PAMPANGA-BASED business conglomerate LausGroup of Companies (LGC) added another laurel to its achievements, as the company’s chief executive, Lisset Laus-Velasco, was honored as a dealership honoree in the 2021 Salute to Dealers bestowed by American multinational automaker Ford Motor Company.
Laus-Velasco is one of the six honorees of this prestigious global award, out of 80 dealers around the world that were nominated and is the only woman this year who was selected based on their business performance, ethics, and impact on the community.
She is the only honoree from the Ford International Markets Group and the second Ford dealer principal from the Philippines to win this award.
LGC, which Laus-Velasco leads, operates Ford Pampanga from the City of San Fernando, among its other branches.
The award affirms Ford Pampanga and LGC’s commitment to outstanding products and service, as well as its community programs that are all geared to herald countryside development to the Central Luzon region, as envisioned by LGC founder Levy P. Laus.
Guided by the company’s commitment to customer care and passion for cars, Laus-Velasco has steered Ford Pampanga and all LGC dealerships to success, while enabling its customers and employees to flourish in support of Pampanga’s development.
“Progress is a central foundation in the way we do business. But we view progress not as something to keep within our company, but as an opportunity to share with our community. We always aim to champion progress in providing diversified sources of comfort, luxury, leisure, and financial security to our customers and employees. This honor from Ford Global recognizes the effort of everyone at LGC who has made inclusive progress a mission in doing great work,” Laus-Velasco said.
Empowering education, health, and sustainability
As CEO, Laus-Velasco has institutionalized corporate social responsibility programs for LGC, with education as the main anchor. Its most recent initiative is the broadcast of an educational television program for San Fernando’s kinder to second-grade students through the LGC-owned CLTV36.
The program, called Alpha Basa, is a Filipino language-based reading program that aims to make young children fluent readers in Filipino through a game-based system using carefully designed flashcards and books.
Additionally, LausGroup’s CLTV36 station has also become a platform to reach more students at home, airing K-12 programs under TeleSkwela for all participating parents, teachers, and students in Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bulacan, and Bataan.
The Levy P. Laus Foundation has also strengthened their commitment to send and support deserving young Kapampangans to school amid the pandemic. Currently, over 2,000 employees of the LausGroup are given annual access to educational loans to fund their dependents' education aside from existing scholars of the foundation.
LGC has also organized numerous feeding programs in support of children’s nutrition, as Laus-Velasco believes that good health and education go hand-in-hand in providing the young with opportunities for economic mobility. These feeding programs were held in various sites across Pampanga, with some done in partnership with Rise Against Hunger, a non-governmental organization working to eradicate hunger through community empowerment.
The company is also shaping its sustainability thrust in acknowledgment of the rapid environmental changes happening across the globe. LGC is currently invested in its Balik-Baterya Program in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). All replaced vehicle batteries coming from LGC dealerships are sent to car battery dealership partners for recycling. The proceeds are then designated for donation to an organization, which LGC eyes to be in the education sector.
Nurturing community ties in the future
“We have reached milestones in the implementation of our community programs but we also admit to still having our work cut out for us. This recognition from Ford Global only intensified the spark of our company to continue to bring development and unparalleled product and service excellence to our stakeholders. The communities that we serve can expect LGC to be a partner as we all drive to new challenges and achievements in the future,” Laus-Velasco said.
The Salute to Dealers is a Ford Motor Company initiative that honors Ford dealers across the globe who champion business integrity, exemplary products and services, and the upliftment of their respective communities.
Lisset Laus-Velasco is joined by other honorees composed of Ford dealers from the United States, China, and Canada. (PR)