Center for treatment of drug-resistant TB to rise in Koronadal City
by Dani Doguiles
PIA News Agency
November, 26, 2010
Koronadal City (26 November) -- Residents of Region 12 who are suffering from multi-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) will soon get free services with the establishment of a regional treatment center for the disease in Koronadal City.
Koronadal City Mayor Peter B. Miguel recently announced that a memorandum of agreement between the local government, Department of Health (DOH), National Lung Center, and the private non-profit foundation Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) for the creation of a Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Center in the city has been signed.
The MDR treatment center will effectively hasten the management and control of the increasing number of multi-drug resistant TB cases in the region at much lesser expense on the part of the patients and their families.
Based on the MOA, the city government is only required to provide five medical staff who will run the facility and the building that will house the center as its counterpart in the partnership. Partner agencies will provide the equipment and machineries, training of the personnel, as well as drugs and medicines for the treatment.
After five years, the full operation of the TB treatment center will be turned over to the city government.
"At present, patients with multi-drug resistant TB are treated in Metro Manila but the National Lung Center cannot accommodate all the patients. For people in the city and the neighboring cities and provinces suffering from TB, to avail of such treatment is very expensive," he said.
Treatment of MDR cases is also more expensive than the treatment of the normal cases of TB.
"Treatments in the TB center will be free of charge," he added.
The TB center will be put up beside the City Health Office.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Smart engages community, partners in tree planting
Smart engages community, partners in tree planting
Cebu Daily News
November 16, 2010
Raising a child is not the only task that requires a village’s collective efforts.
The saying also holds true for greening one’s locality or area.
This is one of the primary reasons Smart Communications Inc. took time to engage local community and partners in its tree planting program.
In each of its tree planting sites in the country, Smart taps a local partner to draw support for reforestation efforts.
“We involve the community in our reforestation efforts. It makes easier for us to get them to commit to the care and maintenance of the seedlings we planted,” said Smart Public Affairs Group head Ramon Isberto.
In Cebu, Smart, together with Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) employee-volunteers and the Philippine Business for Social Progress already planted 33,500 mangrove propagules and endemic trees in its adopted areas in Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City and Bojo, Aloguinsan in southwest Cebu.
Smart has also been conducting tree planting activities in Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Dumaguete, Negros Oriental; Bacolod, Negros Occidental; Cagayan de Oro; and Lugait in Misamis Oriental.
Smart’s planting activities this year have resulted in the planting of close to 180,000 seedlings and mangrove propagules through the combined efforts of 1,558 community and employee-volunteers.
This year also marks the third year of the three-year tree planting agreement forged in 2008 between PLDT, Smart, the PLDT-Smart Foundation and Japan’s leading mobile telecommunications company NTT DOCOMO Inc.
Smart’s tree planting activities are part of the company’s corporate social responsibility and community service program Kabalikat.
Cebu Daily News
November 16, 2010
Raising a child is not the only task that requires a village’s collective efforts.
The saying also holds true for greening one’s locality or area.
This is one of the primary reasons Smart Communications Inc. took time to engage local community and partners in its tree planting program.
In each of its tree planting sites in the country, Smart taps a local partner to draw support for reforestation efforts.
“We involve the community in our reforestation efforts. It makes easier for us to get them to commit to the care and maintenance of the seedlings we planted,” said Smart Public Affairs Group head Ramon Isberto.
In Cebu, Smart, together with Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) employee-volunteers and the Philippine Business for Social Progress already planted 33,500 mangrove propagules and endemic trees in its adopted areas in Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City and Bojo, Aloguinsan in southwest Cebu.
Smart has also been conducting tree planting activities in Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Dumaguete, Negros Oriental; Bacolod, Negros Occidental; Cagayan de Oro; and Lugait in Misamis Oriental.
Smart’s planting activities this year have resulted in the planting of close to 180,000 seedlings and mangrove propagules through the combined efforts of 1,558 community and employee-volunteers.
This year also marks the third year of the three-year tree planting agreement forged in 2008 between PLDT, Smart, the PLDT-Smart Foundation and Japan’s leading mobile telecommunications company NTT DOCOMO Inc.
Smart’s tree planting activities are part of the company’s corporate social responsibility and community service program Kabalikat.
World-class Cebu exporter trains youths for employment
World-class Cebu exporter trains youths for employment
By Malou Mozo
Manila Bulletin
November 14, 2010
CEBU CITY, Philippines - An internationally acclaimed Cebuano furniture designer and exporter has announced that it has recently tapped out-of-school-youths as additional manpower in an effort to provide them with employment opportunities.
Kenneth Cobonpue, through his company, Interior Crafts of the Island Inc., and in coordination with Filo D' Oro Upholstery Subcontractor Development, has commissioned at least 10 out-of-school-youths, aged 16 to 24 years old, to produce his firm's upholstery requirements, the latest orders being those placed by RugNets owned by international fashion design icon, Giorgio Armani.
This special subcontracting system undertaken by Cobonpue is supported by the German Development Service (DED) in cooperation with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) through the specified Strategic Corporate-Community Partnership (SCOPE).
At present, said 10 out-of-school-youths are housed at the Filo D' Oro mini-manufacturing center located in the property on which stands Cobonpue's ancestral house in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
The youths are taught how to sew and do customized upholstery required by Cobonpue's clients comprised of a number of name personalities around the world.
According to Eleoterio Bravo, Officer-in-Charge of Cobonpue's Filo D' Oro facility, the youths are endorsed by partner religious organizations, like Focolare and the ''Bukas Palad'' religious community.
By Malou Mozo
Manila Bulletin
November 14, 2010
CEBU CITY, Philippines - An internationally acclaimed Cebuano furniture designer and exporter has announced that it has recently tapped out-of-school-youths as additional manpower in an effort to provide them with employment opportunities.
Kenneth Cobonpue, through his company, Interior Crafts of the Island Inc., and in coordination with Filo D' Oro Upholstery Subcontractor Development, has commissioned at least 10 out-of-school-youths, aged 16 to 24 years old, to produce his firm's upholstery requirements, the latest orders being those placed by RugNets owned by international fashion design icon, Giorgio Armani.
This special subcontracting system undertaken by Cobonpue is supported by the German Development Service (DED) in cooperation with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) through the specified Strategic Corporate-Community Partnership (SCOPE).
At present, said 10 out-of-school-youths are housed at the Filo D' Oro mini-manufacturing center located in the property on which stands Cobonpue's ancestral house in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
The youths are taught how to sew and do customized upholstery required by Cobonpue's clients comprised of a number of name personalities around the world.
According to Eleoterio Bravo, Officer-in-Charge of Cobonpue's Filo D' Oro facility, the youths are endorsed by partner religious organizations, like Focolare and the ''Bukas Palad'' religious community.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
BiD challenges MSMEs to grace NGO trade fair
BiD challenges MSMEs to grace NGO trade fair
By Mitchel Confesor
PIA News Agency
November 13, 2010
Manila (13 November) -- Entrepreneurs are all set to converge next week at a mall trade fair showcasing products and other initiatives of non-government organizations (NGOs) as the centerpiece of the national commemoration of Social Development Week in the country.
Among their unique and enterprising innovations are virgin coconut oil liniments and scalp-care items from fruit and vegetable skincare extracts, organically grown corn coffee products, organic rice and muscovado sugar foodstuffs, costume jewelry sets from indigenous and synthetic materials, and handmade crafts by former migrant workers to Japan and former prison inmates.
In a statement, the corporate-led social development foundation Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) said these entrepreneurs will display their products and innovations at the NGO Trade Fair to be held at the Trinoma Mall in northern Quezon City from November 15-18.
PBSP said some of these entrepreneurs are previous top Philippine participants of the Dutch-organized Business in Development (BiD) Challenge, including one Filipino entrepreneur who won the women in retail award in the Netherlands in the 2009 edition of this annual international online business plan competition.
The online competition in the Philippines is spearheaded by PBSP together with Citibank in the Philippines and the Citi Foundation in New York, the Dutch group BiD Network Foundation, and United Way.
With the aim of developing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to help spur economic activities in the country, PBSP earlier invited individuals with innovative business ideas to take the BiD Challenge and get the rare chance to compete with international entries from Africa to Latin America.
The PBSP-Citibank BiD Challenge Philippines 2010 aims to promote poverty reduction through enterprise development, with the aim of generating new and innovative business ideas combining poverty reduction and profit where viable ideas are being matched with potential investors.
Entrepreneurs also get exposure to a network of investors, experts, and business partners, receiving professional feedback and assistance from business coaches, plus a chance to win prize money, PBSP said.
The competition further aims to stimulate and support business ideas that combine making profit with the improvement of living standards in the country, as well as stimulate private sector development in the country by creating a platform where entrepreneurs, experts, networks, and investors can meet.
Baycrafts, which won in the category of women in business retail challenge in 2009, has produced and sold costume jewelry made from pearls, wood, fiber, seeds, crystals, and glass, with a complete line of jewelry including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, hair ornaments, rings, and anklets, among others. (PBSP)
By Mitchel Confesor
PIA News Agency
November 13, 2010
Manila (13 November) -- Entrepreneurs are all set to converge next week at a mall trade fair showcasing products and other initiatives of non-government organizations (NGOs) as the centerpiece of the national commemoration of Social Development Week in the country.
Among their unique and enterprising innovations are virgin coconut oil liniments and scalp-care items from fruit and vegetable skincare extracts, organically grown corn coffee products, organic rice and muscovado sugar foodstuffs, costume jewelry sets from indigenous and synthetic materials, and handmade crafts by former migrant workers to Japan and former prison inmates.
In a statement, the corporate-led social development foundation Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) said these entrepreneurs will display their products and innovations at the NGO Trade Fair to be held at the Trinoma Mall in northern Quezon City from November 15-18.
PBSP said some of these entrepreneurs are previous top Philippine participants of the Dutch-organized Business in Development (BiD) Challenge, including one Filipino entrepreneur who won the women in retail award in the Netherlands in the 2009 edition of this annual international online business plan competition.
