June 2010
www.pbsp.org.ph
N E W S B Y T E S Committed to poverty reduction, PBSP is the largest corporate-led social development foundation in the Philippines. It is the first of its kind in Asia leading the promotion and practice of corporate citizenship.
Business empowering the poor
Transforming lives: PBSP scholar gives back In northern Luzon, an educator is proving how a little help from PBSP can transform lives. As an outstanding student, Florita Paragas received a PBSP scholarship that allowed her to complete her Bachelor of Science degree back in 1981. She has since earned two masters degrees, in Social Work and in Public Management. Florita is now a professor at Saint Louis University in Baguio City. After 20 years, Florita has not forgotten how PBSP member-companies helped her, and she did not miss the chance to get back in touch on our social media account on Facebook. There she writes, “PBSP is part of who I am now.” Aside from being a university educator, Florita has also been a resource person for the Department of Health on community-based health programs including HIV/AIDS prevention, and once worked in underserved barangays in Itogon, Benguet. She shares, “I want to let (PBSP donors) know that as they have touched my life I’m proud to say that I have been touching lives also. I believe that the lives I have touched are also continuously reaching out to others.” Speaking of how her life has been changed by the scholarship, Florita declares, “I have proven that indeed poverty is not a destiny but a situation that can be changed—thanks to PBSP. I would like to personally meet the donors to thank them and to convince them to continue supporting poor and deserving students.” PBSP’s education program has since evolved and expanded. Based on national statistics, the poorest families have family heads who lack proper and basic education. We have thus directed our efforts to bringing children and youth in poor areas to school, and improving the quality of education in those targeted schools. If donors channel their funds through PBSP, we will also help improve the quality of education through teachers’ training that covers Math, Science, English, IT, and school management. The PTCAs are also strengthened so that our initiatives can be sustained by the community. Hence, with PBSP, we build communities dedicated to educating their children. This year, donors’ contributions will capacitate over a thousand teachers and provide 35,000 students with different forms of assistance from scholarships to in-school feeding. Help transform the lives of teachers and students. Contact us at pbsp@pbsp.org.ph.
PBSP FIGHTS POVERTY Farmers increase productivity Farmers and agri-entrepreneurs from 18 provinces learned to improve their farm productivity with help from PBSP’s Center for Rural Technology Development (CRTD). At PBSP’s 11.4-hectare farm, PBSP demonstrated how families can earn income above the poverty line by simply applying appropriate farming technologies. Entrepreneurs also gain new technical knowledge for agri-business expansion. According to Ronald Costales, owner of Costales Nature Farms, “The technical knowledge we learned from CRTD on vermiculture propelled us to enormous success in our integrated organic farming. Now we are able to supply chains of restaurants and grocery stores with our organic herbs and vegetables. ” Low agriculture productivity is one of the causes of poverty in the country. To help respond to the problems in rural communities, CRTD was established to promote sustainable technologies to increase farm output.
Filipina entrepreneur awarded in Netherlands A costume jewelry business based in Naga City was recognized in the Business in Development (BiD) Challenge international competition held in the Netherlands. Marianne Olano, founder and manager of Baycrafts Jewelry, was awarded the Special Prize for Women in Retail Business. Marianne’s microenterprise received half a million pesos funding from Dutch bank ING as part of the award. Baycrafts participated in the local leg of the BiD competition supported by Citi and other PBSP members. BiD Challenge Philippines has opened doors for Marianne, and she will be competing for another award in Sweden.
Brother supports skills training for young students
CRTD trains farmers’ cooperatives, agri-entrepreneurs, and local governments. PBSP can also work with companies on corporate citizenship initiatives designed to help farming communities. Contact crtd@pbsp.org.ph.
Medical kits for Mindanao Health workers in Mindanao are now better equipped to deliver basic health services. PBSP and long-time partners, Elena P. Tan Foundation and Salome L. Tan Foundation, funded the distribution of medical kits to selected barangays in Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, Basilan, Tawi-tawi, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Zamboanga Sibugay, and cities of Cotabato and Iligan. The intervention will allow school-based health workers to provide basic health care, conduct health monitoring and detect cases that require immediate referral to formal health institutions. To support health programs in communities, contact pbsp@pbsp.org.ph.
Many schools lack facilities and equipment especially those used in the Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) subject. Brother International (Philippines), Inc., manufacturer of sewing machines and other electronic equipment and a PBSP member, bridged this gap by donating five electric sewing machines to the Taguig Elementary School. To test the new equipment, 15 Grade 5 students enjoyed their one-week training using the modern machines. The Japanese firm also conducted the training activity. PBSP helps its members and other companies develop corporate citizenship programs that are linked to their technical and core business competencies. Contact PBSP for free advice on how to develop core business CSR programs at pbsp@pbsp.org.ph.
