What hope means to a 22-year-old

What hope means to a 22-year-old 
By Cheenee Otarra
The Manila Times
September 12, 2010

In less than a month, I will be turning 22 (although I think I am still eight years old at heart). My batch mates include, of course, Maria Venus Raj and Rihanna who were also born in 1988. So I ask myself, in my 22 years of existence, what have I done that has had a major impact on the world? If I should compare what I have done to those women up there, then I think they would not be that worth noting. However, if I should choose which things have been most meaningful to me, then it’s simple and, for me, worth remembering.

At 22, I’ve walked with farmers for at least 15 kilometers to fight for a cause.

On November 30, 2007, while a lot of my schoolmates were enjoying the long weekend, five of my friends and I went to Cabuyao, Laguna with our teacher to immerse ourselves in the presence of 55 farmers who have walked from Sumilao, Bukidnon since October 10, 2007. These farmers have walked at least 1,700 kilometers to fight for their 144-hectare land in Sumilao.

The next day, we walked from Cabuyao to San Pedro, where we woke up from an open plaza in Cabuyao at dawn and slept at San Pedro’s covered courts in the evening. Our days were spent talking, eating, singing, and more talking with the farmers. We got to understand their cause, which gave us a strong foundation to fight for these farmers.

When the farmers reached Metro Manila, we continued to walk with them from Cubao to Ateneo, to Quezon City Circle, to Malacañang. When we had free time, we slept over at their makeshift shelters outside the Department of Agrarian Reform in the Quezon City Circle. (Today, the DAR has of course put bars and grills!)

After almost six months of waiting for the decision of certain government agencies and negotiations with San Miguel Foods Inc. (SMFI), the farmers were able to get 50 hectares from the original 144 hectares, and were promised with 94 more hectares from nearby lands.

At 22, I’ve tried to help these farmers in any way I could.

Because we wanted to know how land could truly help the farmers, my friends and I embarked on a journey called the Sumilao Agri-Enterprise. Since one of the requirements of the agreement with SMFI was that the farmers would have to grow crops organically (no chemical fertilizers, no pesticides), many farmers have had difficulty producing enough corn to pay back loans, especially when traders’ prices were drastically low.

This was when my friends and I brainstormed for a social enterprise that we could start with the farmers’ main crop—corn. We remembered that one time in Caritas, during negotiations with SMFI, the farmers gave us cups of corn coffee to drink and we remembered how it smelled so good and tasted just like coffee! According to the farmers, roasting corn coffee is a traditional Higaonon practice.

Our product, Sumilao Corn Coffee, is roasted from the highest quality organic, native, and yellow corn grown in Sumilao, Bukidnon. It contains a high amount of fiber that can help in digestion and in the prevention of certain diseases. Because it is the native variety and is organically grown, customers are assured that no amount of fertilizers or crop gene enhancers is taken in with every cup. Sumilao Corn Coffee is also caffeine-free, which makes it perfect for Filipinos who (naturally) love coffee for its taste and aroma sans the caffeine.

We joined two different business plans in 2009 and won P20,000 from the British Council and P100,000 from the Business in Development Network and Philippine Business for Social Progress. During the first few months, I had to travel several times to Bukidnon so we could set up the business by training farmers on quality control and packaging. I had to be with them to supervise the quality of the product and I taught them how to pack the goods in boxes and to ship them to Manila. Our team also had to search for suppliers of equipment and packaging materials. We advertised the product to our friends to earn our first few thousands, met with consultants, and saw that there really is potential in the product.

Eventually, in May 2010, I moved back from Metro Manila to my hometown in Cagayan de Oro to focus on our business. We have produced our packs of corn coffee and delivered them to different stores. We are currently doing our best to promote Sumilao Corn Coffee and increase our sales.

At 22, I’ve learned the true meaning of hope.

One of the most important things I learned from walking and being with the farmers is the meaning of hope. Like them, I learned how to work hard for my dreams and to let God guide me along the way.

I remember them telling me that when they were still walking in Mindanao, they did not really expect that a lot of people would support them in Visayas, in Luzon, and especially in Metro Manila. They just walked for their cause—and prayed to God. And so now, I just really work hard on our social enterprise, and pray to God for guidance and strength.

Smart helps reduce RP elementary dropout rate

Smart helps reduce RP elementary dropout rate  
Cebu Daily News
September 9, 2010

THE Smart telecommunications company is supporting the efforts of the Department of Education (DepEd) to reduce the dropout rate in elementary levels in the country.

Data gathered by the National Statistical Coordination Board showed that the dropout rate had increased from 8.6 percent in 2006 to nine percent in 2007.

To address the problem, Smart launched the CommuniTeach Program in September 2009 to help solve the rising dropout rates and help improve learning among the elementary school children, particularly those in public schools. The program actively involves communities in the mentoring of their children.

The program also assists in other areas like funding, donation of school supplies, cleaning of classrooms and cooking and serving snacks for the student beneficiaries.

Aside from DepEd, the program also involves local government units, private businesses, the local colleges or universities, parents of the student beneficiaries and local schoolteachers.

After-school learning sessions are held every Saturday, for an entire school year, for 20 pupils from Grades 1 to 3 identified to be the lowest performers in their respective batches.

CommuniTeach has been piloted in 12 sites nationwide. These include the National Capital Region, Pampanga, Bataan, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro City, Bohol, Cebu, General Santos City, Digos City, Saranggani, Naga City and Baguio City.

It is expected to go full swing this month with the support of program partners Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and Silid Aralan Inc. PBSP will help in the program implementation, while SAI will provide the learning technology.

