Fresh produce straight from the farmers

Fresh produce straight from the farmers
Cebu's Kumprahan Supermerkado takes
local farmers closer to a higher income

Cebu's farmers have better chances of earning more now that they have a fully air-conditioned place where they can sell their produce--free of rent.

In return, they only have to sell their products at a price that is similar or lower to that of wet markets.

Last May 29, Bridges Town Square at Alang-Alang, Mandaue City opened the Kumprahan Supermerkado, which was participated by more than 3,000 buyers. The event also marked the celebration of the Grand Farmers Day, with at least 2,000 member companies in attendance.

The event will be the start of a continuous arrangement between the town square and the farmer cooperatives involved.

The first of its kind. The Kumprahan Supermerkado is the first of its kind in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Organized by the Department of Agriculture and Bridges Town Square along with non-government organizations and farmer cooperatives, it aims to bring the farmers closer to its consumers by eradicating the middlemen who set the prices of the farmers' produce themselves.

Generally, farmers have to pay high rental and contract fees to wet markets if they want to own a stall and sell their products themselves, which discouraged the farmers and instead opt to sell their products to the middlemen, which in turn gave the farmers lesser revenue.

With the Kumprahan Supermerkado, they have more control on the prices of the farm produce they sell.

One of the partners of the Kumprahan Supermerkado is the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), which linked at least 2,000 member farmers in various cooperatives. PBSP's cooperatives included the Babag Sibugay United Farmers Association, Barangay Unit Key for Integrated Development (BUKID) Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Batallion Irrigation Association, Binaliw Farmer Association and Toong Farmer Association.

"Dugay na kaayo mi naghulat ani nga oportunidad na ma-market ang among mga produkto (We've been waiting for this opportunity to market our products)," BUKID MPC Chair Jose Pepito Bebelonio said.

Supermarket convenience and affordable prices combined. Bridges Town Square allocated a total of 220 square meters of rent-free space for the farmers. The space, which is fully air-conditioned, allows the crops to last longer.

The stalls are also more accessible to the public because it is found inside a mall. Aside from the farm's produce, customers can also buy fish, eggs, meat, rice and grocery items with prices that are lower than the usual retail price.

"Nalipay jud mi ani kay wala pa mi renta, dako pa gyud ni na oportunidad sa among coop kay magpadayun na man ni siya (We're thankful because not only do we need to pay the rent; our coop will benefit from this because this is continuous)," Batallion Irrigation Association President Lucresio Son said.

For more pictures of the Kumprahan Supermerkado Grand Farmers Day, you may visit PBSP's PHOTO GALLERY. 

Farmers sell straight to consumers

IN AIR-CONDITIONED RENT-FREE MALL
Farmers sell straight to consumers
Sun.Star Cebu
May 31, 2010

More than 3,000 customers trooped to the Kumprahan SuperMerkado last Saturday, when it opened its “Grand Farmers’ Day” at the Bridges Town Square on Plaridel St. in Alang-Alang, Mandaue City.

In a statement, Kumprahan chief organizer Jon Ramos said he was surprised at the big turnout.

“I didn’t expect this many people,” Ramos said. “But what was really surprising was to see close to a hundred customers coming here as early as 6 a.m.”

Because of the success of the event, Kumprahan will have a “Grand Farmers’ Weekend” every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Among the early birds last Saturday, according to Ramos, were the nuns from Perpetual Succour Hospital, who bought 40 sacks of Ganador rice along with fresh vegetables.


Farmgate prices
Ramos said the customers “enjoyed buying (their food supplies) at farmgate prices” directly from the farmers.

In his keynote message at the opening of the event, Department of Agriculture (DA) director for agribusiness and marketing services Francisco Ramos III lauded the organizers for coming up with the “Grand Farmers’ Day” concept.

“I salute the organizers for giving the farmers the opportunity to earn more and at the same time for giving the public the opportunity to buy directly from the farmers,” he said, adding that the concept removed the middlemen from the picture.

In the wet market, according to the official, the middlemen control the prices of the farmers’ produce, which is why farmers never get the chance to experience high sales revenues.


First ever
This type of endeavor is also held in other parts of the country, but “this is the first ever to be located inside the mall, rent-free and fully air-conditioned,” said the agriculture official.

“In the wet market, sometimes the food-handling, hygiene and sanitation are not good,” he said.


Rent-free
The farmers got 220 square meters of space rent-free inside the Kumprahan SuperMerkado to sell their products, which remained fresh throughout the day because of the fully-air-conditioned environment.

“Sosyal kaayo mi’g dating dinhi,” said Rely Tanod-Tanod, president of the Carcar United Lowland Farmers and Irrigators Association. (There is an upmarket feel here.)

“Wa sad ta’y kahadlokan sa (There is also no fear of) demolition,” added barangay Binaliw councilor Estrella Diano.

Also at the opening ceremony were Bridges Town Square managing director Dominic Alegrado and Jessie Cubijano, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) officer-in-charge.

The Grand Farmers Day was held in coordination with the DA and Bridges Town Square.

Kumprahan SuperMerkado is the first community market in the Visayas and Mindanao that provides fresh products at market prices, yet at the convenience of a mall supermarket, the statement said.

Brigada Eskwela raises support in Tawi-Tawi

Brigada Eskwela raises support in Tawi-Tawi
by Danny Escabarte
PIA News Agency
May 31, 2010


Butuan City (31 May) -- Parents, teachers, soldiers and local government officials in far away Tawi-Tawi joined efforts to raise available local resources and make children's going to school hassle-free when classes open up in the second week of June 2010.

Armed with cleaning paraphernalia, carpentry tools and paintbrush, participants to the weeklong school clean up drive Brigada Eskwela; joined volunteer efforts in sprucing up school grounds, cleaning classrooms, repaired broken chairs, tables and windows, repainting walls and school façade in preparation for school opening.

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) with funds from USAID EQuALLS2 Program bankrolled minor repairs by setting aside a PhP 5,000 peso worth of materials assistance for each of the 62 targeted public schools in the Province of Tawi-Tawi. PBSP has also received and mobilized resources and donations from member companies and partners such as educational magazines from Diwa Learning Systems, storytelling books from The Bookmark, Inc., and assorted books from Goodwill Bookstore, Adarna House and paints from Boysen.

Other donations are notebooks from Sterling Paper Products, pencils and paper from Manila Bankers Life Insurance and Jopa Enterprises, Inc., and Vienna sausages from CDO Foodsphere, Inc.

Provincial Vice Governor Ruby Sahali-Tan in her speech during the Brigada Eskwela kick-off activity, committed an initial PhP 50,000 cash as provincial counterpart plus transport and materials support for the success of Brigada Eskwela in Tawi-Tawi. " Brigada Eskwela is an avenue where we can work together for community development," she stressed.