The online competition in the Philippines is spearheaded by PBSP together with Citibank in the Philippines and the Citi Foundation in New York, the Dutch group BiD Network Foundation, and United Way.
With the aim of developing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to help spur economic activities in the country, PBSP earlier invited individuals with innovative business ideas to take the BiD Challenge and get the rare chance to compete with international entries from Africa to Latin America.
The PBSP-Citibank BiD Challenge Philippines 2010 aims to promote poverty reduction through enterprise development, with the aim of generating new and innovative business ideas combining poverty reduction and profit where viable ideas are being matched with potential investors.
Entrepreneurs also get exposure to a network of investors, experts, and business partners, receiving professional feedback and assistance from business coaches, plus a chance to win prize money, PBSP said.
The competition further aims to stimulate and support business ideas that combine making profit with the improvement of living standards in the country, as well as stimulate private sector development in the country by creating a platform where entrepreneurs, experts, networks, and investors can meet.
Baycrafts, which won in the category of women in business retail challenge in 2009, has produced and sold costume jewelry made from pearls, wood, fiber, seeds, crystals, and glass, with a complete line of jewelry including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, hair ornaments, rings, and anklets, among others. (PBSP)
Smart training may produce online ambassadors
Smart training may produce online ambassadors
Cebu Daily News
November 13, 2010
The province of Guimaras in Western Visayas may get a boost in its effort to become the preferred tourism destination, now that 90 teachers and students from 22 public schools in the province have the skills to promote the island online.
Smart Communications Inc., in partnership with Petron Foundation and the Philippine Business for Social Progress, recently conducted a content generation and Web development training to encourage online content generation under its Doon Po Sa Amin (DPSA) project.
The five-day training held at the Central Philippine University in Iloilo City also drew representatives from the Department of Education Guimaras division.
Participants were given lectures and exercises on research methods, writing for the Web, image editing, photo journalism, blogging, fundamentals of Web design, websites and web servers, website development, publishing and uploading website.
At the end of the training, the 22 schools and the DepEd Guimaras division office were able to upload their websites hosted by Smart for free.
The participating seven public elementary schools and 15 public high schools have become Smart Schools Program online associates and can now join any of the three contests under DPSA.
These contests include the DPSA Learning Challenge, “Ano ang Kwento Mo? (What’s your story?)” and DPSA Quest.
The DPSA Learning Challenge draws on high school teams from SSP partners to perform basic community mapping exercises to generate local content that will help educate their respective communities and/or address pertinent local problems or issues.
“Ano ang Kwento Mo?” is open to all private and public high school students nationwide. It requires student teams, headed by a teacher coach, to create video blogs that feature a distinct characteristic, place or culture in their communities. Teams are then asked to upload their videos.
The DPSA Quest engages grade school SSP partners and online associates to research unique stories about their respective communities and narrate these stories through their blog sites.
Cash prizes and items are in store for the winners of the three competitions. Details can be accessed through www.doonposaamin.ph.
Cebu Daily News
November 13, 2010
The province of Guimaras in Western Visayas may get a boost in its effort to become the preferred tourism destination, now that 90 teachers and students from 22 public schools in the province have the skills to promote the island online.
Smart Communications Inc., in partnership with Petron Foundation and the Philippine Business for Social Progress, recently conducted a content generation and Web development training to encourage online content generation under its Doon Po Sa Amin (DPSA) project.
The five-day training held at the Central Philippine University in Iloilo City also drew representatives from the Department of Education Guimaras division.
Participants were given lectures and exercises on research methods, writing for the Web, image editing, photo journalism, blogging, fundamentals of Web design, websites and web servers, website development, publishing and uploading website.
At the end of the training, the 22 schools and the DepEd Guimaras division office were able to upload their websites hosted by Smart for free.
The participating seven public elementary schools and 15 public high schools have become Smart Schools Program online associates and can now join any of the three contests under DPSA.
These contests include the DPSA Learning Challenge, “Ano ang Kwento Mo? (What’s your story?)” and DPSA Quest.
The DPSA Learning Challenge draws on high school teams from SSP partners to perform basic community mapping exercises to generate local content that will help educate their respective communities and/or address pertinent local problems or issues.
“Ano ang Kwento Mo?” is open to all private and public high school students nationwide. It requires student teams, headed by a teacher coach, to create video blogs that feature a distinct characteristic, place or culture in their communities. Teams are then asked to upload their videos.
The DPSA Quest engages grade school SSP partners and online associates to research unique stories about their respective communities and narrate these stories through their blog sites.
Cash prizes and items are in store for the winners of the three competitions. Details can be accessed through www.doonposaamin.ph.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Loggers cut trees in Tabunan forest
Loggers cut trees in Tabunan forest
By Candeze R. Mongaya
Cebu Daily News
October 30, 2010
Proof of illegal logging was discovered the other day in the Tabunan pocket forest in Cebu City, part of a reforestation area.
Nicitas Bores, 52, a caretaker, found two native trees of lawaan and nato cut down during a roving inspection.
Both trees were premium hardwood species valued as lumber with a commercial value of over P16,000. A third tree was damaged, apparently from the impact of the fall of the two trees.
Bores, who works for the Kantipla Ecosystem Enhancement Program (Keep) Foundation, made the discovery during his weekly check of the reforestation area in sitio Kantipla, a popular site for treeplanting by volunteers in Cebu City.
Barangay Tabunan, a government timberland area, is part of the 49,000-hectare Central Cebu Protected Landscape – a source of Metro Cebu’s water supply.
Ariel Rica, CCPL supervisor of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), said that a chainsaw with a silencer was probably used to cut the trees so that the logging wasn't noticed by residents a kilometer away.
The two cut trees were large enough for two adults to encircle the trunk with their arms. The three trees measured 5,612 board feet.
Bores said he suspected that the trees were cut Tuesday night.
“We don’t know who did this,” Bores told CEBU DAILY NEWS.
Ma. Flordeliza Rosales, a forester of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), said that some local farmers are converting part of the forest into farmland and that newly planted tree seedlings were sometimes ruined.
“Once, I saw them bring in students who tilled the lot with them. The trees we planted were damaged and had no chance of surviving.”
Members of the Farmers Development Center (Fardec) through Estrella Catarata, executive director denied any involvment in logging.
“We want to preserve and protect our forest. But we should also respect the rights of the farmer to till,” she said.
Catarata said workers of Keep Foundation want 75 farmers residing in the area to leave.
Keep Foundation chaired by retired general Tiburcio Fusilero is tasked to reforest and maintain 503 hectares in barangay Tabunan and surrounding areas but friction with some residents has led to confrotations in recent years.
Keep Foundation signed a memorandum of agreement with the DENR in 2001 to maintain the area.
By Candeze R. Mongaya
Cebu Daily News
October 30, 2010
Proof of illegal logging was discovered the other day in the Tabunan pocket forest in Cebu City, part of a reforestation area.
Nicitas Bores, 52, a caretaker, found two native trees of lawaan and nato cut down during a roving inspection.
Both trees were premium hardwood species valued as lumber with a commercial value of over P16,000. A third tree was damaged, apparently from the impact of the fall of the two trees.
Bores, who works for the Kantipla Ecosystem Enhancement Program (Keep) Foundation, made the discovery during his weekly check of the reforestation area in sitio Kantipla, a popular site for treeplanting by volunteers in Cebu City.
Barangay Tabunan, a government timberland area, is part of the 49,000-hectare Central Cebu Protected Landscape – a source of Metro Cebu’s water supply.
Ariel Rica, CCPL supervisor of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), said that a chainsaw with a silencer was probably used to cut the trees so that the logging wasn't noticed by residents a kilometer away.
The two cut trees were large enough for two adults to encircle the trunk with their arms. The three trees measured 5,612 board feet.
Bores said he suspected that the trees were cut Tuesday night.
“We don’t know who did this,” Bores told CEBU DAILY NEWS.
Ma. Flordeliza Rosales, a forester of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), said that some local farmers are converting part of the forest into farmland and that newly planted tree seedlings were sometimes ruined.
“Once, I saw them bring in students who tilled the lot with them. The trees we planted were damaged and had no chance of surviving.”
Members of the Farmers Development Center (Fardec) through Estrella Catarata, executive director denied any involvment in logging.
“We want to preserve and protect our forest. But we should also respect the rights of the farmer to till,” she said.
Catarata said workers of Keep Foundation want 75 farmers residing in the area to leave.
Keep Foundation chaired by retired general Tiburcio Fusilero is tasked to reforest and maintain 503 hectares in barangay Tabunan and surrounding areas but friction with some residents has led to confrotations in recent years.
Keep Foundation signed a memorandum of agreement with the DENR in 2001 to maintain the area.
CDO partners with PBSP for urban poverty reduction
CDO partners with PBSP for urban poverty reduction
The Philippine Star
November 4, 2010
MANILA, Philippines - Food manufacturer CDO-Foodsphere Inc. has teamed up with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), a non-profit corporate foundation established by prominent businessmen led by PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan, for a supplemental feeding program to save indigent children out of malnutrition in a pilot site in northern Metro Manila.
Odyssey Foundation and PBSP joined hands in implementing the Almusalang Bayan: Supplemental Feeding Program in a densely populated poor community in Catmon, Malabon City.
Odyssey is the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of CDO-Foodsphere.
Under the program supported by CDO-Foodsphere and pharmaceutical firm United Laboratories Inc., some 150 underweight children from the project site underwent a 64-day supplemental feeding that highlighted the importance of breakfast.
The children received free breakfast as well as vitamin supplements needed to nurse them back to health.
Several nutrition and scientific studies have tagged breakfast as the most important meal of the day, as it provides the necessary nutrients the body needs for physical and mental growth and development.
