THE Philippines may be one of the fastest growing economies in Asia but its persistent poverty, sickness, and pollution drive home the need for collective problem-solving.
As it prepares for its 50th anniversary in 2021, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) has pledged to scale up its anti-poverty measures.
PBSP President Armin Luistro said that the organization intends to help build self-reliant and resilient communities and provide an improved quality of life in the next four to five years, with the support of private companies and organizations.
“Even if we continue to do CSR (corporate social responsibility) all our lives, we know that a single focus will not solve our problem and therefore, even as we look at the programs PBSP has done successfully, we know that our solutions will be better if done collectively,” said Luistro during the PBSP 29th Visayas Annual Membership Meeting at the Casino Español de Cebu last Wednesday.
He focused on the theme “Road to 50: Scaling Up Solutions Together.”
The former education secretary encouraged the private sector to collaborate in coming up with sustainable and long-term solutions to address gaps in health, education, environment, and livelihood.
“PBSP has a reason to continue to serve and help those who need our help,” he told the group’s members.
In 2015 and 2016, PBSP said it has supported a million families in the country using pooled funds amounting to P2 billion from donor-agencies and P75 million from 263 member-companies.
The newest members of PBSP in the Visayas are Innoland Development Corp. and GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp.
Tomas Yap, PBSP Visayas executive committee member, called on the members to continue supporting PBSP’s causes.
“Continue working with us in solving problems and scaling up solutions because a lot still needs to be done,” Yap said.
In the Visayas, lawyer Manuel del Rosario of PSBP said, the organization has supported 2,000 women through its safe motherhood project. The 46-year-old group has also supported over 2,000 pupils and high school students from 20 public schools and rehabilitated over 100 hectares with forest trees and mangroves.
At the gathering, four companies also presented their initiatives in advancing anti-poverty and environmental causes.
These included Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corp., which presented its Balik-Baterya Program. To encourage more companies to donate batteries, Motolite buys used batteries at a “good price” and uses the proceeds to build classrooms and mini-libraries.
Unionbank of the Philippines shared their story on how their digital banking products support freelancers and online entrepreneurs. For its part, Wellmade Motors and Development Corp. trains and hires persons with disabilities.