Core business values to help reduce poverty, target MDGs

Core business values to help reduce poverty, target MDGs
The Mindanao Examiner
September 07, 2010

MANILA, Philippines — Core values and business principles of a United Nations-led global initiative could help reduce poverty in the country and contribute to meeting the targets of the Millennium Development Goals, an official of the Philippine Business for Social Progress said Monday.

Rafael Cojuangco Lopa, PBSP executive director, said the delivery of basic services to the countryside with the able participation of the business community can help fulfill the government’s public role of achieving its MDG targets and the corporate sector’s commitment to the UN Global Compact Initiative in the Philippines.

PBSP is the national secretariat of both the GC Initiative and the MDGs.

Lopa said the MDGs are time-bound quantified targets for addressing extreme poverty adopted by at least 189 UN member-states as their official declaration at the onset of the millennium in 2000, with the end in sight of meeting the goals by the year 2015.

Meanwhile, the GC Initiative is basically comprised of 10 universal principles on human rights, labor standards, and the environment that erstwhile UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan advocated to world business leaders to embrace and enact during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January 1999.

“PBSP is committed to leading the private sector to contribute to the achievement of the MDGS by adopting the Global Compact principles as part of their corporate citizenship practices,” Lopa said on the eve of a forum of Philippine MDG stakeholders and partners scheduled today (Wednesday, 8 September) at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.

The Stakeholders’ Step-Up Campaign Forum on the MDGs is expected to be attended by about 750 leaders of national and local governments, congress, business and civil society, academe, international development partners, and members of the diplomatic community.

Slated to present the Global MDGs Report 2010 is Dr. Jacqueline Badcock, UN resident coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative to the Philippines, with President Noynoy Aquino as keynote speaker.

Also in attendance will be Social Welfare Sec. Dinky Soliman and Education Sec. Armin Luistro, with Socio-Economic Planning Sec. Cayetano Paderanga to present the Philippines 4th Progress Report on the MDGs as Director General of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

Paderanga earlier said the MDGs are a set of development goals and targets for 2015 that the government has committed itself during the 2000 Millennium Summit to eradicate poverty and hunger, promote access to education, reduce child and maternal mortality rates, halt the spread of HIV/AIDS as well as malaria and other infectious diseases, ensure environmental sustainability, and promote a global partnership for development.

Capturing the country’s progress towards achieving the MDGs, the 1st, 2nd, and mid-term progress reports on the millennium goals were published in 2003, 2005, and 2007, respectively. The stakeholders’ forum at Dusit Thani will serve as the venue for the launching of the 4th progress report.

With the support of UNDP, the government’s 4th report aims to provide an assessment of the MDGs progress in the country from 1990-2009 as well as recommendations critical for the nation to reach these goals by 2015. The 4th report will be submitted to the UN General Assembly which is expected to convene at the UN headquarters in New York on September 20-22. (Mitch Confesor)

NNC to address malnutrition

N.N.C. to Address Malnutrition
Manila Bulletin, Mindanao Newsbits
September 8, 2010

COTABATO CITY — The National Nutrition Council (NNC) is in need of at least 300 volunteers to help address hunger and malnutrition in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said a local official of the NNC.“We hope to recruit one volunteer per barangay in 300 pre-identified areas across ARMM to serve as Barangay Nutrition Volunteer (BNV),” said Dr. Eloisa Usman, regional nutrition program coordinator.


The ARMM covers the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, and Marawi City, all Muslim-dominated areas classified by the government as among the country’s poorest zones. High degree of hunger and malnutrition in these ARMM component areas is prevalent, Usman said. She said it is due to these conditions that all of the five ARMM provinces fall among the priority areas of the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program (AHMP) of the government. She said nutrition volunteers will help monitor and assess nutrition problems in their respective villages and in the implementation of the regional proper nutrition program. NNC-ARMM is pushing for a beneficial collaboration with local government units (LGUs) in the implementation of this program. (Ali Macabalang) 

GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO REDUCE POVERTY
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Core values and business principles of a United Nations-led global initiative could help reduce poverty in the country and contribute to meeting the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Rafael Cojuangco Lopa, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) executive director, said the delivery of basic services to the countryside with the able participation of the business community can help fulfill the government’s public role of achieving its MDG targets and the corporate sector’s commitment to the UN Global Compact (GC) Initiative in the Philippines. PBSP is the national secretariat of both the GC Initiative and the MDGs. Lopa said the MDGs are time-bound quantified targets for addressing extreme poverty adopted by at least 189 UN member-states as their official declaration at the onset of the millennium in 2000, with the end in sight of meeting the goals by the year 2015. (Nonoy Lacson)


COPS NAB ESCAPEE IN SULTAN KUDARAT
Police recaptured on Tuesday a 31-year-old man who was among those who escaped when heavily-armed men swooped down on the Cotabato provincial jail in 2007 to rescue a suspected bomber detained in the area, a police official said yesterday. Senior Supt. Willie Dangane, chief of the Cotabato City Police, said Faizal Salik was arrested at 11 a.m. on Tuesday in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao along with two others identified as Julkarnain Salik and Anwar Isla Rakman. “Salik is one among the escapees during the February 2007 jailbreak at Cotabato Provincial Jail when heavily armed MILF stormed said jail taking with them several firearms of jail guards and aided the escape of notorious bomber Burham Mundos,” said Dangane. Meanwhile, the military has arrested a suspected ranking leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) wanted for two murder cases during an operation in a remote village in Compostela Valley province. Lt. Col. Medel Aguilar, 10th Infantry Division (10ID) spokesman identified the arrested NPA leader as Percival Manimog, known in the communist movement as “Bing Bong” and said to be the deputy secretary of Guerilla Front 51, Southern Mindanao Regional Party Committee. (Aaron Recuenco and Elena Aben)

Making ‘green’ paper out of junk

Making ‘green’ paper out of junk
By Corrie Salientes-Narisma
Philippine Daily Inquirer
September 5, 2010

They call themselves “junkies,” for they depend 100 percent on junk for their company’s operations.