Brigada Eskwela is a DepEd Program and nationwide volunteer effort spearheaded by the parents, teachers and community associations (PTCAs), in order to ease the burden of school children during opening of classes. Classroom shortage, lack of textbooks and chairs among others are the usual problems haunting school kids when classes open up in the month of June.

In the Province of Tawi-Tawi, Brigada Eskwela kicked off with a motorcade passing through the main streets of Bongao, the capital town, in order to raise awareness and support from community residents and local government officials.

Brigada Eskwela in Tawi-Tawi was participated in by various stakeholders. Among them were teachers from the Department of Education headed by Superintendent Kiram Iriles, Provincial Government led by Vice Governor Ruby Sahali-Tan, Bongao Municipal Government, D' ALERT Radio Group, Philippine Marines, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, Philippine National Police, Tawi-Tawi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Rotary Club, local media, personnel devt from MIT, Ayala Youth Group and members of the PTCAs in the province. (PBSP Mindanao/PIA-Caraga)

Partnerships for education: PBSP Brigada Eskwela 2010 Exclusive

Partnerships for education: PBSP Brigada Eskwela 2010
Golden Prince Hotel, PBSP turn over schoolbuilding to Cabancalan I Elementary School


The lack of classrooms is one of the country's most perrenial problems in education. With partnerships between compassionate associations, however, more pupils are being brought to better education conditions.

Golden Prince Hotel, through the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), turned over a one-classroom school building to the pupils of Cabancalan I Elementary School last May 26, 2010.

The small school building, which costs P340,000 to construct, will help ease the shortage of classrooms in the school that has a  population of over 2,000 students.

Mr. and Mrs. Ramon Que, parents of Golden Prince Hotel

President Benedict Que, led the ribbon cutting ceremony

for the schoolbuilding blessing and turnover.

In an earlier interview, Cabancalan I Elementary School principal Aliena Quimque expressed how thankful she was for Golden Prince and PBSP in initiating projects for education, especially those that answer the school's lack of classrooms.

As of April 2010, the school's enrolment has already blown up to 2,000 pupils compared to last year's 1,900.

“We understand that the school will expand from five sections to six sections, and this new schoolbuilding can somehow fill the need of classrooms for the additional sections,” PBSP VIXCOM Chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz said.

From left: PBSP VIXCOM Chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz

and Golden Prince Hotel President Benedict Que

with his family.

Corporate citizenship through the years

“We thank PBSP for helping us bring this project to fruition... we hope this will serve as an example to other companies to do what is best for the community,” Golden Prince President Benedict Que said during the turnover.

Mr. Benedict Que making his speech during 
the turnover program.

PBSP is the country’s largest corporate-led social development foundation committed to reducing poverty in the Philippines through programs in health, education, sustainable livelihood, and the environment. Golden Prince Hotel is one of the newest members recruited by the foundation for this year.

A memorandum of agreement (MOA) was previously signed between Cabancalan Elementary School, Golden Prince Hotel and PBSP in April for the construction of the schoolbuilding. Under the agreement, Golden Prince Hotel would fund the project which will be implemented, managed and monitored by PBSP.

Another PBSP member company, San Miguel Corporation, also donated reading materials to the school.

“We really are doing our best to exercise our corporate social responsibility by helping communities,” SMC Communications Officer Romelinda Garces said. 

Books donated by San Miguel Corporation.

An offering to education

The official turnover highlights PBSP's Brigada Eskwela initiatives in the Visayas, which ran from May 24 to 28.  Member companies of PBSP donated paint, repair and cleaning materials and additional school supplies to help selected public schools to prepare for the opening of classes.  

Cabancalan I Elementary School teachers 

during their song presentation for the guests.

In his speech, Que explained his company’s motivation to help the local school, “I believe that true education can help you choose right from wrong. True education can eradicate poverty and true education can choose a leader who can lead us to a better tomorrow.”

The event was also attended by the Que family, Mandaue City Schools Superintendent Virginia Zapanta and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes.

From left: Mr. Benedict Que, Mrs. Aliena Quimque,

Mr. Que's parents, Mrs. Romelinda Garces and other 

Deped representatives.

Partnerships cemented

“This is a very good example of cooperation between the business sector, school and local government in order to improve the lives of of the community,” PBSP VIXCOM Chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz added.

Symbolic turnover of the key of the school 

from Golden Prince and PBSP

to Cabancalan I Elementary School of Mandaue City.

 Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes.

In his speech, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes assured PBSP and the business sector that the local government unit will continue to support and accommodate programs that will benefit the communities of the city.

“This will not be the end but will be continuous between the LGU and PBSP,” he added.




You may visit PBSP's Photo Gallery for more images.

UPPC wins in Zero Basura Olympics

UPPC wins in Zero Basura Olympics
The Philippine Star
May 30, 2010

MANILA, Philippines – United Pulp and Paper Co., Inc. (UPPC) SCG Paper, a leading manufacturer of high-quality and cost-efficient industrial-grade paper in the country, was given a major award as Candidate Master for its systems compliance and best practices in waste management in the Zero Basura Olympics (ZBO) for Business—a joint project of Earth Day Network Philippines, Inc., Philippine Business for Social Progress, Philippine Business for the Environment, and the Pollution Control Association of the Philippines Inc. in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

UPPC was also named Champion for Reuse/Recycling for its 100-percent use of recycled paper and “zero sludge to landfill” project.

Earth Day Network Philippines chairman Elisea Gozun said “with climate change affecting everyone, Earth Day is a chance to call on people to contribute to the solution through day-to-day acts that can be building blocks toward big initiatves.”

For ZBO for Business, 20 companies participated in the categories of Segregation, Reduction, Reuse/Recycling, Green Technology for Residual Waste, and Composting.

UPPC in SCG Paper, a long-time advocate for green packaging solutions, not only supports the campaign to gather a critical mass from corporations to join that of government, cause-oriented groups, and the communities for a “Basura”-free Philippines, it has been actively urging industry associates to possibly redesign operations to incorporate sustainability and reduce carbon footprint, and to prefer eco-friendly and recyclable products and packages.

Cabancalan school gets new classrooms

Cabancalan school gets new classrooms
Private donor hopes act sets an example to other firms
Sun.Star Cebu
May 27, 2010


With the help of the private sector, public elementary schools in Mandaue City will have new classrooms this school year.

A classroom, built for P340,000, was donated to Mandaue City by a private donor through the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

School principal Aliena Quimque received the donation for Cabancalan I Elementary School.

In the same occasion, an P800,000-worth furnished pre-school classroom, funded by the Department of Education, was also turned over to Quimque.

Quimque said the first classroom is for grade two pupils while the latter is for preschoolers as it already has desks, tables and cabinets. 


Good sign
"It is a good sign of partnership," said Mayor Jonas Cortes, referring to PBSP and Mandaue City government.

