Cebu Business Fights Poverty Through CSR

PBSP hosted the “Freedom from Poverty: Cebu Business Fights Poverty Through Corporate Social Responsibility.” The luncheon corporate event was held at the Casino Español De Cebu last August 2, 2006 and was attended by 62 people coming from 35 companies and CSR partner organizations.

During the forum, Mr. Jose Levi Villanueva of the UnionBank, Chair of the PBSP Visayas Executive Committee and Member of the PBSP Visayas Executive Committee, presented the poverty reduction and corporate social responsibility thrusts of PBSP Visayas.

The keynote speaker of the event Ms. Yolanda V. Ong, Group Chairperson of Campaigns & Grey, showcased the moral and practical and aspects of engaging in CSR. She also emphasized the importance of strategically communicating the CSR initiatives of companies and advocacy works of various organizations.

The corporate gathering was opened with the performance of the "Pandanggo sa Ilaw" by the dance troupe of the Cebu State College of Science and Technology. Towards the end, the attendees joined the PBSP Board and staff in lighting the candles as expression of support to CSR.

One of the milestones of the Forum was the show of interest of some non-member companies to implement CSR into their core business. There were also inquiries by some non-member companies on how to become a member of PBSP, to which this is being followed up by PBSP staff.