4 Ayala firms land anew on ‘ESG’ index

Ayala Corp. and its core businesses were included again in a list of global index and data provider FTSE Russell which recognizes companies that have exhibited strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.

The conglomerate, along with Ayala Land Inc., Globe Telecom and Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), were cited in the FTSE4GOOD Index Series, which measures a firm’s ESG initiatives.

More specifically, the review was based on the company’s performance in areas such as corporate governance, health and safety, anti-corruption and climate change.

Albert de Larrazabal, Ayala Corp. chief finance officer, chief risk officer and chief sustainability officer, said that the group’s “consistent inclusion” in the list had proven the conglomerate’s compliance with the global ESG practices.

“We are quite honored to be consistently included in the FTSE4GOOD Index Series, which supports investors who wish to encourage positive change in corporate behavior and align their portfolios with their values,” Larrazabal said.

“Ayala’s holistic view of ESG practices is instilled in our companies. When you invest in Ayala, you are investing for the greater good—and you are assured of long-term value for your investment,” he said.

Ayala said it was among the companies that had pushed for a global baseline for reporting sustainability-related information.

The group was also a signatory to the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, which aims to increase reporting on climate-related financial information.