PRESS RELEASE: 18 June 2008, Manila, Philippines

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. 

“Business has never beenmore cognizant of its role in society and it has come to the realization that the whole organization needs to move with the CEO if its CSR efforts are to be sustainable and have an impact on all of its stakeholders,” Juan said in yesterday’s edition of Good News Kapihan and kick-off of the LCF CSR Conference2008. 

“Whether top-down or bottom-up, every company must take CSR seriously if it wants to survive in these times of intense competition and unpredictable challenges,” Juan added. 

Fromthe crises in education and health to the alarming effects of global warming, more businesses are initiating efforts to address these since they, too, are beginning to feel the consequences.

The education crisis alone is widely felt at the recruitment and employment stage,where far more applicants are found unqualified due to their poor communication skills. Many businesses are forced to hire less competent employees resulting in poorer delivery of business services.

Meanwhile, the exodus of medical professionals for greater opportunities abroad leaves the health sector with far less resources and expertise to provide adequate healthcare.

She said, however, that CSR programs have to become an integral part of the business to ensure its survival over the long term. For CSR to be truly sustainable it must have botha positive impact on society and strategic relevance to the company’s business.

Exactly how companies can integrate CSR into the business process will be one of the main issues to be discussed in the forthcoming 7^th CSR Conference 2008, to be heldfrom July 16-18, 2008 at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel in celebration of CSR Week.

With the theme “CSR is Everyone’s Business”, the CSR Conference will engage business leaders from the country’s top corporations and members of professional organizations such as the Management Association of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, People Management Association of the Philippines, Financial Executives of the Philippines, PANA and PRSP, among other professional organizations and various chambers of commerce and industry to show that CSR is indeed, everyone’s business.

Since the societal benefits of CSR are already clear, the CSR Conference 2008 focuses on the business case for CSR. Strategic CSR can help boost a company’s long-term sustainability and competitiveness. The Conference will highlight cases that show how CSR has helped leading companies achieve business objectives while helping build communities and protecting the environment.

The CSR Conference will feature high-caliber resource speakers such as Dr. Bradley Googins, Executive Director of the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship and author of the book “Beyond Good Company”. Dr. Googins will headline the first day of the conference by speaking about global trends and winning CSR strategies.

Regional as well as local practitioners will also be on hand to share their experiences and best practices in topics such as Stakeholder Relations, Employee Engagement, Cause-Related Marketing, Risk and Crisis Management, Supply Chain Management and Measuring and Evaluating CSR Programs.

The conference will also provide opportunities for in-depth learning and planning. The third day of the conference will feature an integration workshop where participants will be guided step-by-step in assessing their CSR programs and crafting their company’s CSR vision. The workshop will be conducted by LCF’s CSR Institute.

In this way, the private sector will become a more effective partner in helping solve the many social challenges facing the Philippines.

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League of Corporate Foundations

The League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) is a membership association composed of over 70 operating and grant-making corporate foundations and corporations seeking to provide business solutions to social and environmental problems in the Philippines. The LCF’s vision is to be the driving force behind a highly committed business sector working effectively with communities and partner institutions toward the attainment of equitable and sustainable development through greater Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

CSR Conference 2008

The CSR Conference 2008 is the LCF’s 7^thannual gathering on Corporate Social Responsibility. The past six years the LCF has been at the forefront of promoting CSR to a broadrange of audiences — from the business sector to media, civil society, students, the academe, and government – through the holding of CSR Expos in celebration of CSR Week. This year the LCF shifts to a conference format and aims to raise the level of discussion on CSR by engaging the business community in integrating CSR in to the business process – providing both societal and business benefits --  and proving that CSR is Everyone’s Business.

For more information please contact

Ms. Majivel Marbibi, Manager, ComTrends PR

ContactDetails: majivel@gmail.com, 0920-9199295

Mr. Jerry Bernas, Deputy Executive Director, League of Corporate Foundations

ContactDetails: jerrybernas@yahoo.com; 09209019306