CORPORATE SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICS
THE LEARNERS SHALL BE ABLE TO:
01
DESCRIBE THE CONCEPT OF CORPORATE
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OR CSR;
02
ANALYZE THE DIFFERENT DRIVERS OF
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY;
03
ANALYZE THE DIFFERENT DRIVERS OF
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY;
04
ANALYZE THE DIFFERENT DRIVERS OF
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY;
05
COMPARE THE TWO VIEWS OF CSR; AND
06
ILLUSTRATE THE PYRAMID OF CORPORATE SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITIES.
07
APPLY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS
CONSUMERS. GOVERNMENT, EMPLOYEES AND THE
ENVIRONMENT.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
"Corporate social responsibility is measured in terms of businesses
improving conditions for their employees, shareholders,
communities, and environment. But moral responsibility goes
further, reflecting the need for corporations to address fundamental
ethical issues such as inclusion, dignity, and equality."
Klaus Schwab
THE CONCEPT OF CORPORATE SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) involves businesses moving beyond profit
generation, responding to societal demands for economic, social, and
environmental responsibility. Influenced by figures like Milton Friedman and
Edward Freeman, CSR broadens the stakeholders beyond just shareholders to
include customers, employees, suppliers, communities, and the environment. It
goes beyond philanthropy, encompassing legal, social, environmental, and ethical
considerations in business processes. The triple bottom line approach, focusing
on people, planet, and profit, underlines a commitment to sustainable practices
across these three dimensions.
Key Components of CSR
1. Corporate Governance - Involves accountability, transparency, and adherence to
laws. It aims to achieve company objectives, protect shareholder rights, and
provide transparency for all stakeholders.
2. Business Ethics - Integrates core values like honesty, trust, respect, and fairness
into company policies and decision-making. It encompasses legal compliance and
adherence to in-house rules.
Key Components of CSR
3. Workplace and Labor Relations - Focuses on human resources as crucial assets.
Good CSR practices include health and safety, employee relations, and work-life
balance, aiming to enhance recruitment, retention, and cost reduction.
4. Positive Action - Reflects CSR through practices like inclusivity, gender policies,
prevention of sexual harassment, HIV/AIDS prevention, and employee
volunteering.
Key Components of CSR
5. Supply Chain - Extends CSR beyond internal operations to the entire supply
chain. Addressing social, environmental, and human rights aspects positively
influences stakeholders.
6. Customers - Considers more than just cost and quality, emphasizing the
impact of production on social, environmental, and supply-chain concerns for
customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Key Components of CSR
7. Environment - Goes beyond legal requirements, focusing on delivering
environmental benefits. Includes seeking sustainable replacements for
natural resources, reducing environmental impact, and producing eco-friendly
goods.
8. Community - Recognizes the community as a vital stakeholder. CSR
involves direct communication, risk evaluation, and contributing to positive
changes in the community, enhancing the company's brand image.
DRIVERS OF CSR
CSR promotes accountability to all stakeholders, focusing
on environmental, employee wellbeing, community
protection, and society. Businesses must operate in
connection with society, beyond traditional
competitiveness, survival, and profitability. Driven by
factors like these, CSR is increasingly important.
SHRINKING ROLE OF
GOVERNMENT
Government's role in providing social and environmental
services in businesses is shrinking due to distrust in
regulations and insufficient resources, leading businesses
to explore voluntary soft intervention.
DEMANDS FOR
GREATER DISCLOSURE
The demand for greater disclosure is increasing from
various stakeholders including customers, suppliers,
employees, local communities, investors, media, and
pressure groups.
INCREASED
CUSTOMER INTEREST
Ethical conduct of a company can significantly influence
customer buying decisions, with consumers often valuing
or penalizing companies based on their perceived
performance.
GROWING INVESTOR
PRESSURE
Investors increasingly prioritize ethical considerations
when evaluating companies' performance and buying
and selling stocks, highlighting the growing pressure to
do so.
COMPETITIVE LABOR
MARKETS
In today's competitive labor markets, employees
prioritize aligning their principles with employers'
philosophies and operating practices, leading to
employers being compelled to improve working
conditions.