"We will always consider NGOs (nongovernment organizations) as partners in development," he added.

Private donor Benedict Que, the president and CEO of Golden Prince Hotel, turned over the classrooms to Quimque, adding two more classrooms to the 30-room elementary school.

The school has a population of 1,900 pre-school to grade six pupils living in the said community.

"Hope this will serve as an example to other companies, to do what is best for the community," Que said in his speech. 


Shortage 
Quimque, in an interview, admitted the shortage of classrooms is one of the school's problems.

With the two new classrooms, the school will also need three to four more teachers in addition to her 34-strong teaching force.

She will submit her request for additional teachers once the enrollment will be finalized this June.

Guests and witnesses in yesterday's occasion were PBSP chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz, City Schools superintendent Virginia Zapanta, Que's wife and elementary school officers and teachers.

Last month, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. also donated P4.8 million worth of classrooms in the public elementary schools of Barangays Pagsabungan and Canduman. OCP

SMC donates reading materials for Brigada Eskwela 2010

PBSP Brigada Eskwela 2010 Highlights

SMC donates reading materials for Brigada Eskwela 2010    

The fight against illiteracy in the country continues.

San Miguel Corporation (SMC), in an effort to improve the education standards of public schools in Cebu, donated more than P100,000.00 worth of reading materials for the schoolchildren through the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), the largest corporate-led foundation for social development in the country.

The books were given to Cabancalan I Elementary School in Mandaue City and Sunog Elementary School and Cambagocbok Elementary School in Magsaysay, Cebu as additional reading materials for their libraries.

There are approximately 240 to 1,080 pupils from each school.

San Miguel Corporation Communications Officer Romelinda Garces (left) 

turns over the books to PBSP represented by Maria Bunao (right). 

The books will benefit 240 to 1,080 pupils of 

Cabancalan Elementary School, Sunog Elementary School 

and Cambagocbok Elementary School.

The donation is part of SMC's CSR initiatives in support of PBSP's Brigada Eskwela from May 24 to 28, where the foundation helped repair and paint classrooms from Bohol, Cebu, Iloilo and Samar.

SMC visayas Communications Officer Romelinda Garces said that SMC's brand of corporate social responsibility has always been focused on the development of the individual. For years, SMC also conducted supplemental feeding and provided medical supplements to its communities to ensure that this goal is reached.

The books, which were donated by SMC employees, include textbooks, and workbooks, children's stories and student journals, fiction novels, hard-bound documentaries and educational magazines, among others.

 THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE. Elementary pupils of 

Cabancalan I Elementary School take a grab of the 

reading materials donated by San Miguel Corporation.

100 hectares targeted for PBSP reforestation project

100 hectares targeted for PBSP reforestation project 
By Malou M. Mozo
Manila Bulletin
May 26, 2010


CEBU CITY — The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), which is the country’s largest corporate-led foundation in the country, said an additional 100 hectares within the 504-hectare area adopted by the Kantipla Ecosystems Enhancement and Protection (KEEP) Foundation will be targeted for reforestation this year.

PBSP's Cebu Hillyland Reforestation Caravan is the Foundation's main activity in the campaign to reforest the denuded areas of the 29,000-hectare Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL). The CCPL is Metro Cebu's major source of potable water.

“There is urgent need for massive reforestation because of the extreme weather conditions brought on by climate change,” said PBSP-Visayas Chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz.

Aboitiz said he is hopeful that with the planting of thousands of trees, Cebu will likely be made to adapt more to climate change in the coming years.

In a statement, PBSP announced that this year's reforestation caravan will run for 15 Saturdays beginning June 19 and will go on till September.

Some 15,000 seedlings will be planted in the 100 hectare area. Cebu Microelectronics, Inc. has adopted 3.2 hectares to be planted with 8,000 seedlings. The Philippine Recyclers Association – Cebu Chapter, for its part, is adopting a hectare to be planted with 2,500 seedlings; Yamashin-Filter Corp. is committing to donate 3,000 seedlings; and Jollibee Foods Corporation-Vismin, the Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Vivant Corporation will field employees to participate in said caravan.

Companies can get involved by adopting at least a hectare for reforestation or by organizing employee volunteers to help plant trees on any scheduled Saturday of the caravan. A hectare costs P45,000 to reforest; this includes maintenance and replanting of tree seedlings as needed.

Since its first reforestation efforts in 1992, the PBSP has covered more than 1,000 hectares in the CCPL.

PBSP to kick off annual reforestation caravan

PBSP to kick off annual reforestation caravan
Cebu Daily News, Community section
May 26, 2010


There will be thousands more of trees that will help Cebu adopt to climate change in the coming years.

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), the largest corporate-led foundation in the country, is once again launching its annual Cebu Hillylands Reforestation Caravan from June to September 2010.

For this year, PBSP will reforest an additional 100 hectares of the 504-hectare adopted by the Kantipla Ecosystems Enhancement and Protection (KEEP) Foundation.

The Cebu Hillyland Reforestation Caravan is PBSP's main activity in the campaign to reforest the denuded areas of the 29,000-hectare Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).

The CCPL is Metro Cebu's major source of potable water. As extreme weather brought on by climate change wreaked havoc, the need for massive reforestation has become more urgent.

Since its first reforestation efforts in 1992, PBSP has been able to cover more than 1,000 hectares in CCPL with over a million seedlings of indigenous, fruit bearing and forest trees.

Last year, PBSP was able to reforest 76 hectares with the participation of 24 companies.

This year's reforestation caravan will run for 15 Saturdays and will kick off on June 19.

Cebu Microelectronics Inc. already adopted 3.2 hectares or 8,000 seedlings. The Philippine Recyclers Association-Cebu Chapter adopted a hectare to be planted with 2,500 seedlings. Yamashin-Filter Corp. also committed to adopt 3,000 seedlings while Jollibee Foods Corporation-Vismin, PLDT and Vivant Corp. will field their empliyees for the annual caravan.

For the kick-off, PBSP hopes to gather 300 volunteers from 30 companies and other stakeholders to plant 12,500 indigenous tree seedlings in a five-hectare area.

Companies can be involved by adopting a hectare for reforestation or by organizing employee-volunteers to help plant trees on any scheduled Saturday of the caravan. A hectare costs P45,000 to reforest, including maintenance and replanting of seedlings.

Interested corporate sponsors and volunteers may contact Malu Largo at 2325270 or 2325238 or email mblargo@pbsp.org.ph/malu.b.largo@gmail.com for details.

Church, police, soldiers join Brigada Eskwela Plus in Samar

Church, police, soldiers join Brigada Eskwela Plus in Samar
By Ninfa B. Quirante
PIA News Agency
May 25, 2010


Cabalogan City (25 May) -- As Samar Division kicks off its Brigada Eskwel a plus, a multi-sectoral team joined in its volunteer efforts to prepare the schools this school year 2010-2011.

