MANILA, Philippines - The “Movement Against Malaria (MAM),” a malaria prevention and control program implemented by Pilipinas Shell in 40 provinces nationwide through its social investment arm Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), was conferred an Excellence Award in the Concern for Health category of the 9th Asian Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards, Asia’s premier awards program on corporate social responsibility.
This year’s Asian CSR awards attracted 141 entries representing 99 companies from 15 countries. The program recognizes and honors companies in Asia for outstanding, innovative, and world-class CSR products, services, projects, and programs that demonstrate their leadership, sincerity and ongoing commitment in incorporating ethical values, compliance with legal requirements, and respect for individuals, communities and protection of the environment into the way they do business.
The awards are given in five categories: Best Workplace Practices, Concern for Health, Environmental Excellence, Poverty Alleviation, and Support and Improvement of Education. Finalists and winners were determined through an exhaustive search and selection process that include the generation of entries, initial screening, short-listing by a panel of experts, and final judging.
“This award is a fitting recognition to all the hard work by our team from PSFI and partners in the MAM program,” says Pilipinas Shell chairman and president, and concurrent PSFI president Edgar Chua.
Winning the fight against malaria
In 2000, PSFI started to implement its malaria intervention program Kilusan Ligtas Malaria in the province of Palawan, site of the Malampaya Deepwater Gas-to-Power project operated by Shell Philippines Exploration and its joint venture partners.
Prevention of malaria incidence was given due attention with the distribution of long-lasting, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, considered as the most effective means of preventing transmission. Cleanup drives were also undertaken to control the malaria vector.
PSFI’s malaria intervention program eventually expanded into the Movement Against Malaria (MAM), covering the five malaria endemic provinces of Palawan, Apayao, Quirino, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, with funding support from The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (The Global Fund).
MAM has been instrumental in reducing malaria mortality by 90 percent and morbidity by over 60 percent in these provinces. Owing to its continuing success in combating malaria, PSFI received an additional grant of $31.4 million from The Global Fund in January 2010, increasing PSFI’s malaria intervention program coverage from five to 40 highly malaria-endemic provinces in the Philippines. It transformed MAM into a nationwide campaign promoting malaria prevention and awareness, mobilizing communities, building capabilities among health service providers, and encouraging corporate and public participation.
“Shell has been working with several institutions to continue the fight against malaria in the country. The support provided by the Global Fund will go a long way in malaria control activities in the provinces most affected by the disease and in achieving the vision of freeing the Philippines from the dangers of malaria,” says Chua, chairperson for the Business and United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UN-MDGs) Initiative-Health Cluster of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).
As one of Pilipinas Shell’s flagship sustainable development healthcare programs, MAM contributes to nation-building through the provision of access to healthcare for one of the world’s most deadly diseases and by helping meet one of the UN-MDGs.
In September 2010, PSFI was recognized by the United Nations Millennium Campaign as one of the country’s seven MDG Warriors for its selfless contributions to address the scourge of malaria.
Asia’s finest CSR programs
The Asian CSR Awards ceremonies were held on Oct. 22, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was the culminating event of the Asian Forum on CSR 2010, attended by hundreds of senior executives and professionals from government, business, civil society and the media. The Asian CSR Awards’ guest of honor, Malaysian First Lady YABhg Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, handed over the awards during the ceremonies.
The 2010 Asian CSR Awards Winners and Excellence Awardees are as follows:
I. Best Workplace Practices
Winner: MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems, Change & Talent Management Program, Malaysia
Excellence Awardee:
• Smart Communications, Inc., Live Smart: Healthy U, Wealthy U, Happy U, Philippines
II. Concern for Health
Winner: UltraTech Cement Limited (unit: Vikram Cement Works), public private partnership for physical, mental and social well- being through comprehensive health care interventions among rural community, India
Excellence Awardees:
• Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, Movement Against Malaria, Philippines
• Unilever Indonesia Tbk, Jakarta Stop AIDS, Indonesia
III. Environmental Excellence
Winner: Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Aboitiz Race to Reduce, Philippines
Excellence Awardees:
• IBM Philippines, IBM Corporate Service Corps: Helping Create Interactive Flood Maps for a Smarter Philippines, Philippines
• The Link Management Limited, “Eco Terrace” at Lok Fu Plaza, Hong Kong
IV. Poverty Alleviation
Winner: Kraft Foods Philippines, Inc., Fresh (Future Resilience and Stronger Households), Philippines
Excellence Awardees:
• Tetra Pak Pakistan, Dairy Hub: A Community Dairy Development Program, Pakistan
• Shell Indonesia, Shell LiveWIRE, Indonesia
V. Improvement of Education
Winner: MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems, Kampus Astro, Malaysia
Excellence Awardee:
• Vestas Wind Technology India Pvt Ltd, Project Little Dreams, a holistic approach to education, India