Empowerment in Action
Corporate Foundations continue to address the country’s social ills
By Gail J. Pelayo

The recently concluded Corporate Social Responsibility Week 2003 held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) last 9-11 July is what can be called “altruism on a grand scale.” However, there was more to the CSR EXPO than mere philanthropy. It was empowerment in action. It showcased the significant contributions of the private sector in the pursuit of transforming our society to become healthier and more livable. With the theme, “Ka Partner Ka”, the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) emphasized the importance of cooperation from the different sectors of society – the government, business sector, NGOs, and even people’s organizations – in the effective implementation of the projects in the combat against poverty.

Principle-Based Commitment
Exemplifying the principle of providing for the poor through the provision of technical and practical knowledge instead of the temporary dole outs, LCF holds to the commitment of eradicating poverty through a long-term approach. Most of the projects initiated by its member foundations have concentrated on providing students, teachers, communities, budding people’s organizations with the means of providing for their own needs, helping them develop a self-reliant and optimistic attitude. LCF members put a premium on building the natural endowments of the Filipino community by harnessing talents and skills and developing them into valuable competencies that will be able to improve the Filipino’s quality of life.

With a membership of over 50 institutions, LCF proudly displayed in the exhibit contributions of different foundations in various sectors – education, enterprise development, arts and culture, health, and environment. A series of talks and discussions were held to facilitate the exchange of ideas and feedback from the recipient partners. Driven by the belief that businesses thrive well in healthy and viable societies, most of the top corporations have embarked on this benevolent venture, making it part of their business doctrine.

Apart from the program of alleviating poverty is imparting to the partner communities the business-like process of managing resources to maximize the benefits gained from the projects. It is important that corporate foundations also emphasize that the social assistance they provide can be enjoyed in the long run if communities effectively manage and handle their own resources.

Some fruits of labor
It is not hard to assess how far these corporate foundations have traveled and achieved in bringing good life to the needy. Many communities have become partners of corporations in uplifting the lives of poor families. Most of these foundations have not only concentrated on a single sector but have reached out to different areas of concern, bringing progress to the recipient communities.

Aboitiz Group Foundation Inc. (AGFI) has ventured into assisting education, enterprise development, and health care. It has already constructed a total of 61 classrooms in areas where it is most needed. It donated a total of 247 computer units with printers to selected high schools in Davao, Iligan, Cebu, and Benguet, sponsored a basic computer literacy program for teachers of beneficiary schools, and offered financial assistance to poor but deserving students in the secondary, vocational, and tertiary level of education. In enterprise development, it has already lent capital through soft loans to marginalized groups and communities in different areas. An ongoing construction of a health center in Cordova municipal government is funded by AGFI. AGFI also turned over a day care center to the community leaders of Tayud, Liloan, Cebu. The foundation also gives financial assistance to a rehabilitation center in Cebu City.

Mirant Philippines Foundation has provided electrification services to at least 300,000 households through its Project BEACON (Basic Electrification Assistance for Countryside Development). To date, the program of Mirant is considered the largest CSR project ever done by a single corporation.

Splash Foundation Inc. has given 2,000 women jobs through a livelihood-training program on basic cosmetology, together with a basic incentive kit to get them started on providing home services. It assisted the pediatric patients at the East Avenue Medical Center from the time of admission until they were fully discharged. They also provided scholarships to a number of students in various universities and colleges.

Pilipinas Shell Foundation sponsors the Sanayan sa Kakayahang Industriyal (SKIL), an industrial skills training program for out-of-school youth and has already produced 3, 734 scholars, most of them already employed or who have already put up their own businesses. The agricultural counterpart of SKIL, Sanayan sa Kakayahang Agrikultural (SAKA) has already produced 1,009 young farmer entrepreneurs equipped with the skills and expertise in handling farming and agricultural challenges.

Reinforced triumvirate
The LCF’s effort in holding the CSR EXPO 2003 is another manifestation that the effort of the government alone – nor of the private sector – cannot bring effective change in reshaping the future of the poor. The government’s mandate coupled with the abundant resources of the private sector and the connection of civil society allow the programs of the foundations to reach even the remotest places in the country. The country is still far from freeing itself from the grip of poverty, but the private sector will continue to bring hope back to these people. This might just be the biggest contribution the private sector can truly offer.