Mr. Oswaldo Serrano, Brigada Eskwela Coordinator in Samar DepEd, told radio anchorman Rommel Rutor of Aksyon radio DYMS in an interview, that even Msgr. Francisco Cinco, some government soldiers and some elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) along with the parents, teachers and some DeEd officials converged in Clarencio Calagos Memorial School for Samar's Brigada Eskwela plus kick off.

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) an NGO reportedly announced its support for schools located in Tarangnan town, Catbalogan City barangays and other areas in Samar. PBSP has an office found in Barangay Mahayag, Catbalogan City.

Government soldiers assisted the teachers in repairing fences, chairs and declogging of drainage.

Mr Bernardo Adina, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent also informed that Samar's schools like Valeriano C. Yangcha Memorial Agricultural School (VCYMAS) have been on top in the nationwide selection of the Best Brigada Eskwela team.

"This is the second year that VCYMAS is on top, it is aiming now for the 'Hall of Fame' award," said Serrano.

Following closely is Clarencio Calagos who has raked in the most number of volunteers as exhibited by its multi-sectoral volunteers in the kick off ceremony, yesterday according to Serrano.

"Some businessmen, civic organizations also donate personal computers, books and even audio visual materials," stresses Serrano.

Adina, meanwhile hailed the assistance of Catbalogan City Mayor Coefredo 'Tekwa' Uy who he said in the past has donated P500,000.00 for the Samar DepEd division.

They miss the mayor though this time, but Adina is hopeful that as the week wears on, more 'donors' will troop back to the schools to offer assistance in cash or in kind for the educational needs of the students.

In his parting words, Adina urged the parents to send their children to school and thus increase Samar division participation rate which he places at 80% only. (PIA-Samar)

PBSP to reforest 100 more hectares in Kantipla

PBSP to reforest 100 more hectares in Kantipla
The Freeman, Community Section
May 25, 2010


The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), the largest corporate-led foundation in the country, is once again launching its annual Cebu Hillylands Reforestation Caravan from June to September 2010. For this year, PBSP will reforest an additional 100 hectares of the Kantipla Ecosystems Enhancement and Protection (KEEP) Foundation's adopted 504-hectare area.

The Cebu Hillyland Reforestation Caravan is PBSP's main activity in the campaign to reforest the denuded areas of the 29,000-hectare Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL). The CCPL is Metro Cebu's major source of potable water, particularly the Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve. As a series of forest fires hit Buhisan and the extreme weather brought on by climate change wreaked havoc, the need for massive reforestation has become more urgent.

This year's reforestation caravan will run for 15 Saturdays and will kick off on June 19. Cebu Microelectronics, Inc. already adopted 3.02 hectares or 8,000 seedlings while the Philippine Recyclers Association - Cebu Chapter adopted a hectare to be planted with 2,500 seedlings. Yamashin-Filter Corp. also committed to adopt 3,000 seedlings while Jollibee Foods Corporation-Vismin, PLDT and Vivant Corporation will field their employees for the annual caravan.

For the kick-off, PBSP hopes to gather 300 volunteers from 30 companies and other stakeholders to plant 12,500 indigenous tree seedlings in a 5-hectare area.

Companies can be involved by adopting a hectare for reforestation or by organizing employee volunteers to help plant trees on any scheduled Saturday of the caravan. A hectare costs P45,000.00 to reforest, including maintenance and replanting of tree seedlings as needed.

Since its first reforestation efforts in 1992, PBSP has been able to cover more than 1,000 hectares in CCPL with over a million seedlings of indigenous, fruit-bearing and forest trees. Last year, PBSP was able to reforest 76 hectares with the participation of 24 companies. (PR)

PBSP to help Basilan, Tawi-Tawi schools through Brigada Eskwela

PBSP to help Basilan, Tawi-Tawi schools through Brigada Eskwela
By Danny Escabarte, PBSP
May 20, 2010


Butuan City (20 May) - Thirty-nine (39) schools in conflict-affected areas of Basilan and sixty-two (62) other schools in farflung Tawi-Tawi will get assistance from the Philippine Business Progress (PBSP) through its Brigada Eskwela initiatives.

At least 234 schools from the most-needy areas in the country have been identified by PBSP to benefit from the Brigada Eskwela assistance. Companies, partners and other donors are encouraged to support this initiative through PBSP.

As an expression of corporate social involvement PBSP have gathered and mobilized donations from its member companies and partners, for the repair and cleanup of public schools through the Department of Education?s annual Brigada Eskwela.

Brigada Eskwela is part of the bigger education program of PBSP. The largest corporate-led foundation in the country, PBSP aims to help reduce poverty by improving the quality of education in public schools, bringing children to school, and keeping them from dropping out.

To improve the quality of education and equip schools with Information Technology (IT) capabilities, PBSP members and donors spent P101 Million last year.

Of this amount, P 1.5 Million worth of donations were mobilized for Brigada Eskwela. The donations included paints and repair materials, books, school supplies, food provisions and first aid kits. PBSP pulls these donations together and ensures that they reach the intended beneficiaries.

This year, PBSP has received early donations of educational magazines from Diwa Learning Systems, storytelling books from The Bookmark, Inc., and assorted books from Goodwill Bookstore and Adarna House.

Other donations are notebooks from Sterling Paper Products, pencils and paper from Manila Bankers Life Insurance and Jopa Enterprises, Inc., and Vienna sausages from CDO Foodsphere, Inc.

PBSP members and partners are encouraged to join Brigada Eskwela by donating cleaning materials, books and school supplies, slippers or shoes and school bags, food for baon, among others. Employees are also encouraged to share their time as volunteers to scrub floors, fix damaged desks, and repaint walls.

More than 43,000 public schools nationwide are preparing to welcome millions of elementary and high school students for the start of the school year in June. This year's Brigada Eskwela will be held from May 24 until 28. (PBSP/PIA-Caraga)

List of Donors for PBSP's Brigada Eskwela 2010

Provided is the list of donors for the 2010 Brigada Eskuwela as of May 21, 2010:

• Adarna House, Inc.

• CDO Foodsphere, Inc.

• Citi

• Diwa Learning Systems, Inc.

• East-West Seed Company, Inc.

• Goodwill Bookstore/ Katha Publishing, Inc.

• Holcim Philippines, Inc.

• Jopa Enterprises, Inc.

• M & H Food Corporation (Henlin)

• Manila Bankers Life Insurance Corporation

• Maxell Office Supply

• MST Marine Services (Philippines), Inc.

• Pacific Paint Boysen (Philippines), Inc.

• Parity Values, Inc.

• Philex Mining Corporation

• Ramcar, Inc.