These are the people of paper mill United Pulp and Paper Co. in SCG Paper (UPPC in SCG), one of the country’s five major producers of industrial grade corrugating medium paper and liner boards—the materials used in the production of packaging products.

Leading the pack of “junkies” is company president and CEO Montri Mahaplerkpong, who takes pride in the fact that UPPC in SCG, despite all the waste and junk in its midst, is one of the greenest, if not the greenest, firms in the country.

UPPC is a subsidiary of SCG Paper, a member company of the Siam Cement Group of Thailand. It entered the local scene in 1996 by acquiring initially 30 percent of UPPC, then largely-owned by the Phinma group of the Del Rosarios. In 2004, SCG Paper bought 100 percent of UPPC.

Although the paper mill was a going concern at that time, Mahaplerkpong says SCG had to start from scratch as it had to convert the plant’s operations from one that depends on virgin pulp to one that uses recycled materials, as practiced by the parent firm in Thailand and its other operations overseas. It also had to increase the paper mill’s capacity of 50,000 tons to what it is now.

SCG infused P5 billion into UPPC to put everything in place—production facility, recycling line, power generator and boiler—before it was able to operate the plant.

Thinking, living “green”
Mahaplerkpong says UPPC in SCG now survives and thrives on gathering various types of waste and recycling them. It churns out 240,000 tons of corrugated medium and liner board a year and for this, it uses about the same amount of waste paper and cartons.
Hundreds of people collect the different kinds of waste and deliver them to the baling stations owned by the company all over Luzon. Waste products are then segregated, treated for contamination and recycled.

The energy and steam requirements of its manufacturing complex in Calumpit, Bulacan are supplied by its own power generation facility that runs 30 percent on sludge, wood chips, rice husks and other materials made into biomass and used as fuel. Even the contamination removed from the waste paper and the company’s own waste goes to the boiler for power and steam generation.

The firm also has a state-of-the-art facility that treats the water that it uses.

‘Green’ world
In this company, Mahaplerkpong says, nothing goes to waste and UPPC in SCG ensures that whatever additives it uses in its operations contain no hazardous materials.

He says the firm also makes sure it contributes no sludge to the landfill under its “Zero Sludge to Landfill Project.”

The Philippine unit, he adds, operates in line with SCG Paper’s vision of a “green world.”

Its efforts did not go unnoticed. It has won numerous awards for its environmentally sound practices. It recently earned for its liner board the Green Choice Seal from the National Eco-labelling Program-Green Choice Philippines, making UPPC in SCG the 15th company to receive the seal of approval in the country.

It was granted the Silver Rating Award under the Regional Industrial EcoWatch Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the quality of its air emission and water effluent.

UPPC in SCG was declared 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. It was also named Champion of Reuse/Recyling for its 100-percent use of recycled paper and “Zero Sludge to Landfill” project.

Money from trash
Its community project also revolves around waste and focuses on the preservation of the environment, conservation of natural resources and pollution reduction. Not only does UPPC in SCG cultivate environmental awareness in the communities where it operates, it also teaches them how to make money out of trash.

It maintains and supports the so-called Community Eco Boys who collect waste from households and trash bins in various areas. The collected waste is brought to eco centers and segregated. Paper waste is bought from the Eco Boys for recycling while the others go to the boiler.

Mahaplerkpong says each barangay covered makes about P50, 000 a month from trash, or P5,000 to P7,000 per eco boy.

“We link our CSR (corporate social responsibility) program with our business to make business not only for ourselves but for the beneficiaries, too,” he says.

Most, if not all, the paper mills in the country have shifted to using recycled papers in their operations but Mahaplerkpong says UPPC in SCG started it all in the country.

“The bigger challenge now is to inspire and motivate many more to join in the movement.”

Transition
UPPC in SCG operates under the strictest terms and philosophy of its parent company.

“In the past, businesses focused on products with the aim of producing the best goods. This later became customer-centered, giving the market what it demanded. Now it is people-centric, which means that in doing business, one needs to care not only for customers but also for all the people around you and your environment,” he says.

Many businesses are realizing this now, he says, but as more paper mills go the “green” way, certain problems start cropping up. For one, Mahaplerkpong says the supply of waste paper is falling short and the cost is getting high.

He says there is not much waste paper and cartons in the country that UPPC in SCG has to import at least 10 percent of its requirements. It is not so much a problem of shortage in supply, it is more of the improper disposal of waste paper in the country, resulting in the very low recovery rate.

To widen its sources of waste paper, the company intends to increase the number of its baling stations from 11 to 15 this year and, later, to 30.

It is investing P1 billion in a new boiler and is exploring the possibilities of increasing its biomass use in generating electricity from 30 percent to 50 percent. It is also putting up a big warehouse for its raw materials.

Mahaplerkpong, who rejoined the parent firm back in Thailand early this month, has big dreams for UPPC in SCG and he is confident these dreams will be pursued by the company, with or without him.

CHATTO-LIM admin bent on poverty reduction

CHATTO-LIM admin bent on poverty reduction
The Bohol Standard
September 5, 2010

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), the largest social development foundation in the Philippines, is sharing Bohol’s vision of leading the business sector’s efforts to reduce poverty in the country.

