The Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE) joined other exchanges globally in the annual Ring the Bell for Gender Equality program by hosting a closing bell event on Wednesday, March 11.
In his speech during the bell ringing ceremony, PSE Chairman Jose T. Pardo said, “We actively participate in this annual event as gender equality forms part of the PSE’s broader ESG or Environmental, Social, Governance and sustainability agenda. This is also our way of promoting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal number 5 on gender equality.”
During the event, PSE President and CEO Ramon S. Monzon signed the Statement of Support for the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), which are all aimed at enhancing gender equality in the work place. The PSE is the country’s first publicly listed company and Southeast Asia’s first exchange to sign and express its commitment to the WEPs.
“Today, we mark another sustainability initiative undertaken by the PSE. By signing the Women Empowerment Principles, the PSE is making its commitment in advocating gender equality within the company, the capital market and the country,” Mr. Monzon said in his message.
Her Excellency Bita Rasoulian, Austria’s Ambassador to the Philippines and European Union (EU) Gender Champion gave the keynote message during the program. She said, “This signature is only as a first step to improve gender equality in your market. According to a report launched by the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative, female representation in leadership has shown to improve performance metrics such as Return on Assets, Return on Equity, and Earnings per share while reducing volatility.”
The special bell ringing ceremony was attended by PSE Directors and Management Committee members and the Exchange’s women employees.
The Ring the Bell for Gender Equality program is organized by the UN Global Compact, UN Women, Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, International Finance Corporation, World Federation of Exchanges, and Women in ETFs.