SUPPLIER
RELATIONS
Supplier relations - Nowadays, most stakeholders are more
and more interested in the affairs of businesses. With this
situation, companies are making certain that even their
partners conduct themselves ethically and socially
responsible. The trend now is to present codes of conduct
for their suppliers, which practices would guarantee a good
image once these policies or would be followed.
HISTORICAL PHASES OF CSR
The practice of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has had an extensive and widespread history. A sizable
body of literature about CSR could be found mostly from the twentieth century particularly in developed
countries, the majority of which from the United States (US). Europe later was also captivated with CSR as
manifested by a lot of formal writings, research, conferences, and consultancies usually from the works of
scholars and practitioners Countries in Asia also joined the bandwagon and started to becöme interested to CSR
policies and practices.
An early practice of CSR could be exemplified on how businessmen were concern about social causes. Some
businesse spend money for community causes such as contributing funds to. an orphan asylum and giving gifts to
charities which were recorded as Miscellaneous Expenses in the company's accounts. Other issues such as urban
decline, racial discrimination, and pollution problems were added to the lists of CSR concerns. These examples
proved that SR has been a practice for a long time but only becanie popular in the past fifty years.
At present, CSR could already be regarded as a global phenomenon. In recent years, volunteering has become
another important initiative in CSR especially in international businesses Labor standards, environment, human
rights; and fighting briben ater were added as CSR applications. Now, it has been clear that without the moral
and business components of CSR, no compan could be able to attain its corporate success.
PROFIT MAXIMIZING
MANAGEMENT
Management
must maximize
profit
Individual drive for profit
maximization would
ultimately create wealth
for the nation
Business systems as
a profit maximizer
are used as a tool
or the elimination of
economic scarcity
PROFIT MAXIMIZING
MANAGEMENT
Business ignores
unsafe working
conditions, paid
starvation wages and
used child labor in
order to maximize
profit
Problems of cultural
minorities unsate
products, unfair
advertising and urban
poor problems were
given little if no
attention at all.
Abuses of capitalism
are extremely rampant
and the government
tolerates these
deplorable business
practices
QUALITY OF LIFE
MANAGEMENT
Security of basic
goods and services
was no longer a
principal problem
Social and economic
problems brought
about by economic
growth expanded the
concept of social
responsibility of
management
Social and economic
problems brought
about by economic
growth expanded the
concept of social
responsibility of
management
QUALITY OF LIFE
MANAGEMENT
Business is expected
to contribute to the
improvement of the
quality of life which
involves cultural, social,
educational, political
factors and economic
security
Society is unstable if
the quality of life of
the people Is poor.
Businesses contribute
to a good quality of
life and society.
A prosperous society
is the best
environment for a
business to thrive in.
Businesses will
benefit from its selfinvestment in society
Unorganized CSR (1960s to 1970s)
During this period, the Philippines experienced the lingering effects of US
colonization, leading to businesses primarily focusing on charity and
donations. The declaration of Martial Law in 1972 by the Marcos
administration caused economic crisis and threats to political stability and
societal order. To counter these challenges, businesses and organizations
collaborated through CSR programs. The Philippine Business for Social
Progress (PBSP), established in 1971, played a pivotal role by allocating a
percentage of companies' profits for development projects, benefiting
education, health, livelihood, and the environment.
Organized Philanthropy (1980s to 1990s)
With new government policies emphasizing deregulation, decentralization,
and liberalization, foreign investments increased, influencing the private
sector. During this era, various foundations, such as ShoeMart, Coca-Cola
Philippines, Roxas Foundation, and Sarmiento Foundation, emerged.
Companies also embraced CSR programs through Community Relations,
and in the 1990s, PBSP introduced Area Resource Management (ARM) to
optimize CSR strategies, fostering strategic investments and strengthening
relationships among participants.
Organized Movement (2000 and continues until present):
The organized movement persisted into the 21st century, driven by
globalization's impact on CSR worldwide. The concept of "shared value"
gained popularity, highlighting the interdependence of business competition
and community health. The League of Corporate Foundation (LCF),
established in 1991, played a key role in promoting and enhancing CSR in the
Philippines. LCF, comprising over 80 major corporate foundations and
corporations, has led the business sector in philanthropy, CSR, and nationbuilding commitments for more than two decades. LCF members collaborate
on various projects through committees focusing on Arts and Culture,
Education, Enterprise Development, Environment, and Health.