• Sterling Paper Products

• The Bellevue Manila

• The Bookmark, Inc.

• The Cravings Group

• TSM Shipping Philippines, Inc.

• Union Galvasteel Corporation- Cebu

• Union Galvasteel Corporation-CDO

• Union Galvasteel Corporation-Zamboanga

• Virginia Foods, Inc.

Agents of social progress

Agents of social progress 
By Dinna Chan Vasquez
Manila Standard Today, Lifestyle
May 18, 2010


Can corporations sustain growth for their businesses and still be catalysts for social progress?

This was the question raised by the first Creating Shared Value Forum, which gathered leaders in the field of business, government, non-government organizations, bilateral and multilateral aid agencies, the academe and social and charitable institutions.

The forum was organized by Nestle Philippines Inc. in cooperation with Asian Development Bank, Asian Institute of Management and Philippine Business for Social Progress. One of the goals of the forum, according to organizers, is to encourage the business community to transition current corporate social responsibility projects to corporate shared value.

Edith de Leon, Nestlé Philippines senior vice president and head of corporate communications, said Nestlé organized the event in order to share its business philosophy that has been in place since the company was founded almost 140 years ago.

“Nestlé has been creating shared value long before the term CSV was coined. It is a philosophy that informs all its business decisions. In the Philippines, for instance, Nestlé is supporting the livelihood of some 30,000 small Filipino farmers and their families through the Nestlé Experimental and Demonstration Farm in Davao,” she added.

During the forum, Antonio Meloto, chairman of Gawad Kalinga, stressed the need for a visible participative transformation to address poverty and its ills, including crime, illiteracy and violence.

Maria Capanzana, director of the Food and Nutrition Research Council, spoke on the importance of nutrition and healthy food. She cited the importance of having a good diet as opposed to a “junk diet” composed of food that is not of good quality and is unacceptable.

Arjun Thapan, special senior adviser to the president on infrastructure and water of Asian Development Bank, said there was a need to have a unified law that would set the standards for water management.

“Use less and return what you use,” was Thapan’s answer when asked how people could help conserve the planet’s water resources.

Mark Kramer, who is considered the world’s leading proponent of creating shared value and the founder and managing director of FSB Social Impact Advisers, said the core idea behind CSV is symbiosis, a term originally used in the biological sciences to refer to a mutually beneficial relationship between two living organisms. The relationship, Kramer explained, exists to ensure the survival and growth of both organisms.


Symbiosis
Kramer explained that CSV is more expansive, more precise and more integrated approach in its approach toward achieving a mutually beneficial relationship between business and society.

“CSV allows a corporation to integrate social responsibility and progress within the core of its values, business strategy and processes,” he said.

As an example, Kramer cited how Nestle teams up with local farmers in its business operations, resulting in mutual benefits.

According to Meloto, Gawad Kalinga has a five-year partnership with Nestle that started in Baseco.

“This transformed the lives of 5,000 people,” Meloto added.

The World Economic Forum Annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland early this year brought together leaders from governments, business, civil society, academia and media to discuss the most pressing issues facing the world. Among the business leaders who attended the forum were Nestle officials who shared their ideas in the forum’s “Global Industry Outlook: Health, Consumers, Tech and Travel” session.

Nestle chief executive Paul Bulcke outlined Nestlé’s concept of Creating Shared Value and the positive role of business on society.

He said, when value is created and shared, people’s sense of responsibility, of ownership and stewardship increases.

Kramer, a Harvard senior fellow, said a company must create social programs consistent with the same core frameworks it uses to run its businesses.

In his award winning study “Strategy and Society: The Link between Competitive Advantage and Corporate Social Responsibility” published in the Harvard Business Review, Kramer and co-author Michael Porter, also a Harvard professor, cited how Nestle works with local farmers for the manufacturing of its food products.

The study pointed out that Nestle benefits as a company by taking care of the welfare of small farmers. This is the approach used by Nestle in the Philippines as it works with small coffee farmers.

A drop of life against the drying land

A drop of life against the drying land 
A PBSP exclusive

In picturesque Bohol, poverty hides behind rolling green hills and white sand beaches. In this province where livelihood is centered on rice production, PBSP helps empower the underprivileged by providing them with the tools for better productivity. One of these tools is a humble irrigation system that has also helped the farmers withstand El Niño's harsh onslaught.

The small water impounding system (SWIS) is heaven-sent for Exequil Bahalla and 13 other farmers of Barangay Katipunan, Carmen. It did not only help them send their children to school and construct better houses; it has freed them from the whims of the country's erratic seasons. 

“Sa karon na naa na ning impounding system, maka-advance na mi og pananom sa among mga humay aron sa primerong semana sa Pebrero makapa-flowering na mi sa among mga tanom. Tungod ani, mas nadali ang amu-ang produksyon (With the SWIS, we can already plant rice in advance. This allows our crops to flower in the first week of February and harvest at a sooner date, allowing us to plant more crops for better productivity),” Bahalla says.

With the SWIS, rainwater is collected and stored, enough to establish a mini-dam that serves more than 10 hectares of rice farms for irrigation. This gives the farmers enough water to plant and harvest rice outside the rainy season and despite the dry spell brought on by the El Niño phenomenon.

The SWIS is one of the components of PBSP's Bohol Area Resource Management (ARM) program. PBSP also provided capability training to equip farmers with the necessary skills to form an irrigators' association and became the stewards of the SWIS.

“Ang nakanindot ani nga programa kay fitted ang project sa ilang panginabuhi ug panginahanglan. Ang Boholanan people dili sad hesitant mu-accept og mga training kung makita nila sa maka-ayo sa ilaha (It is a very good project because it meets the needs of the farmers. The Boholanon people also do not hesitate to accept any training when they know it can help them),” says Maria Buñao, then the community organizer of the Bohol ARM.

PBSP's technical assistance to the farmers already spelled success. The Carmen Multi-Purpose Cooperative, where Bahalla and his neighbors belong to, became one of the top 50 cooperatives in 2009. It is a stark contrast to the cooperative's beginnings, where they started with no offices, capital, and the technical means to organize themselves. 

“Dili man gud dole out ang project. Mao nang ma-feel nilang mga farmers that they are part of the project ug sila ang direkta na maka-benepisyo sa project (This isn't simply a dole out project so the farmers felt more involved in its implementation and knew that they're the direct beneficiaries of the project),”  Buñao adds.

A total of 40 units of SWIS have already been established in Bohol irrigating around 760 hectares of land and benefiting more than 800 people. Help PBSP implement SWIS in more farming communities in the country, contact pbsp@pbsp.org.ph.

Veco to plant one million trees in five years

Veco to plant one million trees in five years
By Jessica Ann R. Pareja
The Freeman
May 17, 2010

The Visayan Electric Company, Inc. has promised to plant one million trees for the next five years as part of its extended corporate social responsibility for environment protection and conservation.

