Author: League of Corporate Foundations

Winners:

A. Program Category

1.Outstanding CSR Project in Education: Hyundai Dream Centre-Philippines (HARI Foundation, Inc.)

Date Started: April 10, 2018

Location: Calamba City, Laguna

Status: Operating

Objective: To train underprivileged young men and women in Hyundai vehicle repair and maintenance and eventual employment at Hyundai dealerships in the country

Description: HDCP is a world-class automotive training and education hub established by HARI in partnership with Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) and humanitarian organization Plan International. 1 HDCP is the fifth dream center that HMC has set up in the Asia-African region since 2013. HARI is the first Hyundai distributor to be tapped to craft Dream Centre training programs that respond to local industry needs. HDCP training programs are made up of three TESDA-certified training courses. HDCP graduates are employed as automotive technicians, service advisors, and warranty officers by Hyundai dealerships.

Scope/Scale: HDCP scholars are referrals from Hyundai dealerships and Plan International program areas (Mindoro, Masbate, Cebu, Samar, Leyte, Cotabato, and Maguindanao). HDCP has produced 174 graduates from 4 batches. The fifth batch has 43 scholars in training. 87% of the graduates are employed at Hyundai dealerships across the country.

Partner Agencies: Hyundai Motor Company (HMC), Plan International, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Sisters of Mary School

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2.Outstanding CSR Project in Enterprise Development: Baslay Coffee Program (Energy Development Corporation)

“Kaingin” is a traditional yet destructive agricultural method that has unfortunately been a way of life for many Filipinos residing in mountainous regions of the Philippines. It is one of the biggest causes of deforestation and detrimental to natural resources such as geothermal steam from beneath the earth’s surface.

Unfortunately, not only does kaingin disrupt the natural ecosystem in the area and decimate endemic flora and fauna, but it also generates carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change and global warming. While locals are able to eke out a living with kaingin, such method is not sustainable and renders a lot of harmful effects not only to the environment but also to their health and well-being.

In order to address this challenge, Energy Development Corporation (EDC) developed an innovative corporate social responsibility (CSR) and shared value initiative that sought to attain behavioral change and positive stakeholder engagement among the “kaingeros” who are residents of the communities it operates in, particularly in the foothills of Mount Talinis—the largest remaining forested area in Negros Oriental—within the area of Barangay Baslay in Dauin.

EDC thus came up with the Baslay Coffee Program. Identifying coffee beans as a proper and viable agricultural produce in the high-altitude locale, the project aims to provide alternative and more sustainable means of livelihood for the people of Baslay and surrounding communities, effectively transitioning them away from a culture and business practice of kaingin and ultimately transforming them into stewards of their province’s own natural resources.

EDC’s intervention leads to greater opportunities for Baslay farmers. In 1985, the then Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) – EDC organized these kaingineros into Baslay Farmers Association (BFAs) as a community based farmers’ organization. As a result of the 30-year reforestation program of EDC in the area, BFA had 120 hectares of coffee plantations. Due to the shortage of supply and potential room for growth in the coffee industry, EDC decided to reinforce and strengthen the coffee farming practices of Baslay farmers while safeguarding the forests.

At present, aside from being a refuge to 113 species of birds, the forest in Baslay now offers quality coffee in Central Visayas. The BFA communally owns a dense, wild, completely organic coffee forest (mostly robusta and liberica) that yields luscious red fruit not only for our coffee mill but for bats, birds, civet cats, insects, and myriads of species. They are also caregivers and forest farmers to a growing area of native trees. The BFA and the Baslay Coffee Program is proof that with strong multi-sectoral collaboration, indigenous communities can be ushered into an era of progress without sacrificing the welfare of future generations who depend on the rich natural resources of their surroundings.

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3.Outstanding CSR Project in Environment: “Plastic Mo, Kinabukasan Ko” Ecobrick Classroom Project (TELUS International Philippines Foundation, Inc.)

Each year, an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic used globally in our economies leaks to the ocean. Without any interventions, there can be an approximate of 250 million metric tons of plastic in our world’s ocean in the year 2025. The Philippines is part of a small geographic area where majority of the plastic enters the ocean. In a 2019 GAIC report, an approximate of 164 million pieces of sachets is being used in the Philippines daily. TELUS International Philippines Foundation Inc. partnered with Kapampangan Manalakaran Inc in 2019 to advocate for environmental protection by addressing plastic pollution. The “Plastic Mo, Kinabukasan Ko” Ecobrick Classroom project constructed a classroom facility made of ecobricks. Ecobricks are plastic bottles filled with clean, dry plastics and other inorganic trash to a set density which can be used in lieu of concrete hollow blocks to build structures and is proven to be cooler and earthquake-resistant.

