empower and equip farmer groups and agri-coops in their digital literacy training programs for their farmer members even those in remote areas.