Bohol Provincial Governor Edgar M. Chatto and Vice-Governor Concepcion Lim have given their nod to Local Government Units (LGUs) and the different departments and offices of the Provincial Government to give their support to PBSP and are strongly encouraging the private sector to increase their corporate social responsibility by giving assistance to whatever projects the PBSP has in line to sustain programs for health, education, enterprise development, environmental protection and sustainable livelihood for expanded province-wide poverty reduction to be able to balance conservation and food security.

The PBSP and the Chatto-Lim Administration both believe that a strong collaborative agenda to reduce poverty is needed through the rehabilitation of our degraded coastal resources and improving our farming technologies to enhance the province’s productivity, hereby improving our health and living conditions.

It is estimated that almost 40% of Boholanos live in poverty and it is essential for both PBSP and the Capitol to reduce this number by maintaining, if not increasing, our rice self-sufficiency which has risen to 113% through the strong collaboration of the Provincial Government, the LGUs and agricultural communities after years of living in scarcity.

Airline backs PBSP, plants mangroves in Olango Island

Airline backs PBSP, plants mangroves in Olango Island
Cebu Daily News
September 3, 2010

Cathay Pacific employees spent a weekend in Olango Island enjoying a day out with co-workers and helping out the community.

Lapu-Lapu City employees from Cathay Pacific Cargo Philippines joined volunteers of U-Freight Philippines, Vascor Cebu, Centurion Security Agency, TGC, Kwe, DHL and YAS in planting 1,000 mangrove trees with the Grade 1 pupils of Poo Elementary School.

The activity was organized by the company with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

PBSP aims to conserve Olango's marine resources by planting more than 25,000 mangroves in a year with the help from corporate sponsors and volunteers.

The activity also aimed to teach the pupils on the protection of the coastal environment by involving them in the activity.

The companies also helped improve the education standards of Poo Elementary School.

Cathay Pacific manager Camila Taylor, Centurion Security vice president for finance Jasmine Pages and DHL vice president for the Visayas and Mindanao JC Cergneux led their employees in distributing school supplies to the pupils, which included bags, notebooks, pencils, sharpeners and crayons.

“We are very happy that they spent their time to come to our school and give school supplies for my child. Now I can save more money to spend for his other needs,” said Cheryl Fernando, 28, mother of 6-year-old Rainier.

For Rainier, the school supplies are gifts from heaven.

“I never had this many school supplies before. I didn't expect people to help my mother buy school supplies for me because we live very far from the city (of Lapu-Lapu). I thank them for helping us; now I know I can study better because I have notebooks and pencils I can use for writing notes and doing my assignments,” said Rainier.

Employees also sent personalized greeting cards for the children to encourage them to study hard and engaged in story-telling with the children.

Books and other reading materials were also donated for the school's library.

Taylor said that the company will continue to look for more venues for social development projects in Cebu.

Reforestation Caravan August Updates

Reforestation Caravan August Updates


Last July, which celebrates CSR Month, 10 companies and associations planted more than 10,000 seedlings for the Reforestation Caravan. From June 26 to August 7, 2010, PBSP was able to gather 560 volunteers from different companies.

For the month of August, a total of 36,500 seedlings have been planted by more than 1,000 volunteers from 14 companies. PBSP thanks the following institutions for making its reforestation feats successful this month:

August 1, 2010 - planted 650 seedlings
USC Lions Club

August 7, 2010 - planted 1,000 seedlings
Kiwanis Club of Cebu

August 14, 2010 - planted 1,700 seedlings
Lexmark International Philippines, Inc.
San Miguel Yamamura Corp.
HGB & Co.
QUALFON Philippines, Inc.

 

August 21, 2010 - planted 16,500 seedlings
Taiyo Yuden Philippines Inc. (96)
MSM Cebu Inc. (50)
PLDT Telecommunications Employees Cooperative (25)

  

August 28, 2010 - planted 16,250 seedlings
TMX Philippines (120)
UP Cebu (50)
Paref Southcrest (20)
Golden Prince Hotel (10)
DEDON (80)




We still have FOUR MORE SATURDAYS LEFT TO SAVE THE EARTH!

Companies may still join us by adopting a hectare for reforestation, which will cost Php 40,000.00, inclusive of regular maintenance and monitoring of the area. Companies may also send their employee volunteers to join us in Cantipla and plant indigenous and endemic tree species.

For inquiries and booking of schedules, interested companies and individuals may contact MS. MALU LARGO through the following:

TELEPHONE: (32) 232-5270 | 232-5283
EMAIL: MBLargo@pbsp.org.ph | malu.b.largo@gmail.com

For other inquiries and concerns, you may also email us here.

Kantipla's tree guardians show different face of reforestation

Kantipla's tree guardians show different face of reforestation
By Cris Evert Lato, contributor
Cebu Daily News
August 31, 2010


Danilo Villaban, 40, used to plant bell peppers and tomatoes to help earn for his family.

But the father of four welcomed the call for membership in the Kantipla Ecosystem Enhancement and Protection (Keep) Program and is a new protector of trees in Cebu's watershed.

"We ourselves have seen the impact now that the trees have grown. It's different. Our water supply is ensured," he shared.

Villaban and his fellow Keep members check the seedlings after these are planted by company volunteers of the Cebu Hillylands Reforestation Caravan, a program of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

Before planting time begins in June each year, they also clear the forests of weeds. About six people clear and dig holes for seedlings in every hectare of watershed.

Though Villaban and his friends are used to negotiating the steep hills, their job is no walk in the park.