The utility firm, in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Philippine National Police, Reserve Officers Training Corps, yesterday, started planting mangroves at the NAVFORCEN base in Barangay Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu City.

Around 20,000 mangrove propagules were planted within the 44-hectare mangrove and waste water area of the navy base.

PBSP program coordinator Riva Valles said that they are going to cover one hectare of mangrove area of the base for the 100,000 mangrove propagules target. The rest of the 900,000 trees to be planted will be in the upland.

Ethel Natera, Veco's corporate communications officer, said that they choose to allocate a portion of their commitment to plant one million trees to planting mangroves because of its various benefits.

"We chose mangrove because dali ra sya mutubo, in just a year, dako na sya. It also serves as food and nursery to various marine organisms like fish, crabs, shrimps, etcetera," Natera said.

Veco funded the project for P17 million which shall be spent for the conduct of series of tree planting activities in various viable places in Cebu as well as the aftercare for these trees and mangroves.

Valles said that after planting, the area will be secured against those who will  try to harvest and destroy it. They will be hiring ordinary fisherfolks in the area to take care of the propagules all year round.

Veco and PBSP's partnership was sealed last March and shall terminate in five years after achieving the one million trees target.

Mangrove is a type of forest growing along tidal mudflats and shallow water coastal areas extending inland along rivers, streams and their tributaries where the water is generally brackish, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Its existence in the ecosystem bears importance because it provides nursery grounds for fish, prawns and crabs, and support fisheries production in coastal waters.

Mangrove also protects the environment by protecting coastal areas and communities from storm surges, waves, tidal currents and typhoons. It produces organic biomass or carbon and reduces organic pollution in near shore areas by trapping or absorbing green house gases.

Mangroves contribute 1,800-4,200 grams of carbon per square meter per year which is approximately the contribution of the tropical rain forest and 10 times higher than primary production in the open ocean.

According to DENR 1995 statistics, convertion to fishponds, prawn farms, salt ponds, reclamation and other forms of industrial development has reduced the mangrove area to 117,700 hectares.

10,000 more propagules planted in Lapu-Lapu City

10,000 more propagules planted in Lapu-Lapu City
VECO seals commitment to save the environment with mangrove reforestation


As its commitment to conserve the environment, the Visayan Electric Company, Inc. (VECO), together with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) planted 10,000 mangrove propagules at the NAVFORCEN base in Lapu-Lapu City last May 15, 2010.

Fifty employee volunteers from VECO and 70 more cadets from the Navy and Philippine National Police participated in the mangrove planting activity.




The event is part of the firm's recently launched Veco Reforestation Park project, where VECO commits to plant one million trees in five years.

PBSP and VECO previously signed an agreement for the implementation of the project, which includes the planting of one million trees in 540 hectares in the Cebu Hillylands and 10 hectares of mangrove areas in Olango Island, Mactan.

VECO will shell out Php 19.4 million for the project.

Let's work together for Brigada Eskwela 2010!

Siblings Luisa and Julio love to study; Luisa dreams of becoming a nurse while Julio wants to build one of those airplanes he sees gliding in the skies.

It is still a month before the next school year opens but the brother and sister decided to visit their public school early.  They wanted to see the classrooms they might be using, hoping they don’t have to study out in the open for yet another school year with nothing but the shade of the narra tree over their heads.

A sad sight met Luisa and Julio:

 Is this the school we want for future generations?

We can make the lives of more students happier by giving them better schools. Help make Luisa's and Julio's dreams come true.

Join PBSP's Brigada Eskwela this coming May 24 to 28. Be a donor or volunteer!

How can you help?

Be a donor. Our classrooms need cleaning materials, books and school supplies, slippers or shoes and school bags, food for snacks, among others.

Be a volunteer. Share your time and help us clean up the schools, fix damaged desks, and repaint walls.

For more details and other inquiries, you may call Miss Olive Jabido through (32) 232-5270 or 232-5283 or through email at MGJabido@pbsp.org.ph or pbspvro@pbsp.org.ph.

We work better together!

...and so in the end , Luisa and Julio can spend happy days in school and get a step closer to their dreams!

SM Prime Holdings feted with environmental awards

SM Prime Holdings feted with environmental awards
The Manila Times
May 13, 2010


SM Prime Holdings was recognized by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) as well as the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) for outstanding efforts in environmental protection.

In awarding ceremonies at the SM Mall of Asia during Earth Day Celebration on April 22, SM Prime Holdings was conferred the award “Champion for Rescue/Recycle” from the Zero Basura Olympics (ZBO). SM earned this honor for the green initiatives it has launched including a recycle market dubbed as Trash to Cash, biodegradable bags that promote the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) as well as its waste management programs.

Organized by the PBSP, in partnership with the Philippine Business for the Environment and Earth Day Network Philippines and in coordination with the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, ZBO is a program that was created to support the implementation of Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act) gives recognition to best practices in waste management.

Industrial, commercial and manufacturing establishments and private entities, whose activities may have potential impact on actual sources of water, air, and land resources are mandated by law to designate at Pollution Control Officer.

The two awards reinforce SM Prime Holdings continuing commitment to environmental protection. This year, it has expanded its efforts by creating a series of events that reach out to consumers and encourage them to practice eco-friendly living, the culmination of which will be the third staging of the Leadership Conference Series featuring former united States Vice President Al Gore on June 8.

To be held at the SMX Convention Center at SM Mall of Asia complex, Part 3 of the Leadership Conference Series will have Gore present an updated version of An Inconvenient Truth with a special focus on Asia. Tickets to Leadership Conference Series 3 are now available through TicketNet. For more information please call TicketNet at 911-5555 or email algore-manila@smprime.com.

Asia's Foremost Conference and Expo on Corporate Social Responsibility to be Held in Beijing in October

Asia's Foremost Conference and Expo on Corporate Social Responsibility to be Held in Beijing in October 
By INDIACSR
May 10, 2010


BEIJING: The Asian Institute of Management's ninth annual Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility (AFCSR) goes to Beijing, China on October 21 and 22, 2010 with the theme: Improving Business Competitiveness through CSR.

Recognized as being the largest and most significant conference on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Asia, the 2009 conference recently concluded in Manila with 494 delegates.

473 delegates attended in Singapore in 2008, and 550 delegates attended in Ho Chi Minh City in 2007. For this year, over 500 business executives and other CSR stakeholders from more than 30 countries are expected to attend the conference.

The 2010 Asian Forum in China is presented by the AIM Ramon V. del Rosario Center for Corporate Social Responsibility and co-presented by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and Intel as Strategic Partners.

"We are planning for our biggest event yet in 2010 in China with more than 550 CSR practitioners from more than 30 countries expected to attend the conference" says Prof. Felipe B. Alfonso, Vice-Chairman of AIM's Board of Trustees. 