DIFFERENT VIEWS OF CSR
Over the last twenty years, corporate social responsibility of organizations
has been one of the most and widely debated issues. This is because there
are actually two extreme views about business's social responsibilities. The
two approaches that form and guide managers on how to line up their
priorities and actions are the socioeconomic view and the classical view.
They are discussed here below:
Socioeconomic View
The socioeconomic view emphasizes that businesses have a responsibility
beyond profit maximization, prioritizing society's welfare over financial gains.
Socially responsible actions not only align with ethical standards but also
contribute to a positive public image, long-term profitability, and
stakeholder support. Modern businesses engage in social, political, and legal
activities to positively influence societal well-being. Failures, such as Enron's
bankruptcy, underscore the consequences of neglecting corporate social
responsibility (CSR). Socially responsible businesses exhibit traits such as
enhanced public image, contribution to solving social issues, alignment with
public expectations, secure long-term profits, balancing power with
responsibility, stock price increase, and possession of ample resources to
sustain charitable projects.
Businesses which are socially responsible have some
recognizable common points which are:
1. Public Image - Businesses pursue social goals to improve their
reputation and attract stakeholders.
2. Better Environment - Businesses help address societal issues,
attracting skilled employees and enhancing quality of life which
may also attract and retain skilled employees.
3. Public Expectation - Public expects businesses to pursue social
as well as economic goals.
4. Long-run Profit - Socially responsible businesses build harmonious
community relations, leading to sustained profitability.
5. Balancing Responsibility and Power - Businesses, as influential entities,
must balance power with social responsibility.
6. Stockholder’s Interest - Socially responsible actions lead to higher stock
prices, reflecting investor confidence.
7. Possession of resources - Socially responsible companies have ample
financial, technical, and managerial resources to support charitable
projects.
Classical View
The classical view, endorsed by economists like Milton Friedman,
asserts that businesses' primary role is profit maximization for
shareholder satisfaction in free competition, with social welfare
left to government care. Profit maximization, aggressive
competitive strategies, and resource utilization for economic
objectives characterize this view, viewing CSR as a cost that may
dilute economic productivity.
Characteristics of Classical View
1. Profit maximization - Businesses focus solely on activities that generate profits
for shareholders.
2. Government concern - Social welfare is considered the government's
responsibility, not that of businesses.
3. Aggressive competitive strategies - Businesses prioritize profit maximization
through aggressive competition.
4. Utilization of resource - Committing resources to CSR activities is seen as a
competitive disadvantage.
5. Unachieved business objectives - Pursuing philanthropic responsibilities may
divert shareholder wealth from economic activities.
Pyramid of Corporate Social
Responsibilities
Archie Carroll's Pyramid of Corporate Social
Responsibility forms the basis of the modern definition of
CSR, comprising five interdependent responsibilities.
These responsibilities, arranged in a successive fashion,
encompass various aspects of business engagement with
society.
Economic Responsibility
The primary responsibility of businesses is economic, focusing on
profitability and long-term growth. While profitability ensures the
livelihood of owners and sustains operations, companies must also
consider their broader impact on society. Balancing economic decisions
with ethical, environmental, and philanthropic practices is essential.
Profitability enables businesses to fulfill obligations to employees,
suppliers, and the community while contributing to economic development
and nation-building. For example, companies adopting sustainable
practices, like using recycled materials, demonstrate social responsibility
while reducing costs and resource consumption.
Legal Responsibility
The second level of the pyramid is business's legal responsibility to
comply with all societal laws at all times. Similar to individual citizens,
businesses are obligated to adhere to all written and codified laws
governing their operations. Government acts as regulators to ensure
business integrity and protect public interests. Non-compliance with
laws may lead to penalties such as fines or business shutdowns,
affecting stakeholders financially. Required laws include business
permits, taxes, worker rights, intellectual property rights, consumer
protection, contracts, and anti-trust laws, varying by industry and
business structure.
Ethical Responsibility
In the world of business, ethical responsibility is of utmost importance. It involves doing what
is right, even when it is not legally required. To create a positive company culture and
maintain a good reputation, fair labor practices should be applied to all employees,
regardless of their position within the company. This includes equal pay and living wage
compensation. It is also crucial to address any violations against employees or suppliers, as
this can have a negative impact on the company's image.