"We also face problems from other farmers who still continue to do kaingin (slash-and-burn)."

But as a tree guardian, Villaban believes that he and his friends need to "let (other farmers) see what we are doing. We don't have any bad intentions."

Villaban helped volunteers from Taiyo Yuden Philippines Inc. plant trees on Aug. 21.

Taiyo Yuden's employees, led by general manager Takumi Utsunomiya and president Toshimitsu Honda, planted cinnamon and other indigenous trees such as taluto, bangkal, narra and tu-og.

An expert on Cantipla's terrain, Villaban said he enjoys the weekly visits of the PBSP forester, who checks the survival rate of the newly planted trees.

"We need to check the trees because if we don't, we cannot be sure if they are still alive. They help prevent landslides."

Basilan children continue to receive assistance from NGOs

Basilan children continue to receive assistance from NGOs
By Danny Escabarte
PIA News Agency
August 23, 2010

Basilan (23 August) -- Aid for Basilan children withstood recurring violence that haunt the island province as it continue to send to school 535 indigent youngsters at Lamitan National High School in Basilan. One hundred seventy-five (175) of them will be finishing secondary education this school year, while 292 are in 3rd year and 68 in the 2nd year high school respectively.

"I was still in Grade II when ABC included me and other classmates in the project. Now, with barely months to go, we will be finishing high school with excitement and joy," Geejay Paculdo disclosed. She was among the 535 school children assisted under the ABC Project of PhilAm Foundation in the aftermath of the Abu Sayyaf's violent siege of Lamitan in June 2001. "In behalf of the children of Lamitan, I say thank you very much to PhilAm Foundation for the ABC Project," Geejay added.

Several civilians, military men and Abu Sayyafs were killed during the siege of the town, aside from properties destroyed including St. Peter's Parish Church that was badly damaged as a result of the destructive attack of the extremist group. Classes were also suspended forcing children to stay at home for safety purposes.

Just recently, a PhP1.5M check has been turned over by Philam Chair Jose Cuisia to PBSP Chair Manuel V. Pangilinan to fund the 9th year Aid for Basilan Children or ABC project being implemented by PBSP (Philippine Business for Social Progress) in Basilan Island. (PIA-Caraga)

SMART targets 1.5M trees planted by 2010

SMART targets 1.5M trees planted by 2010
The News Today - Online Edition
August 23, 2010

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is close to hitting its target of planting over 1.5 million seedlings and mangrove propagules under a three-year tree planting agreement inked in 2008 with parent company Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and the PLDT-Smart Foundation together with Japan’s NTT DOCOMO, Inc.

Smart has already planted some 425,750 of the 995,000 seedlings targeted for 2010 alone. Sites include the Marikina Watershed in NCR; Bulacan, Batangas, Palawan, Subic, Marikina, Pampanga,and Camarines Sur in Luzon; Bohol, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, Siquijor, Guimaras, Kalibo, Roxas, and Antique in Visayas; and Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Sarangani in Mindanao.

“Our program partners and employee-volunteers continue to be instrumental in our campaign to increase the country’s forest cover. Since 2008, they have been helping us surpass our yearly targets,” said Smart Public Affairs Group Head Ramon R. Isberto.
Tree Planting

On the first year of the agreement, Smart surpassed its target of 150,000 by planting some 167,000 seedlings and propagules in close to 10 provinces nationwide. The following year, the company stepped up its tree planting campaign to exceed its target of 350,000 for a total of 363,000 seedlings.

In each site, Smart is closely in partnership with the local offices of government agencies that include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), and non-government organizations like the Corporate Network for Disaster Response (CNDR), and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) to ensure proper implementation of the tree planting program.

Smart and its partners not only plant trees but also conduct activities that benefit the communities in the area.

In Norzagaray, Bulacan, Smart helped its partner Dumagat community to establish the Norzagaray-Dumagat Multi-Purpose Cooperative, which oversees its seedling nursery. The Dumagats not only provide the seedlings needed for SMART’s reforestation program at the Ipo Dam, but also earn a living from the care and maintenance of the seedlings planted in the area.

Smart also conducted a mangrove planting activity in Barangay Cagsao in Calabanga, Camarines Sur in support of the community’s disaster-preparedness and risk-reduction efforts under the Project Strengthening Assets and Capacities of Communities and Local Governments for Resilience to Disasters (ACCORD) led by the Corporate Network for Disaster Response (CNDR).

The telco provided the community with the mangrove propagules to be planted along the coastline, as well as other materials needed for the project. Employee-volunteers and partner groups also lent a hand in the series of planting activities.

Smart has been working with community partners in increasing forest cover since 2004 under Kabalikat, its corporate social responsibility program and community service program.

Public-private partnership

Public-private partnership
By Ernesto Hilario
Business Mirror, Opinion
August 16, 2010

That the Philippines will be unable to meet the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals, particularly primary education for all and improved access to maternal health, isn’t surprising. The warning comes from the top UN official in the country, and it’s based on the fact that poverty incidence in the Philippines has even increased, from 30 percent in 2003 to 33 percent in 2006. I doubt if the poverty level has gone down in the last four years of the Arroyo administration.

While the government has the primary responsibility to look after the welfare of those who live on the margins of society, it simply cannot do the job alone. The best efforts of the government in reducing poverty have not been good enough, because systemic corruption keeps already- scarce resources from reaching those who need help the most.