AFCSR's objectives are

To highlight innovative programs and best practices in CSR by corporations operating in Asia and to promote CSR as a key strategy in addressing social needs and concerns, to showcase corporate innovation in CSR in Asia and among Asian firms, to promote new thinking and standards on CSR as a strategy, and to build a network of CSR practitioners across Asia. The event is extremely well-supported and attended not only by senior business executives from Asia, but also by major NGOs throughout the Asian region.

An integral part of the activities is the Asian CSR Awards which recognizes and honors companies in Asia for their CSR programs. The Awards will be given in five categories: Environmental Excellence, Support and Improvement of Education, Poverty Alleviation, Best Workplace Practices and Concern for Health.

The AFCSR 2010 is supported by Jollibee Foods Corporation as Strategic Corporate Partner, with the Avantha Group, Oishi (Liwayway Marketing Corporation) and Sagittarius Mines, Inc. as the Official Industry Partners. The Public Relations Partners are APCO Worldwide - China as the Official PR Partner with Creative Crest - India, Integrated Public Relations - Malaysia, Masso PR - Vietnam and PR Society of Indonesia.

Official media partners include ammado, ACN Newswire, BusinessWorld, ChinaCSR.com, China CSR Map, China Newswire, China Philanthropy Times, CSR Asia, Employer Magazine, International Herald Tribune, Management Systems Asia, philstar.com, Syntao and Trainer Magazine.

AFCSR's notable partners include:

• ActionAid International Vietnam
• ASEAN Foundation
• Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium
• Asia Society
• Baltic Management Development Association (BMDA)
• Business Ethics Institute of Malaysia
• Business in the Community-UK
• Center for Development and Integration - Vietnam
• Center for International Business Ethics (CIBE)
• Centre for Social Markets - India
• Community Business - Hong Kong
• Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry
• Council for Better Corporate Citizenship - Japan
• Euro-China Centre for Leadership and Responsibility at China-Europe
• International Business School (ECCLAR at CEIBS)
• Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative (GRLI)
• Habitat for Humanity International
• Indonesia Business Links
• International Business Leaders Forum
• Kenan Institute Asia
• League of Corporate Foundations - Philippines
• Makati Business Club
• Management Association of the Philippines
• Management Institute for Social Change - Malaysia
• National Center for Sustainability Reporting - Indonesia
• Philippine Business for Social Progress
• Population and Community Development Association of Thailand
• PPM Institute of Management - Indonesia
• Responsible Business Initiative - Pakistan
• Singapore Compact for CSR
• The American Chamber of Commerce in the People's Republic of China

PBSP to repair 234 schools

THROUGH BRIGADA ESKWELA
PBSP to repair 234 schools
The Freeman, Community section
May 9, 2010


The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) will help gather donations for the repair and cleanup of public schools through the Department of Education's annual Brigada Eskwela. This year, Brigada Eskwela will be held from May 24 to 28.

PBSP has identified 234 schools from the most-needy areas in the country that will benefit from the Brigada Eskwela assistance. It encourages companies and other donors to support this initiative through PBSP.

Brigada Eskwela is part of the bigger education program of PBSP. The largest corporate-led foundation in the country, PBSP aims to help reduce poverty by improving the quality of education in public schools, bringing children to school, and keeping them from dropping out.

Top improve the quality of education and equip schools with Information Technology (IT) capabilities, PBSo members and donors spent P101 million last year.

Of this amount, P1.5 million worth of donations were mobilized for Brigada Eskwela. The donations included paints and repair materials, books, school supplies, food provisions and first aid kits. PBSP pulls these donations together and ensures that they reached the intended beneficiaries.

This year, PBSP has received early donations of educational magazines from Diwa Learning Systems, storytelling books from The Bookmark, Inc., and assorted books from Goodwill Bookstore and Adarna House.

Other donations are notebooks from Sterling Paper Products, pencils and paper from Manila Bankers Life Insurance and Jopa Enterprises, Inc., and Vienna sausages from CDO Foodsphere, Inc.

For schoolbuilding repairs in the Visayas, Union Galvasteel Corporation will also donate roofing materials while Virginia Foods Corporation will provide additional supplies. Golden Prince Hotel also donated a one-classroom schoolbuilding to the pupils of Cabancalan Elementary School, which will be officially turned over to the school during the Brigada Eskwela.

PBSP members and partners are encouraged to join Brigada Eskwela by donating cleaning materials, books and school supplies, slippers or shoes and school bags, food for snacks, among others.

Employees are also encouraged to share their time as volunteers to scrub floors, fix damaged desks, and repaint walls.

RCTV's plug for the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA) held the third run of the OLANGO CHALLENGE last April 24, 2010. Proceeds of the event will be used to run environment and livelihood projects in Olango Island. (video plug courtesy of RCTV)

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

PBSP to fix schools for opening of classes

BRIGADA ESKWELA
PBSP to fix schools for opening of classes
Cebu Daily News, Community section
May 7, 2010


More than 43,000 public elementary and high schools are preparing to welcome the start of the school year.

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) will help gather donations for the repair and cleanup of public schools through the Department of Education's (DepEd) annual Brigada Eskwela. This year, Brigada Eskwela will be held from May 24 to 28.

The PBSP has identified 234 schools from the most-needy areas in the country that will benefit from the Brigada Eskwela assistance.

The largest corporate-led foundation in the country, PBSP aims to help reduce poverty by improving the quality of education in public schools, bringing children to school and keeping them from dropping out.

To imrpove the quality of education and equip schools with Information Technology (IT) capabilities, PBSP members and donors spent P101 million last year.

Of this amount, P1.5 million worth of donations were mobilized for Brigada Eskwela.

The donations included paints and repair materials, books, school supplies, food provisions and first aid kits.

This year, PBSP has received early donations of educational magazines from Diwa Learning Systems, storytelling books from The Bookmark Inc., and assorted books from Goodwill Bookstore and Adarna House.

Other donations are notebooks from Sterling Paper Products, pencils and paper from Manila Bankers Life Insurance and Jopa Enterprises  Inc., and Vienna canned sausages from CDO Foodsphere Inc.

For schoolbuilding repairs in the Visayas, Union Galvasteel Corporation will donate roofing materials, while Virginia Foods Corporation will provide additional supplies.

Golden Prince Hotel also donated a one-classroom schoolbuilding to the pupils of Cabancalan Elementary School, which will be officially turned over to the school during the conduct of Brigada Eskwela.

PBSP members and partners are encouraged to join Brigada Eskwela by donating cleaning materials, books and school supplies, slippers, shoes, school bags and food for snacks, among others.

Employees are also encouraged to share their time as volunteers to scrub floors, fix damaged desks and repaint walls.