Suppliers should be treated fairly, and businesses should use products that are certified as
meeting fair trade standards. It is important to adopt ethical responsibility across all
stakeholders, including investors, employees, customers, and competitors. In the advertising
industry, businesses often manipulate the truth to make their advertisements more
appealing. This is where ethical responsibility is crucial. The Philippine Association of National
Advertisers (PANA) regulates and sets guidelines for Philippine advertisers, promoting values
in advertising through self-regulation.
Environmental Responsibility
Environmental Responsibility
These days environmental responsibility is a must for
businesses, though this is not actually included among the
responsibilities by Archie Carroll in the pyramid of CSR.
Generally among the initiatives in sustaining the
environmental endorsed by businesses are limiting pollution
and reducing greenhouse gases As businesses become aware of
environmental issues they try to contribute as good corporate
citizens in lessening air, land and water pollution that would
harm the society.
Philanthropic Responsibility
Philanthropic responsibility refers to the donations made by
companies towards social, educational, recreational, and cultural
causes. These donations can be in the form of time, money, or other
forms to charitable organizations, aiming to support causes such as
human rights, disaster relief, clean water, and education programs in
underdeveloped countries. Microsoft, for example, has made a $1.5
billion donation to its Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2014,
aiming to create a tech-savvy generation. Philanthropy can also be
done by small companies, hosting fundraising efforts, and providing
support to causes.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO STAKEHOLDERS
Today, both large and small companies are also
faced with numerous issues that test them to
answer to the concerns of their stakeholders to
operate and perform in a socially responsible
fashion .
Here are some of the major stakeholders that companies need to focus on:
TOWARDS CONSUMERS
The consumers are without doubt, the important stakeholder of any
business whether big or small. Putting-up a profit-motivated company would
not work without consumers or the buying public their obligations are
comprehensive. Companies must deliver quality products, services, and
value for money, while adhering to ethical business practices and fulfilling
social responsibilities. A good customer service approach can attract repeat
purchases. Customer satisfaction is now a crucial responsibility for
businesses, and companies must handle complaints courteously, maintain
accurate advertisements, and provide correct suggestions and feedback.
Truly, a business cannot function without consumer. The survival and
growth of business relies on consumer satisfaction service and support. All
business organizations should always win the confidence of the customers.
This is feasible by having a positive attitude towards customers and
achieving the following social responsibilities towards them:
1.Quality - It is essential for a
manufacturing company to
produce high-quality goods and
services, as well as for serviceoriented organizations. Although
it is impossible to achieve 100%
quality, businesses should always
make improvements for nearperfect quality. Quality
improvement should be a
component of every corporate
activity and process.
2.Fair prices - It is not reasonable
to charge high prices on customers.
Customers these days looking for
quality goods and services offered
at reasonable prices. It is always
fair prices that make a new
customer turn into loyal
customers.
3.Truthful advertising Advertisements should offer
relevant and updated facts,
advantages and even side-effects of
the product. Providing information is
one of advertising. Hence, any
company which would like to
advertise products or services
should not misinform and mislead its
customers by giving out correct and
real information.
4.After sales service - During the
period of promised warranty,
customers always anticipate that
the company would provide them
after sale service. It is the after
sale service when given efficiently
and effectively that creates good
relationship between the
customers and the company.
5.Research and development - It
6.Consumer's safety - It is
is actually a requirement of
always expected by consumers
consumers for businesses to
perform research and
developmen (R&D). Through
R&D, quality of offering both
goods and services may be
that any product they bought
shall not harm their health and
most importantly their lives.
Consumers trust more those
improved and certainly cost of
companies that offer and sell
production could be reduced.
safe products.
7. Regular Supply - Goods and
8.Attend complaints - Businesses
services must be provided to
should always attend to any
customers on a regular basis. It is a
queries and complaints of
business sin to create false scarcity
of goods. Good and services should
be accessible to consumers
whenever they need and want
them.
customers the soonest possible.
Customers certainly would
retaliate when their queries and
complaints are not given response
instantly by telling negative
feedbacks.
9. Avoid monopolistic competition
- It is always healthy for an
industry to have a competitive
business environment. For the
sake of customers, businesses of
any industry should not allow that
monopoly exists.