PBSP’s poverty reduction programs are funded by the membership fees of our members. These funds are used to attract contributions from other companies and from local and foreign donors. To make your contribution to poverty reduction, contact pbsp@pbsp.org.ph or tel (02) 527-7741.
PBSP AND MEMBERS: NATIONAL NEWS BETTER TOGETHER Businesses’ bayanihan for Brigada Eskwela It was more than the usual Brigada Eskwela activity when PBSP members trooped to Kapitan Eddie Reyes Elementary School (KERMES) in Taguig on the first Saturday of June. L’Oréal Philippines, Inc., for instance, brought stylists trained at the L’Oréal Académie and sponsored free haircuts for over 50 students. The stylists were part of L’Oréal’s Bigay Daan Program, which trained women from some of PBSP’s STEP-UP communities in hairdressing and makeup artistry. M&H Food Corporation (Henlin) gave snacks like siopao to students and teachers. Through PBSP, Henlin has pledged to feed Grade I students in a public school for two days. Holcim Philippines, Inc., Ramcar, Inc., and TSM Shipping (Phils.), Brigada Eskwela Weekend. Employee-volunteers from Boysen, Holcim, L’Oréal, TSM Shipping, M&H Food Corporation, and Ramcar, Inc. with KERMES principal and PBSP Inc., sent employee-volunteers to officers during the Brigada Eskwela cleanup. paint and clean classrooms. Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines, Inc., PBSP’s largest Brigada Eskwela donor, also came to support the activity. Boysen donated books and over P600,000 worth of paint this year. Books and school supplies from Adarna House, The Bookmark, Inc., Goodwill Bookstore/Katha Publishing, and Jopa Enterprises, Inc. were also distributed. PBSP’s support for Brigada Eskwela is part of its larger education program which aims to bring children to school and improve the quality of education. Last year, PBSP members and donors spent P101 million in support of basic education and Information Technology. Of this, P1.5 million worth of donations, mostly in-kind, was mobilized from Brigada Eskwela.
BRIGADA ESKWELA 2010 SPONSORS Adarna House, Inc. Blue Bell Corporation CDO Foodsphere, Inc. Citi Diwa Learning Systems, Inc. East-West Seed Company, Inc. Goodwill Bookstore/ Katha Publishing, Inc. Ho Tong Hardware Holcim Philippines, Inc. International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Jopa Enterprises, Inc. Lucerne Jewelers M&H Food Corporation (Henlin) Manila Bankers Life Insurance Corporation
Maxell Office Supply MST Marine Services (Philippines), Inc. Pacific Paint Boysen (Philippines), Inc. 18 Parity Values, Inc. Philex Mining Corp. Ramcar, Inc. Sean Ethan Rivadelo Sterling Paper Products The Bellevue Manila The Bookmark, Inc. The Cravings Group TSM Shipping Philippines, Inc. Union Galvasteel Corporation Virginia Food, Inc.
PBSP helps businesses achieve their corporate citizenship goals. The Foundation operates nationwide to allow member companies reach more communities, including those in conflict areas. We work better together, contact pbsp@pbsp.org.ph.
BRIGADA ESKWELA
ON YOUR CALENDAR NATIONWIDE National CSR Week
Opportunity to link your CSR programs with your core business. Free consultation with PBSP at the PBSP-CEMEX Foundation booth, LCF CSR Expo, SMX, Pasay, July 14-15. Or contact PBSP offices in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, 24/7 at pbsp@pbsp.org.ph.
MANILA SMEC Partners’ Dialogue Dusit Thani Hotel, Manila 25 June
LAGUNA 30th Anniversary of the PBSP Center for Rural Technology Development 12 July CEBU 2010 Cebu Hillylands Reforestation Caravan
Every Saturday of June and July Continue the legacy! Volunteers have been reforesting Cebu’s watersheds for the past 22 years! Protect the environment, sustain Cebu’s water supply, create livelihood!
BOHOL Launch of the Balik- Baterya Program 29 July
Opportunity to donate your used-lead batteries, protect the environment, and support quality education.
Continue the Conversation PBSP Social Media
Learn how your small businesses can grow through business advice and MSME financing.
For more information, please contact: The Executive Director Philippine Business for Social Progress PSDC Bldg., Magallanes cor. Real Sts., Intramuros, Manila Tel: (02) 527-7741 to 48 l Fax: (02) 527-3743 Email: pbsp@pbsp.org.ph l Website: www.pbsp.org.ph
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