The program, which is in line with the Strategic Private Sector Partnerships for Urban Poverty Reduction (STEP-UP) campaign of PBSP, has resulted in the improved nutritional condition of the 150 young beneficiaries.
It involved partnership building, baseline data gathering, training, actual feeding, and monitoring and assessment. The 150 beneficiaries aged five and below, completed the program last Aug. 12.
STEP-UP is being implemented by PBSP in 14 cities in Metro Manila to improve the quality of life of over 13,000 households.
Odyssey Foundation said it partnered with PBSP in response to Pangilinan’s call on the private sector to “contribute to reducing the extent and misery or urban poverty” in the country.
Odyssey Foundation said the partnership with PBSP for the supplemental feeding program is a significant step toward getting the private sector involved in addressing the serious problem of malnutrition in the Philippines.
Data from the government’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) show that between 2005 and 2008, the proportion of Filipino children aged zero to five who were underweight increased from 24.6 percent to 26.2 percent.
At the same time, the percentage of underheight children aged below five went up from 26.3 percent to 27.9 percent during the three-year period.
In actual number, this translates to 3.3 million Filipino children who were underweight and 3.5 million children who were underheight.
“In every 100 pre-school children, 26 were underweight, 28 were underheight and six were thin,” according to the results of the 2008 National Nutrition Survey.
The Philippine Star
November 4, 2010
MANILA, Philippines - Food manufacturer CDO-Foodsphere Inc. has teamed up with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), a non-profit corporate foundation established by prominent businessmen led by PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan, for a supplemental feeding program to save indigent children out of malnutrition in a pilot site in northern Metro Manila.
Odyssey Foundation and PBSP joined hands in implementing the Almusalang Bayan: Supplemental Feeding Program in a densely populated poor community in Catmon, Malabon City.
Odyssey is the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of CDO-Foodsphere.
Under the program supported by CDO-Foodsphere and pharmaceutical firm United Laboratories Inc., some 150 underweight children from the project site underwent a 64-day supplemental feeding that highlighted the importance of breakfast.
The children received free breakfast as well as vitamin supplements needed to nurse them back to health.
Several nutrition and scientific studies have tagged breakfast as the most important meal of the day, as it provides the necessary nutrients the body needs for physical and mental growth and development.
The program, which is in line with the Strategic Private Sector Partnerships for Urban Poverty Reduction (STEP-UP) campaign of PBSP, has resulted in the improved nutritional condition of the 150 young beneficiaries.
It involved partnership building, baseline data gathering, training, actual feeding, and monitoring and assessment. The 150 beneficiaries aged five and below, completed the program last Aug. 12.
STEP-UP is being implemented by PBSP in 14 cities in Metro Manila to improve the quality of life of over 13,000 households.
Odyssey Foundation said it partnered with PBSP in response to Pangilinan’s call on the private sector to “contribute to reducing the extent and misery or urban poverty” in the country.
Odyssey Foundation said the partnership with PBSP for the supplemental feeding program is a significant step toward getting the private sector involved in addressing the serious problem of malnutrition in the Philippines.
Data from the government’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) show that between 2005 and 2008, the proportion of Filipino children aged zero to five who were underweight increased from 24.6 percent to 26.2 percent.
At the same time, the percentage of underheight children aged below five went up from 26.3 percent to 27.9 percent during the three-year period.
In actual number, this translates to 3.3 million Filipino children who were underweight and 3.5 million children who were underheight.
“In every 100 pre-school children, 26 were underweight, 28 were underheight and six were thin,” according to the results of the 2008 National Nutrition Survey.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Smart training may produce Guimaras online ambassadors
Smart training may produce Guimaras online ambassadors
Sun.Star Iloilo
November 2, 2010
The island province of Guimaras in Western Visayas, which enjoys a reputation of producing the sweetest mangoes in the world, may get a boost in its efforts to become the preferred tourism and investment destination for agriculture, fishery and tourism, now that 90 teachers and students from 22 of its public schools have the skills to promote the island online.
Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), in partnership with Petron Foundation and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), recently conducted a Content Generation and Web Development training as part of its efforts to encourage online content generation under its Doon Po Sa Amin (DPSA) project.
The five-day training held at the Central Philippine University in Jaro, Iloilo, also drew representatives from the Department of Education-Guimaras division office.
Participants were given lectures and exercises on research methods, writing for the Web, image editing, photo journalism, blogging, fundamentals of Web design, websites and web servers, website development, publishing and uploading website and underwent a DPSA workshop.
At the end of the training, the 22 schools and the DepEd Guimaras division office were able to upload their websites via Smart’s free website hosting. The participating seven public elementary schools and 15 public high schools are also now considered SSP online associates, which means they can join any of three competitions under Smart’s DPSA.
DPSA is a four-year content generation project where teachers and students of Smart Schools Program (SSP) partner schools are encouraged to use Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) to generate and share web-based information and educational materials about their respective communities.
The project includes teacher trainings, website hosting and web development support, access to learning resources, a sustainable incentive system for participation, and three contests which recognize student groups and school teams which uploaded the richest local content or most unique information on the worldwide web.
These contests include the DPSA Learning Challenge, “Ano ang Kwento Mo? (What’s your story?)” and DPSA Quest.
Now on its third consecutive year, the DPSA Learning Challenge draws on high school teams from SSP partners and online associates to perform basic community mapping exercises to generate local content which will help their respective communities be educated about and/or address pertinent local problems or issues. Final output of the competition is the website designed and developed by the teacher-student team.
"Ano ang Kwento Mo?", which is open to all private and public high school students nationwide, requires student teams, headed by a teacher coach, to create video blogs that feature a distinct characteristic, place, or culture in their communities. Teams are asked to upload their videos in a video hosting site, then create a blog site where the hosted videos will be embedded.
The DPSA Quest engages grade school SSP partners and online associates to research unique stories about their respective communities and narrate these stories online through their blog sites in alignment with the contest theme “Our Community, Our Pride: Rediscovering our Hometown”.
Cash prizes and items are in store for the winners of the three competitions, details of which can be accessed via www.doonposaamin.ph.
With much encouragement from Smart’s DPSA contests, these 22 public schools may very well become Guimaras’ newest online ambassadors as they post stories and images unique to the island province online and enable a global audience to know more about Guimaras.
Smart’s efforts to encourage online content contribution from public school partners are part of its efforts to make the Web relevant to more people under its ‘Internet for All’ advocacy. (PR)
Sun.Star Iloilo
November 2, 2010
The island province of Guimaras in Western Visayas, which enjoys a reputation of producing the sweetest mangoes in the world, may get a boost in its efforts to become the preferred tourism and investment destination for agriculture, fishery and tourism, now that 90 teachers and students from 22 of its public schools have the skills to promote the island online.
Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), in partnership with Petron Foundation and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), recently conducted a Content Generation and Web Development training as part of its efforts to encourage online content generation under its Doon Po Sa Amin (DPSA) project.
The five-day training held at the Central Philippine University in Jaro, Iloilo, also drew representatives from the Department of Education-Guimaras division office.
Participants were given lectures and exercises on research methods, writing for the Web, image editing, photo journalism, blogging, fundamentals of Web design, websites and web servers, website development, publishing and uploading website and underwent a DPSA workshop.
At the end of the training, the 22 schools and the DepEd Guimaras division office were able to upload their websites via Smart’s free website hosting. The participating seven public elementary schools and 15 public high schools are also now considered SSP online associates, which means they can join any of three competitions under Smart’s DPSA.
DPSA is a four-year content generation project where teachers and students of Smart Schools Program (SSP) partner schools are encouraged to use Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) to generate and share web-based information and educational materials about their respective communities.
The project includes teacher trainings, website hosting and web development support, access to learning resources, a sustainable incentive system for participation, and three contests which recognize student groups and school teams which uploaded the richest local content or most unique information on the worldwide web.
These contests include the DPSA Learning Challenge, “Ano ang Kwento Mo? (What’s your story?)” and DPSA Quest.
Now on its third consecutive year, the DPSA Learning Challenge draws on high school teams from SSP partners and online associates to perform basic community mapping exercises to generate local content which will help their respective communities be educated about and/or address pertinent local problems or issues. Final output of the competition is the website designed and developed by the teacher-student team.
"Ano ang Kwento Mo?", which is open to all private and public high school students nationwide, requires student teams, headed by a teacher coach, to create video blogs that feature a distinct characteristic, place, or culture in their communities. Teams are asked to upload their videos in a video hosting site, then create a blog site where the hosted videos will be embedded.
The DPSA Quest engages grade school SSP partners and online associates to research unique stories about their respective communities and narrate these stories online through their blog sites in alignment with the contest theme “Our Community, Our Pride: Rediscovering our Hometown”.
Cash prizes and items are in store for the winners of the three competitions, details of which can be accessed via www.doonposaamin.ph.
With much encouragement from Smart’s DPSA contests, these 22 public schools may very well become Guimaras’ newest online ambassadors as they post stories and images unique to the island province online and enable a global audience to know more about Guimaras.
Smart’s efforts to encourage online content contribution from public school partners are part of its efforts to make the Web relevant to more people under its ‘Internet for All’ advocacy. (PR)
Friday, October 29, 2010
Christmas Cards by Our Filipino Artists For Sale
The time for Christmas is near!
The next 56 days will welcome us to a festive season of loving and sharing as we anticipate the coming of Christmas this December.
But nothing still compares to celebrating Christmas the Maligayang Pasko way by sending a Christmas card to your loved ones with designs made by our own Filipino artists.
Disclaimer: retail price revealed is for the 2010 sale and is subject to change
We at the Philippine Business for Social Progress will make your Christmas twice as meaningful. By supporting our own Filipino artists and their designs, you are also helping the environment.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Taking the lead to green with Aboitiz Group, PBSP
Taking the lead to green with Aboitiz Group, PBSP
Cebu Daily News
October 27, 2010
Christian Ian Sy did not expect to start a Saturday full of firsts when he joined 554 members of the Aboitiz Group in planting 14,000 tree seedlings along the slopes of the Mananga Watershed and Forest Reserve.