For details, please contact Maricar Olivia Jabido of PBSP at 2325270 or 2325283 or through email at MGJabido@pbsp.org.ph.

PBSP to help needy schools through Brigada Eskwela

PBSP to help needy schools through Brigada Eskwela

Employee-volunteers from PBSP member-companies help 

clean up classrooms in last year’s Brigada Eskwela.
Photo: Mike Yabut/PBSP

More than 43,000 public schools are preparing to welcome millions of elementary and high school students for the start of the school year.

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) will help gather donations for the repair and cleanup of public schools through the Department of Education’s annual Brigada Eskwela. This year, Brigada Eskwela will be held from May 24 to 28.

PBSP has identified 234 schools from the most-needy areas in the country that will benefit from the Brigada Eskwela assistance. It encourages companies and other donors to support this initiative through PBSP.

Brigada Eskwela is part of the bigger education program of PBSP. The largest corporate-led foundation in the country, PBSP aims to help reduce poverty by improving the quality of education in public schools, bringing children to school, and keeping them from dropping out.

To improve the quality of education and equip schools with Information Technology (IT) capabilities, PBSP members and donors spent P101 Million last year.

Of this amount, P 1.5 Million worth of donations were mobilized for Brigada Eskwela. The donations included paints and repair materials, books, school supplies, food provisions and first aid kits. PBSP pulls these donations together and ensures that they reach the intended beneficiaries.

This year, PBSP has received early donations of educational magazines from Diwa Learning Systems, storytelling books from The Bookmark, Inc., and assorted books from Goodwill Bookstore and Adarna House.

Other donations are notebooks from Sterling Paper Products, pencils and paper from Manila Bankers Life Insurance and Jopa Enterprises, Inc., and Vienna sausages from CDO Foodsphere, Inc.

For school building repairs in the Visayas, Union Galvasteel Corporation will also donate roofing materials while Virginia Foods Corporation will provide additional school supplies. Golden Prince Hotel also donated a one-classroom school building to the pupils of Cabancalan Elementary School which will be officially turned over to the school during the Brigada Eskwela.

PBSP members and partners are encouraged to join Brigada Eskwela by donating cleaning materials, books and school supplies, slippers or shoes and school bags, food for baon, among others.

Employees are also encouraged to share their time as volunteers to scrub floors, fix damaged desks, and repaint walls. For details, please contact Ms. Maricar Olivia Jabido of PBSP at 232-5270 or 232-5283 or through email at MGJabido@pbsp.org.ph.

PBSP in the Visayas' Calendar of Events

PBSP in the Visayas' directions for 2010.

Where are we headed next?

MAY 2010.

23. Fair Trade Run 2010.
24-28 May. Brigada Eskwela 2010.

VECO Mangrove Tree Planting.
First collection of ULABs from VECO for the Balik-Baterya Program. 



JUNE 2010.

19 Jun. 2010 Cebu Hillyland Reforestation Caravan Kick-off.

Run for the Ocean. 



JULY 2010.

Enterprise Development Forum.

CSR Expo.

Bohol Launching of the Balik-Baterya Program. 



AUGUST 2010.
Go Green Cebu.

For more details on these succeeding events, please call us at (032) 254.5283 or visit us at:

PBSP Visayas Regional Office

4th Floor, PLDT Building

Juan Luna Avenue, Mabolo

Cebu City, Philippines 6000

Worthwhile plunging

Worthwhile plunging
PBSP's 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE 
creates waves—one stroke at a time

 

Against the sizzling heat of summer, swimmers gathered at the beachfront of the East Wing of Tambuli Beach Resort for the 3rd Olango Challenge.

It attracted swimmers from all over and as far as America and Japan to compete and help make a better life for the communities of Olango Island.

Swimmers heading towards the starting point of the race course.

 
From more than 50 competitors, Nikita Dacera and Erika Lukang came out victorious in the 5K competitive category. Respectively, Jason Ong and Lorhiz Echavez both got the top spots for the 2.5K competitive category; Rey Suerte and Alali Villocino capped the 1.5K competitive swim; and Franz Baguio emerged as champion for the 5K Fun swim.

The 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE is organized by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in partnership with the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA) to help highlight the importance of preserving the marine environment in Olango Island. As a pioneering event of such kind in the country, the Olango Challenge also aims to promote open water swimming as a sport in the Philippines.


Click here for to see the full results of the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE.


Over P124,000.00 worth of cash prizes were awarded, while champions of each category received Timex watches as well. Gift certificates and other raffle coupons were also given away.


New records set. The 24th of April was a record-breaking day with swimmers besting their personal records and collecting on the pledges of their peers to help organizers meet the P1.2 million fundraising target for the event.

Nikita Dacera's win for the third straight time earned him the first grand slam winner of the Olango Challenge. Dacera also beat his personal record last year, where he finished the race in one hour and 11 minutes. This year, he compelted the challenge in 56 minutes and 21 seconds.

The 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE also witnessed the surprise attendance of Erika Lukang and Loren Dale Echavez, rivals from the recently capped Palarong Pambansa, who both earned the top spots in  the 5K competitive category of the women's division. 

Kiefer Ticao, Nikita Dacera, Erica Lukang and Loren Dale Echavez.

The event also attracted the participation of Japanese swimmer Tamotsu Takashi, who, at 70 years old, became the oldest competitor for the 3rd Olango Challenge. He also plans to join the event next year.

For being the first person to register for the event, Michael Vega received a gift certificate courtesy of Shangri-la's Mactan Resort and Spa.

To collect on a pledge, PBSP VIXCOM Chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz also finished his 5K swim in one hour and 28 minutes, raiding additional funds for the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE.

VIXCOM Chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz as he reached the finish line.

Changes beyond the sea. 'Teary-eyed' was how PASA President Mark Joseph felt as he explained how the Olango Challenge sought to change the lives of communities in Olango Island.

“We care, we love Cebu, we love swimming and we help together to make a difference,” he said in his opening speech during the event's awarding ceremony.

Last March 11, swimmers and sponsors visited Candagsao Elementary School in Olango official turnover of the two-classroom school building. The construction of the two-classroom school building was made possible from the proceeds of the 1st and 2nd Olango Challenges.

Jose Antonio Aboitiz and the 5K winners of the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE

VIXCOM Chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz also thanked the sponsors and those who pledged and participated in the competition for making the event successful and technically feasible.

Among the major sponsors were Nestlé's Milo, the Department of Tourism, Aboitiz Foundation, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation and Timex.


Click here for the complete list of sponsors and partners of the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE.


“We did some swimming and we did our work,” Aboitiz said.

Proceeds of the Olango Challenge will be used to fund inland reforestation as well as the construction of water catchment systems throughout Olango Island.

For more pictures, you may visit PBSP's Fickr page.