Shangri-La Hotel, Makati City
3 September 2014
President Benigno S. Aquino III recognized the contribution of various private corporations in helping to redefine the concept of good business in the Philippines, thus, contributing to the development of the general public.
“Corporate responsibility is a good business. Your shareholders include your employees, consumers, and now, the members of the communities in which you operate, thus, redefining value not only in terms of profit, but also in terms of the empowerment of others,” the President said during the 13th Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility (AFCSR) and the 12th Asian CSR Awards held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City.
Mentioning the Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) as an example of a company that caters to the needs of its consumers, President Aquino said that through its Busog, Lusog, Talino (BLT) School Feeding Program, more than 80% of beneficiaries have reached a normal Body Mass Index (BMI). Its Farmer Entrepreneurship Program that aims to support Filipino farmers, on the other hand, had helped more than 900 farmers nationwide. JFC is the recipient of this year’s Asian CSR Awards for Poverty Alleviation and Education Improvement categories.
Other Asian organizations that were given recognition by the AFCSR were the DOW Chemical Thailand (Environmental Excellence category) for its DOW Chemical for Sustainable Industry project; the P.T. Unilever Indonesia (Health Enhancement category) for its school program that promotes health and hygiene; the Valsad District Cooperative Milk Producer, recipient of the CSR Impact Award, for its Union Fund’s Tribal Development Program; and the Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, awardee of the Intel-AIM Corporate Responsibility Award, for producing quality seafarers for the manpower industry through its training and scholarship programs.
“What does social responsibility mean, after all, if not dealing with your fellowmen in a correct and upright manner? Doing so leads to a greater stability which is necessary for the continued growth of your companies. This, in turn, requires an even greater immersion and an even greater stakes to be held in the community. This is the virtuous cycle of corporate social responsibility with businesses and the citizenry helping each other thrive,” President Aquino said.
For the Asian CSR Awards this year, there were 109 entries from 12 countries representing 97 organizations in Asia. This honor is given to Asian organizations that demonstrate the principles of social responsibility in their business operations.
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