I worked for a nongovernment organization (NGO) network in the early 1990s and we launched socio-economic projects in the different regions, although on a very limited scale. Our projects were funded mostly by foreign donors. The Philippine NGO community prided itself on being the most dynamic during that time; I don’t know if that distinction is true until today. But on hindsight, I don’t think we made even a dent on the poverty level. We emphasized the empowerment of the poor so that they can take firm steps toward standing on their own two feet. But you can only do so much when resources are very limited and you’re working under an ideological framework that frowned on piecemeal socioeconomic reforms.

With the NGO sector hobbled by economic and political constraints, it is the private sector that’s in a better position to help the government fight poverty. Foundations belonging to the Philippine Business for Social Progress and other similar groups have been able to launch bigger socioeconomic projects because of corporate support. But I hope the top 1,000 corporations would allocate a higher percentage of their annual income to social-development projects.

The government, business and civil-society groups must unite and grapple with the problem of poverty. While it is correct to exert pressure on the government to do everything possible to combat poverty, the private sector and civil society must share the burden. To uplift the poor from wretched conditions and abolish absolute poverty in this country in the near future, we need to forge a strong public-private partnership.

Little red school

Little red school
Sun.Star Baguio
August 15, 2010

The Coca Cola Foundation, in partnership with the Philippine business for social progress and in cooperation with the Jaime V. Ongpin foundation, turned over to the province of Benguet, municipality of Tublay and the Department of Education three multi-grade classrooms it named as Little Red Schoolhouse.

The building was given as a donation for students of Daclan and Ambassador as there used to be only one "kubo" multi grade classroom and a borrowed structure used by the day care, kinder and grades 1 and 2.

The donation was done after various schools in the province were affected by typhoon Pepeng that devastated this part of the country in October 2009. The classroom is built with a comfort room inside and is provided with a water tank for the comfort of the students.

With the multi-grade classroom "Little Red Schoolhouse", the students which are now up to grade three, presently occupies the area level for one classroom. For the years to come when the pupils will already be in grades five and six, they will no longer have to walk for kilometers to reach the nearest school because it can accommodate up to grade 6.

The turnover was attended by about 68 pupils, together with the parents, community members, Mayor Ruben Paoad, Governor Nestor Fongwan, JVOFI President Reynaldo Bautista Sr, Department of Education representatives, Philippine business for social progress officers and representatives and the Coca Cola Foundation led by its president Ma. Cecilia Alcantara. (Alex Yan)

Cebu, Bohol fisherfolk undergo training on seaweeds farming

Cebu, Bohol fisherfolk undergo training on seaweeds farming  
Cebu Daily News
August 14, 2010

The MCPI Corp. is helping more fishermen tap other areas of lucrative marine market by teaching them how to produce high-quality seaweeds.

Some 24 fishermen of the SECAFEE Integrated Development Cooperative underwent a three-day training on integrated seaweeds farming recently at MCPI's Ocean Farming and Research Center in Danajon Reef, Bien Unido, Bohol.

The project is in partnership with the German Development Service/Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst (DED), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). It is sponsored by MCPI, BFAR and DED's Strategic Corporate-Community Partnerships for Social Progress (SCOPE) program, which runs for two years. The training was provided for the fishermen and farmers of Dalaguete town, southern Cebu and Guindacpan and Calituban, Bohol.

German consultant for SCOPE Janina Wohlgemuth said, “The goal of the project is to generate a long-term alternative source of income for the people in those three towns.”

The project also aims to establish cooperation between the farmers and MCPI in the long run, so that the farmers will have a secure market for the seaweed they are going to plant.

Wohlgemuth added, “An additional outcome of the training is the protection of the environment. It discourages dynamite and cyanide fishing present in the area as these fishing practices also affect the seaweed farms. Additionally, the seaweed farms serve as a habitat for many marine species.”

The training, which was conducted by MCPI and BFAR, taught fishermen basic fishery laws and the economics of seaweed production and market prospects of the seaweed industry. Hands-on training on setting up a seaweed farm and on treating diseases infecting seaweeds was also provided.

“We are very thankful for the training because we have learned how to manage and take care of the seaweeds technically. Though most of us already know how to plant the seaweeds, we still lack the knowledge on certain technical aspects like disease prevention and the proper harvesting and drying of seaweeds,” SECAFEE cooperative chairman Leo Escala said.

MCPI and DED will further assist the fisherfolk in setting up a 2.5-hectare seaweed farm which will expand to eight hectares after three planting cycles.

Some of the harvested seaweeds will be given to the Dalaguete farmers and other PBSP-supported farmers in Bohol so they can start their farms in the next planting cycle. A second part of the harvested seaweeds will be used to grow the farm in Guindacpan and the rest will be sold to MCPI.

PBSP business forum series slated in Davao

PBSP business forum series slated in Davao
PIA News Agency
August 10, 2010

Davao City (10 August) - The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) has invited micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to attend its 2010 Enterprise Development Forum Series to be held in Manila, Cebu and Davao.

The Davao-leg of the forum will be on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 1:00-5:00 pm, Orchid Room, Apo View Hotel, Davao City. The Manila series was held last July 27 at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City, while the Cebu series was on August 4 at the Crown Regency Hotel, Cebu City.

This year's theme is "Responsible Business for MSMEs: Practical Approaches Towards an Eco-Friendly Business". Invited keynote speaker is internationally recognized policy advisor, environmental planner and consultant, Mr. Elmer Mercado, EnP, who will share his insights and experiences in implementing environmental sustainability initiatives for MSMEs. As a response, eco-friendly innovations of selected clients and/or PBSP member companies will be featured as testimonies where guests can draw inspiration from in employing their own environment sustainable undertakings.

