Village Connect
Sustainability is no longer a conversation reserved for large corporations—it is fast becoming a shared responsibility across entire value chains. Recognizing this shift, SM Investments Corporation (SM Investments), together with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), has introduced a free e-learning bridge course designed to equip micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with essential sustainability and reporting knowledge.
The program was launched during a sustainability training workshop for publicly listed companies held at SMX Aura in Taguig. Titled “Empowering Sustainable Business and Supply Chains: Building Capabilities for Impactful Sustainability Practices Across the Value Chain,” the event gathered industry leaders to explore how the widely used GRI Standards align with the emerging disclosure requirements of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).
For SM Investments, the initiative is about making sustainability practical and accessible. Timothy Daniels, SM Investments Consultant and Head of Investor Relations and Sustainability, emphasized that the goal goes beyond compliance. “It’s not just about producing reports,” he shared. “It’s about understanding what the data means and how sustainability can create real value for businesses—especially for MSMEs that form the backbone of our economy.”
MSMEs account for roughly 99.5% of all businesses in the Philippines, and the SM Group works with more than 100,000 of them across its operations. Yet many smaller enterprises face barriers when it comes to sustainability reporting, often due to limited resources or technical know-how. To address this gap, SM and GRI co-developed a self-paced online course that introduces key sustainability, climate, and reporting concepts in a clear and practical way.
SM Investments will sponsor the program, ensuring the course remains free and accessible, while GRI will support its rollout through partner platforms and networks. The course will also be shared across SM’s MSME ecosystem, enabling suppliers and partners to begin integrating sustainability practices into their daily operations at their own pace.
GRI ASEAN Head Dr. Allinnettes Go Adigue underscored the strength of the long-standing partnership between GRI and SM, which began in 2018. What started as an effort to strengthen SM’s own sustainability reporting has since helped advance sustainability practices nationwide.
By opening the door for MSMEs to learn, adapt, and grow sustainably, SM Investments is reinforcing a simple but powerful idea: long-term business success is strongest when it is shared—built together with partners who are empowered to move forward responsibly.
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