Melissa Vergel de Dios Archives - THEPHILBIZNEWS https://thephilbiznews.com/tag/melissa-vergel-de-dios/ Delivering Stories of Progress Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:05:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://thephilbiznews.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/favicon.png Melissa Vergel de Dios Archives - THEPHILBIZNEWS https://thephilbiznews.com/tag/melissa-vergel-de-dios/ 32 32 PLDT, Smart step up to protect kids online https://thephilbiznews.com/2026/01/16/pldt-smart-take-lead-in-protecting-children-from-online-threats/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pldt-smart-take-lead-in-protecting-children-from-online-threats Thu, 15 Jan 2026 23:53:00 +0000 https://thephilbiznews.com/?p=68822 As children become increasingly connected in today’s digital landscape, PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are emphasizing proactive measures to safeguard young users from online abuse and exploitation.

The leading Philippine telcos participated in the 2025 ASEAN ICT Forum on Child Online Protection in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, joining government officials, industry leaders, civil society, and youth representatives from across Southeast Asia to address emerging digital threats to children.

The forum highlighted the growing risks of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) and the spread of child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM), particularly through AI-driven technologies and livestreaming platforms.

“Given the increasing complexity and prevalence of these online risks to children, our child protection agenda must move from policy to practical action. This requires stronger, proactive measures from the telecommunications industry to put children at the center of technology design,” said Department of Justice Assistant Secretary Michelle Ann Lapuz.
PLDT and Smart Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa Vergel de Dios added, “As we continue connecting millions of Filipinos to the digital world, promoting a safe online experience for children is part of our responsibility. We support government efforts to combat OSAEC and actively use our voice in the industry to uphold the digital rights and safety of children.”
Industry-leading initiatives by PLDT and Smart include:
Child Protection Platform technology: Automatically blocks URLs linked to OSAEC, leveraging the Internet Watch Foundation’s dynamic blacklist and Project Arachnid from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.
Regular reporting and transparency: Ahead of the National Telecommunications Commission’s quarterly reporting requirement, PLDT and Smart have blocked over 2 million OSAEC URLs since June 2021 and more than 860,000 access attempts since January 2025.
Human rights and child safeguarding policies: Institutionalize child-friendly business practices aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Children’s Rights and Business Principles.

Global benchmarking: In the 2025 Global Child Forum assessment, PLDT tied with Swedish peer Tele2 as the world’s top-performing telco for integrating children’s rights across governance, workplace, marketplace, and community programs.

PLDT and Smart also continue forging strategic partnerships to enhance “safety-by-design” in their products and encourage meaningful participation of children in shaping digital policies. These efforts align with both the Philippine government’s multi-year strategy against OSAEC and CSAEM and the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Child Online Protection.

]]> PLDT, Smart back collective climate action https://thephilbiznews.com/2026/01/05/pldt-smart-back-collective-climate-action-during-ccc-solidarity-night/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pldt-smart-back-collective-climate-action-during-ccc-solidarity-night Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:23:00 +0000 https://thephilbiznews.com/?p=68597 PLDT Inc., together with its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc., reaffirmed their commitment to climate action by joining the symbolic signing of the Unity Board during the Climate Change Commission’s (CCC) Climate Consciousness Week Solidarity Night.

The Unity Board serves as a visual expression of shared responsibility and collective action toward climate resilience, cultural preservation, and a climate-smart future. The initiative highlights collaboration among government, civil society, international organizations, and the private sector in addressing climate challenges.

As part of the ceremony, participants from national and local government, international organizations, civil society groups, and the private sector were presented with traditional Philippine fabrics, including T’nalak, Inabel, Abaca, Straw Habi, and Ifugao fabric. Each piece, reflecting the heritage and stories of local communities, was pinned onto the Unity Board and sealed with the participants’ signatures.

Launched in 2024, the Solidarity Night underscores the CCC’s belief that effective climate leadership is a shared responsibility—strengthened through partnerships, guided by evidence, and driven by collective resolve.

“Building a climate-resilient Philippines requires a whole-of-nation approach, where every individual and sector contributes within their sphere of influence,” said PLDT and Smart Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa Vergel de Dios. “As part of the private sector, PLDT and Smart play a critical role by continuously building and operating a robust and reliable network that keeps communities connected, even amid extreme weather conditions.”

PLDT and Smart also reaffirmed their support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), as they continue to embed sustainability across their operations and business strategies.

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