What he did expect, though, was to plant on a plain and empty spot.
“I didn’t expect to plant in an actual forest. But when I came here in Tabunan for the first time, I felt excited and challenged because I finally saw one of Cebu’s forests,” Sy said.
With muddied hands and a satisfied smile, Sy thanked the company for allowing him to participate in the environmental project.
Sy is one of the delegates of the Aboitiz Future Leaders Summit who joined the group-wide reforestation activity of the Aboitiz Group last Oct. 16, along with the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) employees and the Race to Reduce runners.
The reforestation initiative was co-organized by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), which has been reforesting the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL) since 1989.
“Last year, the Aboitiz group made a commitment to plant a million trees. Since then, we've expanded our ambition to roll our intention into a program that would plant three million trees up to 2010,” Aboitiz and Company president and chief executive officer Erramon Aboitiz said.
The Aboitiz Group planted a total of 14,000 indigenous seedlings on 8.5 hectares located within the Veco Reforestation Park in Tabunan, Cebu City.
The reforestation project is part of PBSP's efforts to promote social development as an expression of the business sector's corporate social responsibility.
“This is one of the largest endeavors in environmental protection. And we know that we are large enough already that when we lead, others follow. So we are setting an example for others to follow,” PBSP Visayas chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz said.
PBSP hopes that with more companies taking the lead in the conservation of the CCPL, the issue of water resources, biodiversity and poverty will be easily resolved in the next years.
“When we plant today, we are contributing to the quality of our oxygen and the air that we breathe, and we are guaranteeing some kind of better water supply for us city dwellers who abuse a lot of our resources,” PBSP's Cebu Hillyland Development Committee chairman Eileen Mangubat said.
For this year alone, PBSP garnered the participation of 3,723 volunteers from 99 institutions in reforesting 251.10 hectares. This has been the biggest reforestation caravan PBSP has organized to date.
“The very nice thing about the Cebu watersheds is that they are contiguous and that they are like the heart of the entire island. So consider this place a part of the lungs of the city, and also part of our insurance policy that we do not get typhoon Ondoy effects in Cebu,” Mangubat added.
PBSP's 2011 Cebu Hillylands Reforestation Caravan is scheduled to commence on the third Saturday of June next year.
Cebu Daily News
October 27, 2010
Christian Ian Sy did not expect to start a Saturday full of firsts when he joined 554 members of the Aboitiz Group in planting 14,000 tree seedlings along the slopes of the Mananga Watershed and Forest Reserve.
What he did expect, though, was to plant on a plain and empty spot.
“I didn’t expect to plant in an actual forest. But when I came here in Tabunan for the first time, I felt excited and challenged because I finally saw one of Cebu’s forests,” Sy said.
With muddied hands and a satisfied smile, Sy thanked the company for allowing him to participate in the environmental project.
Sy is one of the delegates of the Aboitiz Future Leaders Summit who joined the group-wide reforestation activity of the Aboitiz Group last Oct. 16, along with the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) employees and the Race to Reduce runners.
The reforestation initiative was co-organized by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), which has been reforesting the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL) since 1989.
“Last year, the Aboitiz group made a commitment to plant a million trees. Since then, we've expanded our ambition to roll our intention into a program that would plant three million trees up to 2010,” Aboitiz and Company president and chief executive officer Erramon Aboitiz said.
The Aboitiz Group planted a total of 14,000 indigenous seedlings on 8.5 hectares located within the Veco Reforestation Park in Tabunan, Cebu City.
The reforestation project is part of PBSP's efforts to promote social development as an expression of the business sector's corporate social responsibility.
“This is one of the largest endeavors in environmental protection. And we know that we are large enough already that when we lead, others follow. So we are setting an example for others to follow,” PBSP Visayas chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz said.
PBSP hopes that with more companies taking the lead in the conservation of the CCPL, the issue of water resources, biodiversity and poverty will be easily resolved in the next years.
“When we plant today, we are contributing to the quality of our oxygen and the air that we breathe, and we are guaranteeing some kind of better water supply for us city dwellers who abuse a lot of our resources,” PBSP's Cebu Hillyland Development Committee chairman Eileen Mangubat said.
For this year alone, PBSP garnered the participation of 3,723 volunteers from 99 institutions in reforesting 251.10 hectares. This has been the biggest reforestation caravan PBSP has organized to date.
“The very nice thing about the Cebu watersheds is that they are contiguous and that they are like the heart of the entire island. So consider this place a part of the lungs of the city, and also part of our insurance policy that we do not get typhoon Ondoy effects in Cebu,” Mangubat added.
PBSP's 2011 Cebu Hillylands Reforestation Caravan is scheduled to commence on the third Saturday of June next year.
Group plants 14T seedlings in watershed
Group plants 14T seedlings in watershed
Sun.Star Cebu
October 27, 2010
Some 554 members of the Aboitiz Group planted 14,000 tree seedlings on the slopes of the Mananga Watershed and Forest Reserve.
"I didn't expect to plant in an actual forest. But when I came here in Tabunan for the first time, I felt excited anc challenged because finally I saw one of Cebu's forests and that this place I'm planting trees on helps protect our watersheds. This facts poses more responsibility to me," said Christian Ian Sy.
With muddied hands and a satisfied smile, Sy thanked the company for allowing him top participate in environment projects.
Sy is one of the delegates of the Aboitiz Future Leaders Summit that joined the group-wode reforestation activity of the Aboitiz Group recenty, along with the Visayan Electric Company employees and the "Race to Reduce" runners.
Commitment
The reforestation initiative was co-organized by the Philippine Business for Social Progress, which has been reforesting the Central Cebu Protected Landscape since 1989.
"Last year, the Aboitiz Group made a commitment to plant a million trees. Since then, we've expanded our ambition to roll our intention into a program that would plant three million trees up to 2010," Aboitiz & Co. president and chief executive officer Erramon Aboitiz said.
Sun.Star Cebu
October 27, 2010
Some 554 members of the Aboitiz Group planted 14,000 tree seedlings on the slopes of the Mananga Watershed and Forest Reserve.
"I didn't expect to plant in an actual forest. But when I came here in Tabunan for the first time, I felt excited anc challenged because finally I saw one of Cebu's forests and that this place I'm planting trees on helps protect our watersheds. This facts poses more responsibility to me," said Christian Ian Sy.
With muddied hands and a satisfied smile, Sy thanked the company for allowing him top participate in environment projects.
Sy is one of the delegates of the Aboitiz Future Leaders Summit that joined the group-wode reforestation activity of the Aboitiz Group recenty, along with the Visayan Electric Company employees and the "Race to Reduce" runners.
Commitment
The reforestation initiative was co-organized by the Philippine Business for Social Progress, which has been reforesting the Central Cebu Protected Landscape since 1989.
"Last year, the Aboitiz Group made a commitment to plant a million trees. Since then, we've expanded our ambition to roll our intention into a program that would plant three million trees up to 2010," Aboitiz & Co. president and chief executive officer Erramon Aboitiz said.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Veco continues its 1M trees project
Veco continues its 1M trees project
Sun.Star Cebu
October 20, 2010
It was another muddy but rewarding hustle with nature for close to 150 Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) team leaders, members and contractors who trooped to Sitio Sayaw, Brgy. Tabunan, Cebu City to plant 5,000 indigenous tree seedlings.
As part of its promise to plant one million trees in five years, Veco continued its series of tree planting activities in partnership with Philippine Business for Social Progress - Visayas.
The seedlings included narra, hambabalod, tagilomboy and lumbang.
Leading the group were Veco VP for administration and Customer Service Group Ricardo Lacson together with PBSP chairperson Antonio Aboitiz. The tree planting activity is a continuation of the Reforestation Park Project, which kicked off last May 2010 with the planting of 20,000 mangrove propagules. The propagules were planted within the 44-hectare mangrove area at Navforcen base in Barangay Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu City.
The project aims to reforest 540 hectares in Central Cebu Protected Landscape and 10 hectares in Mactan Island within five years. The 540 hectares will be planted with 900,180 native and fruit-bearing, flowering tree species, while the 10 hectares will be home for 100,000 mangroves.
Sun.Star Cebu
October 20, 2010
It was another muddy but rewarding hustle with nature for close to 150 Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) team leaders, members and contractors who trooped to Sitio Sayaw, Brgy. Tabunan, Cebu City to plant 5,000 indigenous tree seedlings.
As part of its promise to plant one million trees in five years, Veco continued its series of tree planting activities in partnership with Philippine Business for Social Progress - Visayas.
The seedlings included narra, hambabalod, tagilomboy and lumbang.
Leading the group were Veco VP for administration and Customer Service Group Ricardo Lacson together with PBSP chairperson Antonio Aboitiz. The tree planting activity is a continuation of the Reforestation Park Project, which kicked off last May 2010 with the planting of 20,000 mangrove propagules. The propagules were planted within the 44-hectare mangrove area at Navforcen base in Barangay Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu City.
The project aims to reforest 540 hectares in Central Cebu Protected Landscape and 10 hectares in Mactan Island within five years. The 540 hectares will be planted with 900,180 native and fruit-bearing, flowering tree species, while the 10 hectares will be home for 100,000 mangroves.
Nestle Phils distributes books for South Cotabato school kids
Nestle Phils distributes books for South Cotabato school kids
By Danny Escabarte
PIA News Agency
October 20, 2010
Butuan City - "Books hasten the learning process. The more we read, the more knowledge we gain and better pupils we become", says Anthony John Bercades, Grade VI student, as he received the books handed to him by Dennis Llovido, Nestle' Philippines AVP for Transport Operation and Connie Deligero, CSR Officer from Ramcar-Motolite, Inc.
With funds generated from used recycled batteries under the Balik-Baterya Program, Nestle' and Motolite purchased textbooks for school children of Teresita Elementary School and Ambalgan Elementary School all of Sto. Niño Town in South Cotabato. Both schools have a total enrolment of 209 and 572 students respectively.