During the forum, Volunteer Advisers of PBSP's Business Advisory Program (BAP) will also be given recognition for their invaluable contribution in the growth and development of BAP-assisted MSMEs. PBSP new Chief Executive Advisor, Klaas Oreel, on his first public engagement for the foundation, will spearhead the recognition of the 26 volunteers deployed across the country during the previous year.

BAP delivers business advisory services thru the assistance of Filipino volunteer experts to help MSMEs improve their business. It is among PBSP's response to the clamor for job creation by promoting MSME development.

Since 2003, BAP has generated 669 jobs across the country, nearly half of which are women. 115 of its assisted MSMEs had also demonstrated improvements in their business performance levels such as increase in sales and profits, new markets and products developed, improved operation efficiency and additional investments.

The forum is designed to be a common venue for learning, information dissemination, business-to-business (B2B) networking among MSMEs, financial institutions, and other business development service providers. It is part of the Enterprise Development Program of PBSP.

PBSP is the country's largest corporate-led social development foundation leading the promotion and practice of corporate citizenship. It has been influencing companies to integrate social responsibility into their core businesses, and advocating the application of business solutions to poverty. PBSP operates nationwide with projects in education, health, sustainable livelihood and enterprise development, the environment and disaster rehabilitation. (PIA)

PBSP business forum here today

PBSP business forum here today
Sun.Star Davao
August 10, 2010

Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) invited micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Davao Region to attend its business development forum in Davao City Tuesday.

The activity is part of PBSP's 2010 Enterprise Development Forum series, which was also held in Manila and Cebu.

The Davao-leg of the forum is slated at orchid Room of the Apo View Hotel, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Manila series was held last July 27 at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City, while the Cebu series was on August 4 at the Crown Regency Hotel, Cebu City.

This year's theme is "Responsible Business for MSMEs: Practical Approaches Towards an Eco-Friendly Business."

Invited keynote speaker is internationally recognized policy advisor, environmental planner and consultant Elmer Mercado, EnP, who will share his insights and experiences in implementing environmental sustainability initiatives for MSMEs.

As a response, eco-friendly innovations of selected clients and/or PBSP member companies will be featured as testimonies where guests can draw inspiration from in employing their own environment sustainable undertakings.

During the forum, volunteer advisers of PBSP's Business Advisory Program (BAP) will also be given recognition for their invaluable contribution in the growth and development of BAP-assisted MSMEs.

PBSP new chief executive advisor, Klaas Oreel, on his first public engagement for the foundation, will spearhead the recognition of the 26 volunteers deployed across the country during the previous year.

BAP delivers business advisory services through the assistance of Filipino volunteer experts to help MSMEs improve their business. It is among PBSP's response to the clamor for job creation by promoting MSME development.

Since 2003, BAP has generated 669 jobs across the country, nearly half of which are women. Around 115 of its assisted MSMEs had also demonstrated improvements in their business performance levels, such as increase in sales and profits, new markets and products developed, improved operation efficiency and additional investments.

The forum is designed to be a common venue for learning, information dissemination, business-to-business (B2B) networking among MSMEs, financial institutions, and other business development service providers. It is part of the Enterprise Development Program of PBSP.

Bizmen vow to be eco-friendly

Bizmen vow to be eco-friendly
By Aileen Garcia-Yap
Cebu Daily News
August 10, 2010

Recognizing their need to transcend “business and personal interestests,” about 50 individuals and eight civic and business groups pledged to adopt eco-friendly, socially responsible and human resource oriented practices in yesterday’s One Cebu Business and Sustainability Summit.

They signed a two-page “call to action” at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City after listening to a series of talks on how to conduct responsible and sustainable business.

Led by Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes, they vowed to “incorporate new specific sustainable business practices and use environmentally friendly technology” in daily operations.

The mayor and representatives of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Cebu Business Club, Rotary Club of Cebu, Cebu Leads Foundation, Aboitiz Equity Ventures and Cebu Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce said the move was a “response to our country’s call for transformation and private volunteerism.”

Some 400 participants from local government units in Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo and Manila joined in the summit.

Summit speakers including former environment secretary Elisea Gozun and lawyer Alex Lacson, author of “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country” urged the participants to start reviewing their business processes and reduce carbon emission which worsens climate change that is affecting economic activities.

Gozun said that last year’s typhoon Ondoy and Peping affected 2.6 percent of the gross domestic product.

“There are four direct impacts of climate change that will have a threat to business which includes increase in rainfall, rising sea levels, increase in temperature and extreme weather conditions which includes very strong typhoons,” she said.

“We have seen how those two typhoons have affected us last year.”

Gozun said that renewable energy, which would reduce “carbon footprints” and make the environment and business sustainable, is not yet accessible and feasible in some areas due to lack of government regulation.

Exporter Pete Delantar said the export industry is ready to use renewable energy.

“There is a very huge market for green products at around $600 billion but how can we say that our product is green if we don’t even have the guidelines yet?” Delantar asked.

Erramon I. Aboitiz, chief executive officer of Aboitiz Power agreed.

He said some companies like San Fernando Electronics like San Fernando Energy and Davao Light have opted for renewable energy but other firms “need clear guidelines.”

Aboitiz, who was among the speakers, said that the Department of Energy should prioritize making renewable energy accesible.

“I don’t know if they are waiting for open access before they can implement the Green Energy Option,” Aboitiz said.

Other summit speakers included Maria G. Goolsby of Union Bank of the Philippines, Gawad Kalinga’s Antonio Meloto Jr., Emmanuel Aligada of Globe Telecom, Felino Palafox Jr. – an architect who talked about urban planning, Brad Reddersen of Stranova and Yolanda Ong of Campaigns Group.

