In a world where data breaches can cost companies reputational and financial capital, AboitizPower is making data privacy a compliance requirement and a strategic business priority.
The company has steadily built a robust privacy culture that reflects its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) values. AboitizPower’s initiatives reinforce its belief that privacy protection is essential to good corporate governance, as it builds stakeholder trust, ensures compliance, reduces cybersecurity risks, and supports operational integrity in a digital-first energy sector.
“At AboitizPower, we see data privacy not as a checkbox, but as a cornerstone of responsible leadership. Embedding privacy into our culture is how we earn trust, drive innovation, and secure a sustainable future—not just for our company, but for every stakeholder we serve,” said AboitizPower Vice President for Enterprise Risk Management and Data Protection Officer Mark Louie Gomez.
In line with this, AboitizPower is actively observing Data Privacy Awareness Week from May 26 to 31, using the occasion to educate employees further, strengthen internal policies, and promote a deeper understanding of data protection among stakeholders. This year’s focus on navigating privacy in an increasingly borderless digital world speaks directly to AboitizPower’s forward-looking stance. As AboitizPower operates in an increasingly connected digital ecosystem, the company acknowledges the global dimensions of privacy and the growing importance of privacy professionals in building a secure and trustworthy digital economy.
AboitizPower’s strong devotion to data privacy has not gone unnoticed. In the 2024 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, the company scored 72 for Privacy Protection—the highest in the Philippines. This recognition highlights AboitizPower’s continued leadership in integrating global best practices into its governance strategy. With robust systems, strong policies, and effective procedures, the company ensures customer data is kept safe, secure, and respected at all times, proving that privacy can be both a safeguard and a strategic driver of future growth.
One standout achievement is the rollout of an in-house, semi-automated Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template in 2024. This replaced a manual system used for five years, streamlining risk assessments and improving efficiency across business units without additional cost. Key upgrades include integrated automation features, such as auto-evaluation of privacy risks, dynamic prompts, and pre-populated recommendations, which reduce human error, speed up form completion, and ensure consistency across departments. A built-in Privacy Threshold Analysis also helps teams quickly determine whether a full PIA is needed, eliminating unnecessary administrative work. The National Privacy Commission (NPC) praised AboitizPower’s self-developed solution as a sustainable compliance and privacy risk management model.
This direction was further reinforced during a roundtable discussion in April this year, where privacy experts, regulators, and internal stakeholders gathered to address real-world issues in the distribution utilities (DU) sector. From unauthorized access by contractors to the challenges of secure data sharing across business units, the event underscored the importance of privacy-by-design, strong interdepartmental coordination, and continuous staff training.
Discussions led by NPC officials emphasized proactive measures, such as updated PIAs, breach response teams, and privacy-preserving technologies like anonymization and data masking. These strategies support both innovation and customer trust.
Beyond processes and tools, AboitizPower is investing in people. Learning sessions, quarterly campaigns, and breach response exercises build a culture where every employee plays a role in protecting personal data.
For AboitizPower, data privacy isn't just a policy, it's a principle. By embedding privacy into its culture, operations, and strategy, the company is not only securing compliance but shaping a future where trust, transparency, and responsible innovation power sustainable growth.
