Shell's malaria program bags AmCham photo award

MANILA, Philippines – Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc.’s (PSFI) Movement Against Malaria (MAM) program — “Show Me What You’ve Got” — bagged the best photo award for the Delivering Equitable Healthcare Category at the 3rd Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Photo Competition organized by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham).

The winning photo, taken by MAM monitoring and evaluation officer III Darius de la Cruz, depicts a grandmother receiving a Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Net (LLIN), while a Movement Against Malaria staff closely inspects the condition of the net during a random house-to-house validation of mosquito net distribution as part of a monitoring and evaluation activity. With these nets, malaria protection for the whole family, especially for the young children who are more vulnerable to the disease, is ensured for the next three years.

A close inspection of the house during focal Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) also showed that it is regularly sprayed with insecticide as shown by the IRS stickers at the front door.

“Part of my task in MAM is to document our malaria prevention and treatment efforts. I am truly honored that my photograph mirrors Shell’s values and demonstrates that we in Shell really strive to be a good neighbor to the community. We are always here to lend a helping hand,” Dela Cruz said as he received the best photo award. “This recognition is an inspiration for us to serve the communities better.”

The AmCham Photo Competition is held annually to recognize corporations’ social responsibility efforts.

United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas, Jr., who graced the awarding ceremony, expressed his utmost appreciation to the AmCham for their dedication to uphold Corporate Social Responsibility in the Philippines.

“The photographs are inspirational and moving, and as always as everything in the Philippines, innovative and fun,” Thomas enthused. “I really salute all the work that you (members of the AmCham) are doing for corporate social responsibility. We want to promote stronger corporate social responsibility values here. You, indeed, help change lives.”

PSFI executive director Edgardo Veron Cruz also expressed his appreciation not only to the award MAM has received but also to the award-giving body.

“Through competitions like this, people and companies become aware of our work to combat malaria in the country,” he said. “This AmCham Photo Exhibit is a great opportunity to spread consciousness about malaria, how it affects our countrymen in the rural areas and how we all can work together to fight the disease.”

MAM is a malaria prevention and control program implemented by Pilipinas Shell in 40 provinces nationwide through its social investment arm PSFI. Aside from the recent AmCham Photo Competition recognition, MAM also received an Award of Excellence in the Concern for Health category of the 9th Asian Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards, Asia’s premier awards program on corporate social responsibility; an Award of Excellence in the 46th Anvil Awards of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines; an Award of Merit in the 10th Philippine Quill Awards of the International Association of Business Communicators; and a United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Warrior Award from the UN Millennium Development Campaign.