PLDT Inc (PLDT) and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc (Smart) have supported the 20th Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ (IBP) National Convention of Lawyers held at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City, underscoring the Group’s commitment to empowering the legal community.
With the theme “From Milestones to Horizons: Strengthening the Future of the Legal Profession”, the biennial event drew an audience of around 4,000 lawyers from both the government and the private sector.
“We at the PLDT Group have always been supportive of the government’s digitalization initiatives and the country’s digital transformation as a whole. Through technology, we can enhance the ways of working in our courts and law offices, and improve access to justice and legal services, future-proofing their systems and processes, and boosting the delivery of government services to Filipinos across the nation,” said Joan de Venecia-Fabul, PLDT Chief Legal Counsel and Head of Legal and Regulatory Affairs Group, who hosted the convention’s opening ceremonies.
In his guest of honor speech, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr underscored the vital role of lawyers in shaping a society that navigates the complexities of the digital age.
“In this digital age of economic transformation and global interdependence, you stand at the forefront of an unprecedentedly dynamic and therefore challenging landscape. The emergence of issues such as cybercrime, data privacy and the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence presents not only technical dilemmas, but moral ones as well. Therefore, they demand our continued commitment to protect human dignity in an increasingly digital world,” the President said.
Members of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, also graced the opening ceremonies, while several Justices of the Court also held Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) lectures during the convention.
PLDT’s support for the IBP and Supreme Court initiatives form part of the Group’s longstanding partnership with the government as a whole to bring the benefits of the internet and technology closer to more Filipinos across the country and realize the government’s vision of a ‘Bagong Pilipinas’. This includes working closely with government agencies, local government units, and other industry stakeholders and telcos to streamline the process of securing permits for the construction and deployment of telco infrastructure.
PLDT and Smart have likewise pledged their support for the President’s directive to enhance internet access in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs), bolstering their commitment to improve digital access, especially for education and inclusive economic growth, by making vital digital services more accessible to underserved communities.
These initiatives also contribute to the country’s achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), particularly SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