As member company of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Nestle' and Motolite has been in the forefront of addressing shortage of textbooks among target public schools in Mindanao and other parts of the country as an expression of corporate social responsibility for depressed communities. (PBSP-MRO/PIA-Caraga)
By Danny Escabarte
PIA News Agency
October 20, 2010
Butuan City - "Books hasten the learning process. The more we read, the more knowledge we gain and better pupils we become", says Anthony John Bercades, Grade VI student, as he received the books handed to him by Dennis Llovido, Nestle' Philippines AVP for Transport Operation and Connie Deligero, CSR Officer from Ramcar-Motolite, Inc.
With funds generated from used recycled batteries under the Balik-Baterya Program, Nestle' and Motolite purchased textbooks for school children of Teresita Elementary School and Ambalgan Elementary School all of Sto. Niño Town in South Cotabato. Both schools have a total enrolment of 209 and 572 students respectively.
As member company of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Nestle' and Motolite has been in the forefront of addressing shortage of textbooks among target public schools in Mindanao and other parts of the country as an expression of corporate social responsibility for depressed communities. (PBSP-MRO/PIA-Caraga)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Foundation spearheads coastal, underwater cleanup in Lapu-Lapu
Foundation spearheads coastal, underwater cleanup in Lapu-Lapu
The Freeman
October 19, 2010
Our Islands Foundation, the non-profit organization of The Islands Group, organized the second "Zero Waste in Seas: An Underwater and coastal cleanup project" last September 17 to 18 in Lapu-Lapu City.
The two-day event, held in celebration of the 2010 International Coastal Cleanup, kicked off with an underwater cleanup at Punta West on the 17th which was participated in by 50 volunteer Scuba divers who collected 30 kilos of marine debris. Plastics are the most common items found, including bags, bottles and food wrappers.
On the second day, more than a hundred volunteers enlisted for the coastal cleanup held at the coastal area of Saac, Brgy. Mactan. They were able to gather 380 kilos of rubbish, from which plastics are still the most common items found.
According to Our Islands Foundaton Executive Director Chai Apale, the yearly activity has a very ambitious name yet the principle behind it is to strongly promote environmental awareness and not just simply get rid of trashes.
For this year's event, The Islands Group has partnered with other environment-conscious organizations such as Ocean Care Advocates Inc., Bigfoot Studios Inc., Cebu Yacht Club, AquaDive and ScubaDen, and sponsored by Thirsty, Worldwide Dive & Sail, Feel Deep, Ipanema, Grendha, Ocean Potion, Rider and the Philippine Business for Social Progress.
All data collected during the cleanup drives are submitted to the Ocean Conservancy, a non-profit organization that started the International Coastal Cleanup in 1985.
The Freeman
October 19, 2010
Our Islands Foundation, the non-profit organization of The Islands Group, organized the second "Zero Waste in Seas: An Underwater and coastal cleanup project" last September 17 to 18 in Lapu-Lapu City.
The two-day event, held in celebration of the 2010 International Coastal Cleanup, kicked off with an underwater cleanup at Punta West on the 17th which was participated in by 50 volunteer Scuba divers who collected 30 kilos of marine debris. Plastics are the most common items found, including bags, bottles and food wrappers.
On the second day, more than a hundred volunteers enlisted for the coastal cleanup held at the coastal area of Saac, Brgy. Mactan. They were able to gather 380 kilos of rubbish, from which plastics are still the most common items found.
According to Our Islands Foundaton Executive Director Chai Apale, the yearly activity has a very ambitious name yet the principle behind it is to strongly promote environmental awareness and not just simply get rid of trashes.
For this year's event, The Islands Group has partnered with other environment-conscious organizations such as Ocean Care Advocates Inc., Bigfoot Studios Inc., Cebu Yacht Club, AquaDive and ScubaDen, and sponsored by Thirsty, Worldwide Dive & Sail, Feel Deep, Ipanema, Grendha, Ocean Potion, Rider and the Philippine Business for Social Progress.
All data collected during the cleanup drives are submitted to the Ocean Conservancy, a non-profit organization that started the International Coastal Cleanup in 1985.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
PBSP invites entrepreneurs to join BiD Challenge Philippines 2010
PBSP invites entrepreneurs to join BiD Challenge Philippines 2010
The Freeman
October 16, 2010
The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) invites all enterprising individuals with innovative business ideas to submit their proposals for the Business in Development (BiD) Challenge Philippines for 2010.
In return, winners of the competition will get the chance to be exposed to an international network of investors, experts, and business partners, receive professional feedback and assistance from business coaches, and win prize money which they can use as capital for their business ideas.
The BiD Challenge, initiated by the Netherlands-based BiD Network, is an annual international online business plan competition with participants from Africa to Latin America promoting poverty reduction through enterprise development. It aims to stimulate and support business ideas that combine profit with the improvement of living standards in the country and boost private sector development in the country by creating a platform where entrepreneurs and investors meet and interact with business executives and corporate professionals.
Participants of the BiD Challenge can receive assistance in developing solid, bankable, and complete business plans, as well as get exposure to a network oflocal and international financiers, investors, and other business contacts.
Investors, on the other hand, get exclusive access to quality small and medium-sized business plans in need of financing, while companies and non-government organizations get the opportunity to share their competence and expertise with local entrepreneurs.
Interested participants should have business financing needs equivalent to between US $10,000 and $1 million to qualify in the competition, and their respective businesses aiming to be profitable within the next three years, withgrowth potential in employees and sales of more than 30 percent per annum.
Ten of the winners will receive start-up capital, while the top two contenders will be sent overseas to join the International BiD competition.
The Dutch Nationale Commissie voor Internationale Samenwerking en Duurzame Ontwikkeling (NCDO, or the National Committee for International Cooperation andSustainable Development) initiated the BiD Challenge in 2005. The Philippines is the only country in Asia actively participating in the BiD Challenge, with the PhilippineBusiness for Social Progress (PBSP) as the local organizer of the competition since 2007.
Last year, the competition attracted more than 80 entries nationwide with winningentries including Rags2Riches, which specialized in transforming scrap fabric into bags from the designs of renowned Filipino designers Rajo Laurel and Amina Aranaz.
Interested participants to this year’s BiD Challenge have until October 30 to submit their social enterprise ideas. PBSP is particularly encouraging entrepreneurs from outside Metro Manila to submit their business plans through the BiD website at www.bidnetwork.org.
For more inquiries about the BiD Challenge, interested applicants may contact Donna P. Cariño via telephone at (02) 527.7741 loc 103/104 or via email at donnapcarino@yahoo.com.
The Freeman
October 16, 2010
The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) invites all enterprising individuals with innovative business ideas to submit their proposals for the Business in Development (BiD) Challenge Philippines for 2010.
In return, winners of the competition will get the chance to be exposed to an international network of investors, experts, and business partners, receive professional feedback and assistance from business coaches, and win prize money which they can use as capital for their business ideas.
The BiD Challenge, initiated by the Netherlands-based BiD Network, is an annual international online business plan competition with participants from Africa to Latin America promoting poverty reduction through enterprise development. It aims to stimulate and support business ideas that combine profit with the improvement of living standards in the country and boost private sector development in the country by creating a platform where entrepreneurs and investors meet and interact with business executives and corporate professionals.
Participants of the BiD Challenge can receive assistance in developing solid, bankable, and complete business plans, as well as get exposure to a network oflocal and international financiers, investors, and other business contacts.
Investors, on the other hand, get exclusive access to quality small and medium-sized business plans in need of financing, while companies and non-government organizations get the opportunity to share their competence and expertise with local entrepreneurs.
Interested participants should have business financing needs equivalent to between US $10,000 and $1 million to qualify in the competition, and their respective businesses aiming to be profitable within the next three years, withgrowth potential in employees and sales of more than 30 percent per annum.
Ten of the winners will receive start-up capital, while the top two contenders will be sent overseas to join the International BiD competition.
The Dutch Nationale Commissie voor Internationale Samenwerking en Duurzame Ontwikkeling (NCDO, or the National Committee for International Cooperation andSustainable Development) initiated the BiD Challenge in 2005. The Philippines is the only country in Asia actively participating in the BiD Challenge, with the PhilippineBusiness for Social Progress (PBSP) as the local organizer of the competition since 2007.
Last year, the competition attracted more than 80 entries nationwide with winningentries including Rags2Riches, which specialized in transforming scrap fabric into bags from the designs of renowned Filipino designers Rajo Laurel and Amina Aranaz.
Interested participants to this year’s BiD Challenge have until October 30 to submit their social enterprise ideas. PBSP is particularly encouraging entrepreneurs from outside Metro Manila to submit their business plans through the BiD website at www.bidnetwork.org.
For more inquiries about the BiD Challenge, interested applicants may contact Donna P. Cariño via telephone at (02) 527.7741 loc 103/104 or via email at donnapcarino@yahoo.com.
PBSP accepts entries to online business plan tilt
PBSP accepts entries to online business plan tilt
Cebu Daily News
October 16, 2010
The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) invites individuals with innovative business ideas to submit their proposals for the Business in Development (BiD) Challenge Philippines for 2010.
The winners of the competition will be exposed to an international network of investors, experts and business partners; receive professional feedback and assistance from business coaches; and win prize money that they can use as capital for their business ideas.
The BiD Challenge is an annual international online business plan competition with participants from Africa to Latin America promoting poverty reduction through enterprise development. It aims to stimulate and support business ideas that combine profit with the improvement of living standards in the country and boost private sector development in the country by creating a platform where entrepreneurs and investors meet and interact with business executives and corporate professionals.
Participants of the BiD Challenge can receive assistance in developing solid, bankable and complete business plans as well as get exposure to a network of local and international financiers, investors and other business contacts.
