(L-R) Ryah Sarile, AboitizPower AVP for Talent Optimization, Culture and Engagement; Corinne Patron, AboitizPower SAVP for Talent Attraction; Julia Abad, PBCWE Executive Director; Ruby Jean Buenviaje, AboitizPower VP for People and Culture Transformation; Kitty Patino-Tipace, AboitizPower AVP for HR Service Delivery; and Misay Navarro, Head of HR and Administration for SN Aboitiz Power.
28 February 2024, Taguig City, Philippines – Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), the holding company for the Aboitiz Group’s investments in power, has partnered with the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE) to reinforce the company’s advocacy of building safe spaces and creating equitable opportunities that are diverse, inclusive, and sustainable for their employees.
As a PBCWE member company, AboitizPower will undergo the Gender Equality Assessment, Results, and Strategies (GEARS) to support the company’s evaluation of its gender equality objectives and strategies. GEARS is a tool developed in partnership with Investing in Women based on the experience of Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).
In 2022, AboitizPower started implementing robust programs and initiatives related to workplace gender equality (WGE) and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Initially, the company established resource networks for their employees identified as members of the LGBTQIA+ community, women at work, and so-called ‘special life’ team members, which include single parents and disabled workers.
A major decision was made in the same year when AboitizPower included domestic partners as beneficiaries, whether a common law or a same-sex partner, in the company’s health maintenance insurance (HMO) coverage for employees.
“AboitizPower’s unwavering advocacy for WGE and DEI is truly outstanding. With many programs and initiatives that were successfully implemented, and, in the pipeline, this is a clear indication of where AboitizPower is heading—the right path towards becoming a more sustainable company in the long run,” said Ma. Aurora “Boots” Geotina-Garcia, PhilWEN Founding Chairperson and President and PBCWE Governing Council Chairperson.
PBCWE was launched in March 2017 through a partnership between the Philippine Women’s Economic Network (PhilWEN) and Investing In Women, an initiative of the Australian Government. As of February 2024, the Coalition comprises 44 member companies that are all large and industry-leading in their respective sectors.
“As an organization that advocates for WGE and promotes the economic empowerment of women, PBCWE’s range of services, including its WGE and DEI tools and resources such as GEARS and other relevant training modules, will help us optimize our HR policies and practices towards our goal of becoming an equal opportunity employer. That’s why I’m very much excited about this collaboration,” said Ryah Sarile, AboitizPower AVP for Talent Optimization, Culture, and Engagement.
Joining PBCWE is another significant partnership that will support AboitizPower in embracing and championing equality and sustainability for women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and people with disabilities living today.
