Shell, PBSP honor innovative ideas that promote sustainability

MANILA, Philippines - Who would think that water lilies can be turned into fashionable bags? Or that junk television sets can be made fully functional again? Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. (PSPC) honoured these innovative business ideas that promote sustainability with the Shell Green Enterprise Award during the 2010 Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)-Citibank Business in Development (BiD) Challenge Philippines.

PSPC presented the awards to Leona Fe Edellora of Women of Progress of Nagpayong Multi-Purpose Cooperative (WPNMPC) for her Water Lily (Hyacinth) Fashionable Bags & Shopping Bags, and to Noel Christian Cruz for his reconditioned junk or destroyed television.

“Making opportunities by empowering Filipinos through viable and sustainable SMEs, thereby improving livelihood and enterprise development in the country are what powers a nation to progress. Through sustainable partnership such as our collaboration with the PBSP, Citibank, and the BiD Challenge, we power progress together through recognition of innovative enterprises that do not only promise business success but also addresses social and environmental issues,” says PSPC Sustainable Development Manager Ronald Suarez.

Edellora and Cruz were among the winners selected from 100 entries in the 2010 PBSP-Citibank BiD Challenge. Themed ‘Linking Business, Creating Better Markets’, the competition supports emerging SME’s focusing on sustainable business in the areas of agriculture (food and agri-business), fashion & home décor, services, health, and waste recycling.

Other winners were the following: Betty More for Coconut Sugar Processing: A Key to Improving the Lives of Coconut Farmers; PERKKK Corporation for Woven Hope; Analiza Sioco Ordas for Homemaker’s Passion for Everything “Malunggay; John Limmen for Coconut Cattle & Fish Feed; Felicitas Pantoja for Coffee for Peace; Samuel Abrenilla for GUV Nutrifries; Alvin Kingson Tan (Technominds-Easco Inc.); John Xavier Francia for KliniKalusugan; and Nat Arsonillo for Mobile Cassava Processing Unit: “Factory Goes to the Farmer”.

In the BiD Internal Challenge held in the Netherlands, Nat Arsonillo’s Mobile Cassava Processing Unit also won in the Women in Business Sector Challenge.

The Business in Development (BiD) Challenge Philippines offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop and execute business plans that improve the living conditions of poor Filipinos. Its uniqueness is that it encourages the germination of an idea, identifies excellent concepts and plans, and provides mentors and coaches that can direct the idea towards viability and sustainability. Participants in the BiD also benefit by getting access to investor matching, which means that good business ideas or proposals are able to meet potential investors that can make their businesses prosper.