Investors, on the other hand, get exclusive access to quality small and medium-sized business plans in need of financing, while companies and non-government organizations get the opportunity to share their competence and expertise with local entrepreneurs.
Interested participants should have business financing needs equivalent to between US $10,000 and $1 million to qualify in the competition. Their respective businesses should also be profitable within the next three years, with growth potential in employees and sales of more than 30 percent per annum.
Ten of the winners will receive a start-up capital, while the top two contenders will be sent overseas to join the International BiD competition.
The Dutch Nationale Commissie voor Internationale Samenwerking en Duurzame Ontwikkeling or the National Committee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development initiated the BiD Challenge in 2005. The Philippines is the only country in Asia actively participating in the BiD Challenge, with the PBSP as the local organizer of the competition since 2007.
Last year, the competition attracted more than 80 entries nationwide with winning entries including Rags2Riches, which specialized in transforming scrap fabric into bags from the designs of renowned Filipino designers Rajo Laurel and Amina Aranaz.
Participants may submit their business plans until Oct. 30 through the BiD website at www.bidnetwork.org.
For more inquiries, please e-mail at donnapcarino@yahoo.com.
Cebu Daily News
October 16, 2010
The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) invites individuals with innovative business ideas to submit their proposals for the Business in Development (BiD) Challenge Philippines for 2010.
The winners of the competition will be exposed to an international network of investors, experts and business partners; receive professional feedback and assistance from business coaches; and win prize money that they can use as capital for their business ideas.
The BiD Challenge is an annual international online business plan competition with participants from Africa to Latin America promoting poverty reduction through enterprise development. It aims to stimulate and support business ideas that combine profit with the improvement of living standards in the country and boost private sector development in the country by creating a platform where entrepreneurs and investors meet and interact with business executives and corporate professionals.
Participants of the BiD Challenge can receive assistance in developing solid, bankable and complete business plans as well as get exposure to a network of local and international financiers, investors and other business contacts.
Investors, on the other hand, get exclusive access to quality small and medium-sized business plans in need of financing, while companies and non-government organizations get the opportunity to share their competence and expertise with local entrepreneurs.
Interested participants should have business financing needs equivalent to between US $10,000 and $1 million to qualify in the competition. Their respective businesses should also be profitable within the next three years, with growth potential in employees and sales of more than 30 percent per annum.
Ten of the winners will receive a start-up capital, while the top two contenders will be sent overseas to join the International BiD competition.
The Dutch Nationale Commissie voor Internationale Samenwerking en Duurzame Ontwikkeling or the National Committee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development initiated the BiD Challenge in 2005. The Philippines is the only country in Asia actively participating in the BiD Challenge, with the PBSP as the local organizer of the competition since 2007.
Last year, the competition attracted more than 80 entries nationwide with winning entries including Rags2Riches, which specialized in transforming scrap fabric into bags from the designs of renowned Filipino designers Rajo Laurel and Amina Aranaz.
Participants may submit their business plans until Oct. 30 through the BiD website at www.bidnetwork.org.
For more inquiries, please e-mail at donnapcarino@yahoo.com.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Veco workers plant trees
Veco workers plant trees
Cebu Daily News - Community Section
October 15, 2010
Close to 150 Visayasn Electric Company (Veco) team leaders, members and contractors trooped to sitio Sayaw, barangay Tabunan, Cebu City to plant 5,000 indigenous tree seedlings of narra, hambabalod, tagilomboy and lumbang.
As part of its commitment to plant one million trees in five years, Veco continued its series of tree planting activities last Sep. 25 in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) - Visayas.
The recent activity was led by Veco Vice President for Administration and Customer Service Group Ricardo Lacson and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) regional chairman Antonio Aboitiz.
Veco's Reforestation Park project kicked off last May 2010 with the planting of 20,000 mangrove propagules at the 44-hectare mangrove and wastewater area in Naval Forces Central Base, Barangay Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu City.
The project aims to reforest within five yeasrs the 540 hectares in Central Cebu Protected Landscape in barangay Tabunan with 908,180 native and fruit bearing and flowering tree species and the 10 hectares in Mactan with 100,000 mangroves.
Cebu Daily News - Community Section
October 15, 2010
Close to 150 Visayasn Electric Company (Veco) team leaders, members and contractors trooped to sitio Sayaw, barangay Tabunan, Cebu City to plant 5,000 indigenous tree seedlings of narra, hambabalod, tagilomboy and lumbang.
As part of its commitment to plant one million trees in five years, Veco continued its series of tree planting activities last Sep. 25 in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) - Visayas.
The recent activity was led by Veco Vice President for Administration and Customer Service Group Ricardo Lacson and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) regional chairman Antonio Aboitiz.
Veco's Reforestation Park project kicked off last May 2010 with the planting of 20,000 mangrove propagules at the 44-hectare mangrove and wastewater area in Naval Forces Central Base, Barangay Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu City.
The project aims to reforest within five yeasrs the 540 hectares in Central Cebu Protected Landscape in barangay Tabunan with 908,180 native and fruit bearing and flowering tree species and the 10 hectares in Mactan with 100,000 mangroves.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Top entrepreneur for 2010 named
Top entrepreneur for 2010 named
Business World Online Edition
October 13, 2010
TENNYSON G. CHEN, President of Bounty Fresh Food Inc., was named the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 in an award banquet held last night at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
Mr. Chen was recognized for his outstanding leadership, melding innovation and quality to secure Bounty Fresh Food, Inc.’s position as one of the country’s largest and most reputable food producers.
Using advanced technology, the company revolutionized the broiler chicken production industry and pioneered many of the systems now used by the country’s poultry integrators.
Mr. Chen will represent the Philippines in the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2011.
Mr. Chen also received the category award for Master Entrepreneur 2010. He was recognized for applying sound management practices in critical areas of the company, including finance, marketing, human resources and sales.
He maintains strong working relationships with close to 1,000 contract growers, toll feedmills, hatcheries and other partners around the country. Leading the company to the next phase of its growth, he conceptualized the Chooks to Go brand through Bounty Agroventure, Inc., BFFI’s sister company. In just two years, Chooks to Go has expanded to over 700 outlets nationwide and retails 100 million chickens a year.
Other category awards presented were for the Young Entrepreneur, Agribusiness Entrepreneur, Social Entrepreneur, Small Business Entrepreneur and Woman Entrepreneur categories.
Gabino M. Abejo, Jr., president & CEO of Abejo Builders Corporation, was presented with the Young Entrepreneur award for his accomplishments at such a young age. The award is presented to outstanding entrepreneurs below 30 years old. At 27 years old, Mr. Abejo heads the family business, which supplies the Metro Cebu Water District with up to 15,000 cubic meters of clean, safe water a day to the barangays in Talisay and Consolacion, Cebu.
Lyndon C. Tan, president of Basic Necessity, Inc., received the Agribusiness Entrepreneur award for building a company that continues to succeed despite challenges in the agribusiness industry. Through his company, Mr. Tan helped develop the local lettuce industry, helping eliminate the need for importation and reducing market prices.
Antonio P. Meloto, chairman of Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation (GK), was named Social Entrepreneur for building an organization that champions social transformation for the marginalized and the poor. With the support of volunteers and sponsors, GK has transformed poverty-stricken areas into safe and progressive GK Villages with well-built homes. It has also encouraged livelihood and self-sufficiency among GK village residents. The GK model has been replicated in other countries.
Edgar J. Sia II, chairman and CEO of Mang Inasal Philippines, Inc., was presented the Small Business Entrepreneur award for best demonstrating management excellence in a business with assets of less than P100 million. Mang Inasal fuses traditional Filipino dishes with the fast food dine-in concept. Mang Inasal started with one store in 2003 in Iloilo City. Seven years later, there are now over 250 stores and it has become the sixth largest fast food chain in the country.
Esther A. Vibal, president of Vibal Publishing House, Inc. (VPHI), received the Woman Entrepreneur award for blazing a trail in entrepreneurship, leadership and community development. Under her management, VPHI dominated the competitive textbook publishing market, accounting for over 50% of textbooks distributed to the estimated 18 million Filipino children in public elementary and secondary schools.
The recipients of the category awards were chosen from among 18 outstanding finalists from diverse industries whose businesses are situated in various regions in the country. The others finalists were Mary Joy Canon-Abaquin (Multiple Intelligence International School), Corazon Pineda-Aquino (C & Triple A Supermarket, Inc.), Paolo Benigno Aquino IV and Mark Joaquin Ruiz (MicroVentures, Inc.), Adelfa Lepura Borro (Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy), Ireneo D. Dalayon (Federation of ARB/Banana-Based Cooperatives of Davao), Junie S. Del Mundo (EON), Teodoro L. Ferrer (Generika Drugstore), Anthony T. Huang (Stores Specialists Inc.), Benjamin I. Liuson (The Generics Pharmacy Franchising Corp.), Ronald Pineda (Adenip Inc.), Remegio Salanatin (R.G. Salanatin Construction) and Annabella Santos-Wisniewski (Raintree Management Partners, Inc.).
SGV Chairman and Managing Partner and SGV Foundation Vice-Chairman Cirilo P. Noel hailed all finalists as exceptional role models to aspiring entrepreneurs. "In this seventh year of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines program, we are truly honored to share their stories of success. We admire them for staying true to their respective visions, working hard to initiate positive change and making significant contributions to the Philippine economy."
All nominees went through a strict financial data ranking system used by all Entrepreneur Of The Year participating countries. The finalists were further evaluated by an independent panel of judges composed of distinguished personalities from government and business.
The panel was chaired by former Philippine Prime Minister Cesar E. A. Virata, corporate vice-chairman of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation. Co-chair was De La Salle University President Br. Jun Erguiza. The other panel members were Securities and Exchange Commission Chairperson Fe Barin, Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Merly Cruz, SAP Philippines Country Manager Jennifer Ligones, Philippine Stock Exchange President and CEO Val Suarez, and Planters Development Chairman and President and Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year was founded in the United States by professional services firm Ernst & Young in 1986 to recognize the achievements of the most successful and innovative entrepreneurs worldwide. In 2001, Ernst & Young expanded the program and launched the World Entrepreneur Of The Year awards. In the Philippines, the SGV Foundation, Inc. established the Entrepreneur Of The Year program, in 2003.
