Corporate foundations champion sustainable development
MANILA, Philippines - Recognizing the need and opportunity for the private sector to increase its participation in nation-building, especially in the wake of recent natural and man-made disasters, the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) organized its 13th CSR Expo with a call to its member foundations to reinforce their commitment towards the common good of the nation.
Unified by the battlecry “Commit, Strengthen, Rebuild,” hundreds of business leaders, society movers and changemakers from all over the country and the ASEAN region converged recently to discuss effective models and practices that can strengthen the sustainability and long-term impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of Philippine companies.
In his opening address, World Bank country director for Philippines Motoo Konishi emphasized that CSR is not just about business development, but about companies making it their business to support these efforts and reforms.
The day-long conference included plenary sessions on important topics and issues related to the practice of CSR.
The first session focused on transparency, responsiveness and accountability in governance, steered by TV5 head of news and public affairs Luchi Cruz-Valdez. University of the Philippines–Diliman Economics professor and National Scientist awardee Dr. Raul V. Fabella discussed inclusive capitalism as a manifestation of the private sector’s commitment to governance.
Gloria Steele, mission director of the US Agency for International Development (USAID)–Philippines, highlighted the role of civil society as a critical watchdog in holding authorities accountable for their actions.
Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares viewed the idea of rebuilding through taxation.
The second plenary, moderated by Radio GMA Network president Mike Enriquez, revolved around the topic of competitiveness and innovation in the field of CSR. The session was opened by a special introductory note by Dr. Sothea Oum, an economist from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia. He emphasized the important role SMEs in driving economic growth and rallied for the implementation of reforms to fully tap into this sector’s potential.
Trade and Industry Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado illustrated the government’s commitment to improving Philippine competitiveness through ease of doing business in the Philippines.
Guillermo Luz, co-chair for the private sector of the National Competitiveness Council, called on strengthening opportunities for competitiveness through policy reforms, project implementation, institution-building and performance monitoring.
Multi-awarded physicist and Central Visayan Institute Foundation principal Dr. Maria Victoria Carpio-Bernido expressed optimism in rebuilding competitiveness through a globally competitive workforce.
The third and final plenary, moderated by ABS-CBN News Channel TV host Melissa Gecolea, centered on building resilience and reducing the effects of disasters. Environmentalist Senator Loren Legarda talked about her long-time commitment to advocate for environmental protection, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
HOLCIM Philippines vice president for corporate communications Nerissa V. Ronquillo shared how the company carried out their program of sustainable construction and helped a community in New Bataan, Compostela Valley rise from the destruction and despair caused by Typhoon Pablo, while international government and business strategist Bill Nicol discussed the challenges of rebuilding after disaster through stories of encounters with survivors of the December 2004 tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia.
LCF, formed in 1991, organizes the CSR Expo Conference every year to celebrate CSR month and create a venue where its member foundations and corporations can exchange ideas, information and experience, as well as discuss other concerns relevant to its goals. This year, the exhibit was held at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.