10. Training - Sometimes,
businesses need to train their
customers on the use of the
products bought. This training is
given either for free for a fee. It is
freely given if the customers
would not be able to use the
product without the training or
usually it is already part of the
package. This is true in the case of
computers and software products.
Bn
TOWARDS EMPLOYEES
CSR programs should be reflect that a business is more socially focused
and incorporated into an organization's values. Millennials seek
companies that prioritize employee well-being and a good
compensation package. CSR activities should also enhance motivation
and interest in the job. Top management's good practice should serve
as an example for employees to be socially responsible and contribute
to increased productivity.
Here are the responsibilities the company to its employees, as follows;
1 . Meaningful work and Job
satisfaction- In a country like the
Philippines with a very high rate of
unemployment, the job opportunities
are restricted. Management of the
company must be responsible in
making them grow and develop
over time. Job assignments needs to
be delegated equally and be
based on expertise, knowledge and
educational qualification of
employees so that no one is abused.
2. Fair returns - Well-designed compensation
package must include sufficient wages and
salaries in addition to other incentives.
Payment to employees must be given on-time
so that they can meet their individual
financial obligations. Should employees
faced financial crisis for some reasons, they
should not be denied help during said
situations. Management must treat all its
employees as part of one big family that
requires to be given care and support. The
company and employees ought to stand by
each other during both happy and sad times.
3. Best physical and mental atmosphere - Essentially,
employees need good facilities to work productively
and comfortably to deliver their performance best.
These require management to provide these employees
with fresh, decent, healthy and safe working
conditions, proper sanitary facilities and fresh
drinking water among others. In addition, employees
must be given proper workstations or cubicles for some
amount of privacy. Every employee should be given
the same comfort so that they will not feel stressed
and frustrated with their job. Ensuring frequent
inspection of the facilities and educating employees
about safety standards is necessary and a must for a
harmless workplace.
4 .Participation in the
management - Top management
should encourage work teams,
suggestion system, profit-sharing
and other ways of participation.
These activities both build a
better workplace relationship
and reinforce the bond to work
cooperatively in projects and
activities that are outside the
office. Together, management
and employees are appreciative
of each other as they show their
talents which are not exposed
during the time of work.
5.Training, promotion and welfare
schemes - Proper training is a
requirement for employees to be
efficient and proficient as these are
the demands of contemporary
business workplace. Part of a good
CSR practice is to offer opportunities
for skills development to employees.
It is a big help for employees to learn
new skills which they can share and
contribute to the company. As they
participate in CSR activities, these
new skills would make them
confident to assume important roles
within the scope and function of such
activities.
6. Recognition of unions - A
union is an organized group of
workers who unite to make
decisions about conditions
affecting their work. A
socially responsible company
recognizes the right of
employees to form their union.
Having a union inside a
company promotes and
maintains good labor
relations.
7. Proper personnel policies - A
good practice of CSR is have
concrete and proper personnel
policies in transfers,
promotions, Policies in
recruitment, training and other
related areas. promotion
transfer or any other action for
the employees should at all
times be unbiased.
8. Health and safety measures - All
companies must always have enough
actions for employee protection in terms of
health. Among others, proper canteen,
medical clinic and other related facilities
must be in place. Management as part of
their CSR practice should always maintain a
safe working environment to prevent
possible accidents that may happen. Part of
the management's responsibility is to secure
insurance for its employees as provision for
medical care and wage replacement in case
of injuries.
9. Grievance procedure company As a socially
responsible business, a should have a proper grievance
process to answer for build a working climate free from
harassment and discrimination with respect to all age,
race, gender, ethnicity, disability or even religion. Any
workplace issues confronted correctly and promptly can
avoid expensive civil lawsuit.
Participating in CSR activities boosts employees' work
ethics and performance, influencing their attitude and
awareness. It provides direction, cultivates positive
perceptions of employers and themselves, and
reinforces loyalty to the company. Employees
understand the importance of their work and are more
likely to embrace the same values.
Active involvement in Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) can lead to job satisfaction and positive
perceptions among employees. Businesses must
maintain a positive view of CSR. The government, as an
external stakeholder, plays a crucial role in the
communities where businesses operate, as they interact
with various sectors and are responsible for controlling
laws and protecting the country's security.
