Chinabank, SM companies lauded anew for governance excellence in ASEAN

Chinabank was again recognized as among the best-governed publicly listed companies (PLCs) in Southeast Asia. ​

At the ASEAN Corporate Governance Conference and Awards on July 24, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Chinabank was named an ASEAN Asset Class for achieving consistently high scores under the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS). As an ASEAN Asset Class, Chinabank is considered an attractive investment within the ASEAN region for its proactive and transparent governance and ethical practices. 

“This recognition reaffirms Chinabank’s steadfast commitment to responsible corporate governance that goes beyond compliance while embedding ethical stewardship into our culture,” Chinabank President and Chief Executive Officer Romeo D. Uyan Jr. said. “We are driven by our goal to always create long-term value for our stakeholders.”

This is the second time that Chinabank has been named an ASEAN Asset Class at the biennial ACGS regional awards.  The bank is also a three-time recipient of the Institute of Corporate Directors' (ICD) highest governance distinction, the Five Golden Arrow Award.  ICD is the domestic ranking body of the ACGS for the Philippines. 

SM Investments Corporation (SMIC), the parent firm of the SM group, and its property arm, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SMPH) were also recognized among the Top 5 Philippine PLCs. Both SMIC and SMPH along with BDO Unibank, Inc. were ranked among the Top 50 ASEAN PLCs.

“Good governance is essential to long-term value creation. We continue to align our governance practices with global standards to help build trust and deliver sustainable outcomes for our stakeholders and the communities we serve.” SMIC President and Chief Executive Officer Frederic C. DyBuncio said. 

“Our recognition at this year’s ACGS Awards validates our commitment to building sustainable and resilient communities,” SMPH President Jeffrey C. Lim said.  “It affirms our belief that good governance goes hand in hand with long-term value creation for shareholders and stakeholders alike.”

“BDO’s corporate governance principles are about effective oversight, strict compliance with regulations, and sustainable value creation to promote the best interest of its various stakeholders. We value this recognition which affirms our deepest commitment to the highest standards of corporate governance practices,” BDO President Nestor V. Tan said.

The ACGS is an evaluation that utilizes publicly-available information and is benchmarked against international best practices. Over the years, the ACGS has played a pivotal role in promoting strong corporate governance practices among listed companies in ASEAN. For the 2024 ACGS, 569 large-market-cap PLCs across the region were evaluated. ​