The Philippines may be in crisis, but so is the rest of the world.
 
This, in essence, is what the national economic situation is, according to former Socioeconomic planning Secretary Solita Monsod during her speech yesterday at the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Conference 2008 held in Makati.

Around the world, more and more key opinion leaders from all sectors of society are reconsidering the rights, roles, responsibilities, and relationship of business to society.

This was revealed by Dr. Bradley Googins, Executive Director of the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, during the CSR Conference 2008 held in Makati City.

The League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) marked the first day of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Conference 2008 with a commitment to support the creation of a network of corporate foundations spanning the member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

For those who were not accommodated for the 3^rd Day CSR Assessment Workshop, please be advised that the LCF CSR Institute will run the same workshop on August 28-29, 2008.

For inquiry, you may contact the LCF CSR Institute at (02) 892-5462 loc 209 or e-mail: csri.lcf@gmail.com

Traditionally associated with marketing and promotions, corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities have created their own niche and are increasingly recognized by companies as endeavors that must be done separately from advertising.

CSR has come full circle. Not only are CSR projects being integrated into companies’ value chains, they are also being re-injected as a major component of marketing activities in the form of cause-related marketing (CRM).

The growing power and influence of the private sector has brought with it new demands and expectations from society.

The public in general and consumers in particular demand that companies should do more than earn a profit and lend their expertise to helping solve the many ills plaguing the country.

These developments have made corporate social responsibility an even more important part of the way companies run their business as it can affect future sales, reputation and relationship with consumers.

These are some of the points that Bradley Googins, head of Boston College’s Center for Corporate Citizenship, is expected to discuss during his talk, which is one of the highlights of the coming CSR conference of the League of Corporate Foundations.

CORPORATIONS must do good to do well in these challenging times. League of Corporate Foundations president Pacita U. Juan explained that given growing poverty, slower economic growth and faster inflation, there has never been a more urgent need for corporations to embrace corporate social responsibility, which means reaching out to the communities in which it operates.

The League of Corporate Foundations recently announced the staging of its 7th annual gathering on Corporate Social Responsibility, the CSR Conference 2008, which will be held from July 16 to 18, 2008 at the Makati Shangrila Hotel. Before a group of selected leaders of business, academe and professional organizations the LCF presented the program for this year’s conference which aims to raise the level of discussion on Corporate Social Responsibility.