Jollibee Foods Corporation President and CEO Tony Tan Caktiong, the first ever Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines, went on to win as World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2004 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Socorro Cancio-Ramos, founder of National Book Store, was next named Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines, followed by Lance Gokongwei, president and CEO of Cebu Air, Inc.; Senen Bacani, chairman and president of La Frutera, Inc.; Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, Jr., president and CEO of Alaska Milk Corp.; and Amb. Jesus P. Tambunting, chairman and president of Planters Development Bank.
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The Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. The official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, operating on behalf of the Air France-KLM Group in the Philippines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. Banquet sponsors are Alaska Milk Corp., Globe Business, Land Bank of the Philippines, Island Rose, Planters Development Bank, San Marino and Victorinox.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 has concluded its search for the country’s most successful and inspiring entrepreneurs. Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines is a program of the SGV Foundation, Inc. with the participation of co-presenters De La Salle University, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Philippine Stock Exchange and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.
Business World Online Edition
October 13, 2010
TENNYSON G. CHEN, President of Bounty Fresh Food Inc., was named the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 in an award banquet held last night at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
Mr. Chen was recognized for his outstanding leadership, melding innovation and quality to secure Bounty Fresh Food, Inc.’s position as one of the country’s largest and most reputable food producers.
Using advanced technology, the company revolutionized the broiler chicken production industry and pioneered many of the systems now used by the country’s poultry integrators.
Mr. Chen will represent the Philippines in the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2011.
Mr. Chen also received the category award for Master Entrepreneur 2010. He was recognized for applying sound management practices in critical areas of the company, including finance, marketing, human resources and sales.
He maintains strong working relationships with close to 1,000 contract growers, toll feedmills, hatcheries and other partners around the country. Leading the company to the next phase of its growth, he conceptualized the Chooks to Go brand through Bounty Agroventure, Inc., BFFI’s sister company. In just two years, Chooks to Go has expanded to over 700 outlets nationwide and retails 100 million chickens a year.
Other category awards presented were for the Young Entrepreneur, Agribusiness Entrepreneur, Social Entrepreneur, Small Business Entrepreneur and Woman Entrepreneur categories.
Gabino M. Abejo, Jr., president & CEO of Abejo Builders Corporation, was presented with the Young Entrepreneur award for his accomplishments at such a young age. The award is presented to outstanding entrepreneurs below 30 years old. At 27 years old, Mr. Abejo heads the family business, which supplies the Metro Cebu Water District with up to 15,000 cubic meters of clean, safe water a day to the barangays in Talisay and Consolacion, Cebu.
Lyndon C. Tan, president of Basic Necessity, Inc., received the Agribusiness Entrepreneur award for building a company that continues to succeed despite challenges in the agribusiness industry. Through his company, Mr. Tan helped develop the local lettuce industry, helping eliminate the need for importation and reducing market prices.
Antonio P. Meloto, chairman of Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation (GK), was named Social Entrepreneur for building an organization that champions social transformation for the marginalized and the poor. With the support of volunteers and sponsors, GK has transformed poverty-stricken areas into safe and progressive GK Villages with well-built homes. It has also encouraged livelihood and self-sufficiency among GK village residents. The GK model has been replicated in other countries.
Edgar J. Sia II, chairman and CEO of Mang Inasal Philippines, Inc., was presented the Small Business Entrepreneur award for best demonstrating management excellence in a business with assets of less than P100 million. Mang Inasal fuses traditional Filipino dishes with the fast food dine-in concept. Mang Inasal started with one store in 2003 in Iloilo City. Seven years later, there are now over 250 stores and it has become the sixth largest fast food chain in the country.
Esther A. Vibal, president of Vibal Publishing House, Inc. (VPHI), received the Woman Entrepreneur award for blazing a trail in entrepreneurship, leadership and community development. Under her management, VPHI dominated the competitive textbook publishing market, accounting for over 50% of textbooks distributed to the estimated 18 million Filipino children in public elementary and secondary schools.
The recipients of the category awards were chosen from among 18 outstanding finalists from diverse industries whose businesses are situated in various regions in the country. The others finalists were Mary Joy Canon-Abaquin (Multiple Intelligence International School), Corazon Pineda-Aquino (C & Triple A Supermarket, Inc.), Paolo Benigno Aquino IV and Mark Joaquin Ruiz (MicroVentures, Inc.), Adelfa Lepura Borro (Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy), Ireneo D. Dalayon (Federation of ARB/Banana-Based Cooperatives of Davao), Junie S. Del Mundo (EON), Teodoro L. Ferrer (Generika Drugstore), Anthony T. Huang (Stores Specialists Inc.), Benjamin I. Liuson (The Generics Pharmacy Franchising Corp.), Ronald Pineda (Adenip Inc.), Remegio Salanatin (R.G. Salanatin Construction) and Annabella Santos-Wisniewski (Raintree Management Partners, Inc.).
SGV Chairman and Managing Partner and SGV Foundation Vice-Chairman Cirilo P. Noel hailed all finalists as exceptional role models to aspiring entrepreneurs. "In this seventh year of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines program, we are truly honored to share their stories of success. We admire them for staying true to their respective visions, working hard to initiate positive change and making significant contributions to the Philippine economy."
All nominees went through a strict financial data ranking system used by all Entrepreneur Of The Year participating countries. The finalists were further evaluated by an independent panel of judges composed of distinguished personalities from government and business.
The panel was chaired by former Philippine Prime Minister Cesar E. A. Virata, corporate vice-chairman of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation. Co-chair was De La Salle University President Br. Jun Erguiza. The other panel members were Securities and Exchange Commission Chairperson Fe Barin, Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Merly Cruz, SAP Philippines Country Manager Jennifer Ligones, Philippine Stock Exchange President and CEO Val Suarez, and Planters Development Chairman and President and Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year was founded in the United States by professional services firm Ernst & Young in 1986 to recognize the achievements of the most successful and innovative entrepreneurs worldwide. In 2001, Ernst & Young expanded the program and launched the World Entrepreneur Of The Year awards. In the Philippines, the SGV Foundation, Inc. established the Entrepreneur Of The Year program, in 2003.
Jollibee Foods Corporation President and CEO Tony Tan Caktiong, the first ever Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines, went on to win as World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2004 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Socorro Cancio-Ramos, founder of National Book Store, was next named Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines, followed by Lance Gokongwei, president and CEO of Cebu Air, Inc.; Senen Bacani, chairman and president of La Frutera, Inc.; Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, Jr., president and CEO of Alaska Milk Corp.; and Amb. Jesus P. Tambunting, chairman and president of Planters Development Bank.
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The Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. The official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, operating on behalf of the Air France-KLM Group in the Philippines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. Banquet sponsors are Alaska Milk Corp., Globe Business, Land Bank of the Philippines, Island Rose, Planters Development Bank, San Marino and Victorinox.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 has concluded its search for the country’s most successful and inspiring entrepreneurs. Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines is a program of the SGV Foundation, Inc. with the participation of co-presenters De La Salle University, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Philippine Stock Exchange and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.
Southern Leyte conducts planning workshop for municipal disaster risk reduction operators
Southern Leyte conducts planning workshop
for municipal disaster risk reduction operators
By RG Cadavos
PIA News Agency
October 13, 2010
Maasin City, Southern Leyte - To drum up province-wide efforts in building capacity to overcome the vulnerability to different kinds of environmental hazards, the Provincial Government through Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council Chairperson Gov. Damian G. Mercado will conduct a Planning Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction to all operators starting today, October 13-15, 2010 at Ampil Pensionne, this city.
The three-day workshop will be attended by the operators assigned in each target municipality and the city of Maasin, it was learned. This is in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), SMART Communications and the World Bank.
Participating government agencies for the said training include the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, PAG-ASA, Department of Science and Technology, the Philippine National Police, Philippine National Red Cross, Office of Civil Defense, Bureau of Fire Protection and the Diocesan Social Action Center, a non-government organization and one representative from the media.
Earlier, Southern Leyte has launched a project, ?Strengthening Disaster Preparedness of Southern Leyte thru SMS Technology? which aims to primarily empower the Provincial Disaster Management Office and Local Government Units and beef up its capacity in helping the respective municipal disaster coordinating councils and emergency response teams to perform their functions in emergency situations particularly during disasters.
The P9.5 million disaster reduction project funded by the World Bank, will benefit at least nine municipalities throughout the province and the city of Maasin, through a web-powered and cell-phone based text messaging. This will serve as an early warning system whenever disaster may occur in the province.
The planning workshop organizers also requested municipal mayors concerned to designate one permanent DRR focal person who shall represent their municipalities in all disaster-related activities and one representative from each member-agencies mentioned earlier. (PIA-soleyte)
for municipal disaster risk reduction operators
By RG Cadavos
PIA News Agency
October 13, 2010
Maasin City, Southern Leyte - To drum up province-wide efforts in building capacity to overcome the vulnerability to different kinds of environmental hazards, the Provincial Government through Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council Chairperson Gov. Damian G. Mercado will conduct a Planning Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction to all operators starting today, October 13-15, 2010 at Ampil Pensionne, this city.
The three-day workshop will be attended by the operators assigned in each target municipality and the city of Maasin, it was learned. This is in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), SMART Communications and the World Bank.
Participating government agencies for the said training include the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, PAG-ASA, Department of Science and Technology, the Philippine National Police, Philippine National Red Cross, Office of Civil Defense, Bureau of Fire Protection and the Diocesan Social Action Center, a non-government organization and one representative from the media.