The ecobrick classroom building was completely constructed after five months in San Agustin Elementary School last November 2019. The school has a 447 student population located in Magalang, Pampanga. As part of its structure, a total of 8,848 ecobricks was used in the classroom construction which trapped at least 1,972.4 kilograms of plastics and inorganic trash and 11,834.4 carbon dioxide emissions from the environment. The “Plastic Mo, Kinabukasan Ko” Ecobrick Classroom project inculcated to the students, teachers, parents, and community leaders the value of proper solid waste segregation and disposal and the innovative possibility of what can be done with plastics and other inorganic waste which will impact the environment. With this project, we were able to advocate for environmental protection and encourage more stakeholders to convert their plastic and inorganic waste into ecobricks. This project was able to address the adverse environmental impact of plastic pollution, the issue of improper waste disposal, as well as the lack of learning facilities for the students of San Agustin, Magalang, Pampanga.

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4.Outstanding CSR Project in Health: Water Access for a Waterless Aeta Community (Manila Water Foundation, Inc.)

According to a 2017 report by World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, there are 2.1 billion people across the globe without access to safe drinking water at home. In the Philippines, 1 out of every 10 Filipinos do not have access to improved water resources and 1 of the 10 leading causes of death in the country is acute watery diarrhea (WHO, 2016). The lack of access to safe, drinking water increases the risk of contracting water-borne and communicable diseases and contributes to overall poor health.

In an indigenous peoples (IP) community in mountainous Sapang Uwak in Porac, Pampanga, Aeta members’ only water sources is a river source which is an hour away from their homes and a shallow stream that is 15 minutes away. Both the river and the stream are public spaces shared with domestic livestock and hold poor water quality which is unsafe for human consumption.

Manila Water Foundation (MWF), the social development arm of the Manila Water enterprise, has a mandate and advocacy to bring sustainable WASH (water access, sanitation and hygiene education). Sapang Uwak, a marginalized and waterless IP community, was in dire need for a reliable water access. In 2018, MWF adopted Sapang Uwak as one of its pilot communities for the WASH Program.

The Foundation rests on the theory that in order to improve quality of life, health and hygiene conditions of a community through the provision of (potable) water access and hygiene education must ensue. Access to safe drinking water is a catalyst to overall good health and wellbeing and is a stepping stone to many developmental milestones.

The WASH intervention started with the establishment of a reliable water infrastructure that taps into existing water sources and filters the water to ensure clean and safe drinking water for the residents. It rehabilitated a 12-km water system and constructed 3 water tanks and 13 common watering points (faucets) in the community. After completing the water access project in Sapang Uwak, approximately 7,560 m3* volume of clean water was delivered to the community through the new water system. Today, the water is used for drinking, bathing, cleaning and other domestic activities. As of writing, minimal to no cases of diarrhea or any water-borne illnesses were reported in Sapang Uwak. Aside from the successful establishment of a reliable water system, a Water Group composed of community leaders was established to ensure the sustainability of the WASH program. Through the Water Group’s active participation, its members now fully oversee the operation and maintenance of the facilities.

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B. Collaboration Category

Outstanding CSR Collaboration Project: Brgy. Kulasi, Sumilao Water System Project (Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc.)

Background

While many of us take water for granted, about 15 million Filipinos in remote communities need to walk for several kilometers each day just to fetch clean water. This program was de-signed to provide water access to these underserved communities. By making safe water accessible to more families, we also reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases, ensuring that residents can live healthier, happier lives.

Brgy. Kulasi in Sumilao, Bukidnon is the poorest among the ten (10) barangays of the municipality.

Prior to this project, the community’s clean water comes from a water source in Sitio Bacolod, Lupiagan, and delivered by a 10-km pipe to a reservoir located in Purok 3 at the back of Kulasi Elementary School. This reservoir is about 750 meters away from the barangay center. It has only one communal faucet that is being used by all residents.

Del Monte Foundation Inc., who has been working with the community in the past years through health and education pro-grams, saw the need to provide a Level 2 Water System with 25 communal faucets. Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines provided grant and support through water stewardship under its Agos Program.

Project Brief

The project is a collaboration between the Coca-Cola Foundation, Inc. (CCFPI), Del Monte Foundation Inc. (DMFI), the Local Government of Sumilao, Bukidnon and Brgy. Council of Kulasi, Sumilao Bukidnon. DMFI implements the project under the technical coordination of the LGU of Sumilao through the Office of the Municipal Engineer. Brgy. Council of Kulasi and DMFI conduct the day-to- day project monitoring until the project’s turn over to the community.

The project has the following components: Community Consultation and Planning, Construction and installation of main water pipeline, lateral water pipelines and communal faucets, Formation of a Water Users’ Group, Technical Assistance.

Project Status

The project was started on August 2019 and was completed in March 2020. When before, the community must walk to a reservoir 750 meters away to line in queue for water from a single (1) faucet, the community now has 25 communal faucets strategically located near their houses.

Social Impact:

There is lesser time spent in collecting water thus resulting to more time for other economically productive activities. This also resulted in reduced personal risks during water collection.

7 families have gone back to reside in the barangay due to the availability & accessibility of water. The dwindling population due to emigration was a concern expressed during community consultation. Households are now capable of starting household crops with easy access to water.