Meanwhile, in line with President Benigno Aquino III’s thrust towards active private-public partnerships, Eric Ng Mendoza, head of the MCCI that organized the event said that they will push for more projects with the Mandaue City government.

Mendoza said he is eyeing a partnership with Union Bank which has a book donation program and the University of Cebu through its owner Augusto Go.

He said Go promised to support MCCI.

The One Cebu Business and Sustainability Summit 2010 is part of MCCI’s Mandaue Business Movement that Mendoza describes as the beginning of a sustainable business revolution.

“Through the summit and other projects, we hope to influence and encourage actions from others until all will do their own share,” Mendoza said.

Green partners needed

Green partners needed 
By Katlene O. Cacho
Sun.Star Cebu
August 10, 2010

A strong partnership between the public and the private sectors is needed to address today’s environmental problems, a former secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said in a business summit yesterday.

“Taking action in addressing climate change requires collective action. It is a shared responsibility,” said Elisea Gozun, one of the speakers at the One Cebu Business and Sustainability Summit held at the Cebu International Convention Center.

Gases
In her presentation before Cebu’s industry leaders, Gozun reported the Earth is experiencing a “global fever,” an increase in temperature due to the increased emission of greenhouse gases caused by the increasing number of vehicles, industries; and emission of methane from livestock manure, among others.

The increased emission of greenhouse gases, Gozun said, has resulted in an erratic climate resulting in an increase in rainfall, rise of sea levels, increase in temperature and extreme weather. These have triggered natural calamities like landslides, floods and stronger typhoons.

“Excessive heat in particular has caused drops in production,” she said, noting that the recent El Niño weather phenomenon has affected the marine and agriculture production and livelihood of farmers, especially in the key agricultural cities of the country.

Gozun reported that the 2009 typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, which claimed properties and lives, particularly in the Luzon area, resulted in economic losses equivalent to 2.6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

GDP refers to the amount of goods and services produced by a country.

Recommendations
Among the steps Gozun recommended for adoption by industries is the increase in energy and water efficiency, shift to the use of renewable energy, promotion of the low carbon lifestyle among employees, greenhouse gas accounting, rehabilitation of forests, tree planting, and the incorporation of green measures in the supply chain.

She said local government units should also pass ordinances requiring malls and subdivisions yet to be constructed to have rainwater catchment facilities in their plans.

“Being eco-efficient is good for the triple bottom line,” she said.

The triple bottom line or TBL is an expansion of the business framework that takes into account the social and environmental aspects aside from the economic aspect of the business.

Traders urged to become ‘eco-friendly’

Traders urged to become ‘eco-friendly’
Manila Bulletin
August 8, 2010

CEBU CITY (PNA) — An environment planner and consultant has urged Cebu’s micro, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (MSMEs) to take on practical approaches to be eco-friendly to become more globally competitive in the market.

Elmer Mercado, an environment planner and consultant in a forum conducted by the Philippine Business of Social Progress (PBSP) at the Crown Regency Hotel, this city, said being eco-friendly is good not because it is fashionable but it is good for the business, for the market and for the bottom-line.

He was in Cebu to share his insights and experiences in implementing environmental sustainability and initiatives for MSMEs.

He said that in achieving the “triple bottom-line” (TBL), an expansion of business framework that considers the social and environmental aspect aside from the economic aspect of the business is helpful in making the business sustainable.

"It is viable even without spending because there are business processes that we are doing that involve increasing human resource productivity, increasing profit margins and maximizing resources,” he said.

The TBL approach, he said, can help bring back earnings to the community.

He said that it typically brings back by contributing to the growth of the community such as education and facilities.

Paying the community right will help them improve their production of raw materials.

Mercado reported that there is a need for eco-friendly business to comply with the law and to respond to market pressure, competition, public health and sanitation concern, shift of lifestyle and marketing strategy or niche.

“There is an increasing global demand of environment-friendly products and companies see this as a challenge and opportunity,” Mercado said.

Cebu traders urged to become ‘eco-friendly’

Cebu traders urged to become ‘eco-friendly’ 
Balita
August 7, 2010

CEBU CITY, Aug. 7 – An environment planner and consultant has urged Cebu’s micro, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (MSMEs) to take on practical approaches to be eco-friendly to become more globally competitive in the market.

Elmer Mercado, an environment planner and consultant in a forum conducted by the Philippine Business of Social Progress (PBSP) at the Crown Regency Hotel in Cebu City, said being eco-friendly is good not because it is fashionable but it is good for the business, for the market and for the bottom-line.

He was in Cebu to share his insights and experiences in implementing environmental sustainability and initiatives for MSMEs.

He said that in achieving the “triple bottom-line” (TBL), an expansion of business framework that considers the social and environmental aspect aside from the economic aspect of the business is helpful in making the business sustainable.

"It is viable even without spending because there are business processes that we are doing that involve increasing human resource productivity, increasing profit margins and maximizing resources,” he said.

The TBL approach, he said, can help bring back earnings to the community.

He said that it typically brings back by contributing to the growth of the community such as education and facilities. Paying the community right will help them improve their production of raw materials.

Mercado reported that there is a need for eco-friendly business to comply with the law and to respond to market pressure, competition, public health and sanitation concern, shift of lifestyle and marketing strategy or niche.

”There is an increasing global demand of environment-friendly products and companies see this as a challenge and opportunity,” Mercado said.

He said buyers examine closely the supply chain management and production of companies before they get them as suppliers. “Buyers want to know if your company adheres to eco-friendly business operations.” (PNA)