Earlier, Southern Leyte has launched a project, ?Strengthening Disaster Preparedness of Southern Leyte thru SMS Technology? which aims to primarily empower the Provincial Disaster Management Office and Local Government Units and beef up its capacity in helping the respective municipal disaster coordinating councils and emergency response teams to perform their functions in emergency situations particularly during disasters.
The P9.5 million disaster reduction project funded by the World Bank, will benefit at least nine municipalities throughout the province and the city of Maasin, through a web-powered and cell-phone based text messaging. This will serve as an early warning system whenever disaster may occur in the province.
The planning workshop organizers also requested municipal mayors concerned to designate one permanent DRR focal person who shall represent their municipalities in all disaster-related activities and one representative from each member-agencies mentioned earlier. (PIA-soleyte)
Monday, October 11, 2010
How Nestlé creates Shared Value with society through its business
How Nestlé creates Shared Value with society through its business
The Philippine Star
October 11, 2010
Manila, Philippines - With serious threats to the environment like global warming, as well as social problems like poverty, illiteracy and hunger across the world, experts are calling for a paradigm shift in the way major corporations including the wealthiest multi-national companies do business. That paradigm shift involves doing business in a way that ensure profits, while at the same time contributing a solution to problems faced by society.
Such a paradigm shift was discussed at the Creating Shared Value (CSV) Forum held at the New World Hotel. The Forum was well attended, drawing members of the business community, government, aid agencies, non-governmental organizations and other sectors of society. Leading the forum was Harvard professor and social responsibility expert Mark Kramer. Kramer says the traditional view that pits society and big business against each other is detrimental to both.
Under the traditional view, corporations would look at social programs as a cost of doing business. They would do social programs as a moral obligation, to enhance their reputation, or as a way of appeasing critics and preventing protests, so they are left alone to do business. In reality, business and society are interdependent and both should work together. This interdependence is the foundation of CSV.
“Creating Shared Value means policies and practices that enhance the competitiveness of a company while simultaneously advancing economic and social conditions in the communities in which it operates,” says Kramer.
Founding philosophy
The CSV Forum was organized by Nestlé Philippines, the Asian Development Bank, the Philippine Business for Social Progress and the Asian Institute of Management RVR Center for Social Responsibility. “Nestlé wants to promote CSV in order to share its own business philosophy, which remains unchanged since it was founded 140 years ago. In fact, Nestlé was already practicing CSV even before the term itself had been invented,” says Edith de Leon, SVP and head of Nestlé Philippines’ Corporate Affairs office.
De Leon says that Henri Nestlé—a trained pharmacist—began with the simple, yet noble, desire to help a neighbor’s baby and ended up founding what would become one of the world’s top food companies.
“At the time, quite a number of infants suffered from malnutrition—and some even died—because for one reason or another, they could not take their mother’s milk. Henri Nestlé was among several people working on powdered milk as a way to help such infants. His first success on his powdered milk formula was when he saved the life of his neighbor’s baby, who nearly died because it could not digest mother’s milk,” explains de Leon.
De Leon revealed added that CSV lies at the core of the business philosophy, practices and corporate values of Nestlé as a company. She said that wherever in the world Nestlé does business, it always seeks opportunities to integrate the welfare of the communities and societies where it operates.
CSV the Nestlé way
Kramer cites Nestlé for integrating CSV in its business through its “60/40 Program”. “Since its core business is food products, Nestlé is gaining competitive advantage by its 60/40 program. Under that program, Nestlé is increasing nutrition while reducing fat, salt and sugar in thousands of food products a year—aiming for 40 percent reduction in fat, salt and sugar while retaining 60 percent customer preference over its competitors,” says Kramer.
Coffee farmers are given training free-of-charge at the Nestlé Experimental and Demonstration Farm (NEDF) in Tagum City in Davao. There, they learn to plant other cash crops alongside their coffee trees—this gives them an added source of income while waiting for the harvest season.
Coffee farmers training at the NEDF learn to use the Sustainable Agricultural Initiative (SAI) and the Coffee-Based Sustainable Farming System (CBSFS). These programs teach coffee-growing methods that improve the quantity and quality of their coffee beans—all in the most environment friendly and sustainable way.
De Leon also mentions the “Laki sa Gatas” program that provides milk and basic nutrition seminars to public school children, teachers and parents. There’s also the BOW (Business on Wheels) program that provides livelihood to its members, who earn income as micro-distributors of Nestlé products. Nestlé Philippines is also a partner of Gawad Kalinga in supporting one GK community in Malarayat.
“Through CSV Forum, Nestlé hopes to share the benefits of putting CSV into a company’s business philosophy,” De Leon says, adding that she is heartened by the positive feedback she receives from Forum participants. It gives her hope that more and more companies, government agencies and NGOs will also become catalysts for social progress through CSV.
The Philippine Star
October 11, 2010
Manila, Philippines - With serious threats to the environment like global warming, as well as social problems like poverty, illiteracy and hunger across the world, experts are calling for a paradigm shift in the way major corporations including the wealthiest multi-national companies do business. That paradigm shift involves doing business in a way that ensure profits, while at the same time contributing a solution to problems faced by society.
Such a paradigm shift was discussed at the Creating Shared Value (CSV) Forum held at the New World Hotel. The Forum was well attended, drawing members of the business community, government, aid agencies, non-governmental organizations and other sectors of society. Leading the forum was Harvard professor and social responsibility expert Mark Kramer. Kramer says the traditional view that pits society and big business against each other is detrimental to both.
Under the traditional view, corporations would look at social programs as a cost of doing business. They would do social programs as a moral obligation, to enhance their reputation, or as a way of appeasing critics and preventing protests, so they are left alone to do business. In reality, business and society are interdependent and both should work together. This interdependence is the foundation of CSV.
“Creating Shared Value means policies and practices that enhance the competitiveness of a company while simultaneously advancing economic and social conditions in the communities in which it operates,” says Kramer.
Founding philosophy
The CSV Forum was organized by Nestlé Philippines, the Asian Development Bank, the Philippine Business for Social Progress and the Asian Institute of Management RVR Center for Social Responsibility. “Nestlé wants to promote CSV in order to share its own business philosophy, which remains unchanged since it was founded 140 years ago. In fact, Nestlé was already practicing CSV even before the term itself had been invented,” says Edith de Leon, SVP and head of Nestlé Philippines’ Corporate Affairs office.
De Leon says that Henri Nestlé—a trained pharmacist—began with the simple, yet noble, desire to help a neighbor’s baby and ended up founding what would become one of the world’s top food companies.
“At the time, quite a number of infants suffered from malnutrition—and some even died—because for one reason or another, they could not take their mother’s milk. Henri Nestlé was among several people working on powdered milk as a way to help such infants. His first success on his powdered milk formula was when he saved the life of his neighbor’s baby, who nearly died because it could not digest mother’s milk,” explains de Leon.
De Leon revealed added that CSV lies at the core of the business philosophy, practices and corporate values of Nestlé as a company. She said that wherever in the world Nestlé does business, it always seeks opportunities to integrate the welfare of the communities and societies where it operates.
CSV the Nestlé way
Kramer cites Nestlé for integrating CSV in its business through its “60/40 Program”. “Since its core business is food products, Nestlé is gaining competitive advantage by its 60/40 program. Under that program, Nestlé is increasing nutrition while reducing fat, salt and sugar in thousands of food products a year—aiming for 40 percent reduction in fat, salt and sugar while retaining 60 percent customer preference over its competitors,” says Kramer.
Coffee farmers are given training free-of-charge at the Nestlé Experimental and Demonstration Farm (NEDF) in Tagum City in Davao. There, they learn to plant other cash crops alongside their coffee trees—this gives them an added source of income while waiting for the harvest season.
Coffee farmers training at the NEDF learn to use the Sustainable Agricultural Initiative (SAI) and the Coffee-Based Sustainable Farming System (CBSFS). These programs teach coffee-growing methods that improve the quantity and quality of their coffee beans—all in the most environment friendly and sustainable way.
De Leon also mentions the “Laki sa Gatas” program that provides milk and basic nutrition seminars to public school children, teachers and parents. There’s also the BOW (Business on Wheels) program that provides livelihood to its members, who earn income as micro-distributors of Nestlé products. Nestlé Philippines is also a partner of Gawad Kalinga in supporting one GK community in Malarayat.
“Through CSV Forum, Nestlé hopes to share the benefits of putting CSV into a company’s business philosophy,” De Leon says, adding that she is heartened by the positive feedback she receives from Forum participants. It gives her hope that more and more companies, government agencies and NGOs will also become catalysts for social progress through CSV.
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Taiyo Yuden Philippines plants 10K seedlings at Buhisan
Employees of Taiyo Yuden Philippines planted 10,000 native and endemic tree seedlings on a four-hectare site in Toong, Cebu City.
The activity is led by their EMR Director Koichi Iguchi, General Managers Toshihiko Uemura and Akira Takahashi, Assistant General Manager Keiichi Kimura, and EMs Shozaburo Kanai, Satoshi Miyamae, Toshiaki Nakano, and Koji Taketome.
Taiyo Yuden Philippines has been a partner of PBSP for its reforestation efforts since 2001. The company will continue to adopt four hectares for reforestation every year until 2015.
Veco employees plant trees with PBSP
More than 70 employees of the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) planted 12,500 seedlings over five hectares of the Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve.
This activity is in partnership with the Visayas Regional Office of PBSP.
In 2010, Veco also partnered with PBSP for a five-year reforestation park project in the Cebu Hillylands. The Veco Refo Park Project aims to plant 1 million trees over 540 hectares of the Cebu Hillylands.
Art 'N' Nature's Venus Genson is Woman Entrepreneur of 2012
Congratulations to Ms. Venus Genson for bagging the Women Entrepreneur award for her trailblazing feats in social entrepreneurship and community development through Art 'N' Nature Manufacturing Corporation.
The award is one of the citations given during the recently capped Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2012 awarding ceremonies.
Ms. Genson is also the president of the Venus Group of Companies, a member company of PBSP.