The push for sustainable development has shifted from a corporate buzzword to an urgent, regional mission across Southeast Asia as the Passage to ASEAN (P2A) Philippines, led by Assoc. Prof. Donato Z. Estocada, P2A Philippines President and representative of Rizal Technological University (RTU), held a landmark event titled “Virtual Conference on Sustainability & ESG 2026”, convening its member-universities across the country on June 30, 2026, through Zoom Teleconferencing.
The four-hour summit brought together prominent voices from academia, government, civil society, and industry to map out the future of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria across the region.
Leading the opening ceremonies, Assoc. Prof. Donato Z. Estocada, President of P2A Philippines, set an optimistic yet urgent tone for the conference, which was further bolstered by a Message of Support from Dr. Amado Magsino, the Founding President and Adviser of P2A Philippines. To ground attendees in the organization’s mission, Dr. Sally Jarin, Executive Vice President of P2A Philippines and a representative of the University of Northern Philippines, presented a formal introduction to the chapter’s growth and history.
The focal point of the conference was an insightful plenary address delivered by Dr. Ethel Agnes Valenzuela, President of Lapu-Lapu Cebu International College and a trusted P2A Advisor. Speaking on the State of Sustainability and ESG in ASEAN, Dr. Valenzuela provided a comprehensive overview of the regional sustainability landscape. Her discussion centered around three main strategic pillars required to turn ESG concepts into practical realities: Framework Harmonization, Regulatory Strengthening, and Measurable Outcomes.
Beyond its immediate sustainability goals, the conference served as a powerful launchpad for the institutional advancement of P2A Philippines. As an organization officially recognized under “Think Tanks and Academic Institutions” in Annex 2 of the ASEAN Charter, P2A forms a massive regional consortium spanning more than 149 universities and colleges. Its core focus remains on promoting student mobility, cross-border academic collaboration, and intercultural understanding.
Looking ahead, Assoc. Prof. Estocada returned to the stage to present P2A Philippines’ Future Plans and Programs. To support these grand expansions, the organization officially announced that the application for 2026 Institutional Membership is now open. Philippine higher education institutions are actively being urged to join the network to strengthen internationalization efforts and provide students with ASEAN-centered learning opportunities.
As the virtual floor closed, the message from the P2A network was clear: achieving true regional sustainability cannot be done in isolation. By bridging the gap between higher education, regional governance, and ESG frameworks, P2A Philippines and RTU are ensuring that the next generation of Southeast Asian leaders is uniquely equipped to build a greener, more inclusive tomorrow.
As the lead of P2A Philippines through Assoc. Prof. Estocada, RTU remains in support of all initiatives and efforts to strengthen ASEAN, especially in the area of cross-cultural education.