Participating in CSR activities boosts employees' work
ethics and performance, influencing their attitude and
awareness. It provides direction, cultivates positive
perceptions of employers and themselves, and
reinforces loyalty to the company. Employees
understand the importance of their work and are more
likely to embrace the same values.
Each country has unique laws and regulations, which
businesses must adhere to to protect consumers and the
environment. Government policies ensure businesses
function without harming society and the environment,
fostering good relations between companies and
communities. This ensures responsible investment and
responsible business operations.
Breaking government rules can result in punishment for
consumers and the community, while businesses that comply
may receive incentives and funding. Stakeholders and
investors are protected by corporate governance principles,
while businesses are obligated to make money for investors.
Companies can suggest revising rules if it concerns society's
interest, but must adhere to local laws. The main obligation of
businesses is to make money for investors.
Here are some of the responsibilities of businesses
towards their respective governments:
1. Pay taxes - Obviously, businesses owe to the
government their taxes and fees as they carry out
their operations. The government imposed various
taxes and fees on businesses such as excise duty,
sales tax and corporate tax. These taxes and fees
should be paid accurately based on the provisions.
In return, these collected taxes and fees are
returned to the people through infrastructure and
other welfare facilities.
2. Follow environmental regulations -Those businesses
in the industrial and manufacturing sectors have been
enforced strict rules concerning the quantity and the
variety of pollutants that they are permissible to
produce. Socially responsible companies try to minimize
their pollution for the common good even more than the
law requires.
3. Abide by labor laws -In the Philippines employers need to
follow laws on labor practices. These laws are about proper
treatment of employees. How much an employee can be
paid, how many hours he is allowed to work and the hiring
and firing criteria are some of these laws. The Labor Code of
the Philippines is the general labor law that regulates the
relationship between the employee and the employer, and
all employment-related matters in the country. The law
applies to all Philippines' enterprises and joint ventures, as
well as to all employment relationships between Filipino
nationals and foreign enterprises in the country.
4.Avoid restrictive trade practices
Competition is basically an in restrictive trade practices even under
competition. Monopoly element of any business. Businesses are not
permitted to engage is an example of a restrictive practice in any
industry that limits an industry. This type of trade practice can
lower the quality of competition and prohibits new entrants in
becoming a player of products available to consumers yet drives
prices up.
5.Financial disclosure
- The financial statements of companies need to be
disclosed to the government for taxation purpose.
While, the company is also responsible to disclosed its
ownership of shares of stock to the public in terms of
availability. Being financial transparent makes certain
that the company obey government laws such as
withholding and business taxes. Whereas the public is
assisted on its investment decision.
6.Avoid corruption
In almost all countries bribing public officials by
businesses is prohibited. Essentially, bribery is offering
to do something for someone for the expressed purpose
of receiving something in return. Bribery makes the
interest of the country's citizens at stake. Those public
officials that accept bribes lose their ability to be
objective on the performance of their respective jobs.
Towards the Local Community
A local community is a group smaller in size and number
compared to a society in general. It may consist of places
where a company operates and functions as well as where
it negotiates about common issues of concern. These
places are proximate relative to the geographic location
of the business
Companies can contribute to the local community
through community giving, employee involvement, and
entrepreneurship and employability. Community giving
involves financial contributions to local charities, while
employee involvement involves actively participating in
community programs like clean-up events.
IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRY
Companies like Resorts World Manila and Quezon
Power Limited Inc. offer livelihood programs to help
rural and urban communities, providing training and
employment opportunities. Livelihood & Employment
Assistance Program (LEAP), an integrated learning
program, combines values enrichment and on-the-job
training for less fortunate Pasay City residents. Quezon
Power also supports micro-entrepreneurs, cooperatives,
and NGOs through entrepreneurial and leadership skills
training through its CSR programs.
IN THE FIELD OF AGRICULTURE
Any large companies can contribute in agricultural
development as its CSR programs. In their perspective
these CSR programs can provide full employment to the
large unemployed people in the labor market. In the
case of Jollibee Food Corp. (JFC), the company entered
into an agreement with KALASAG as its main supplier.
KALASAG, a group of San Jose farmers provides bulk
purchase of onion seeds, fertilizers and other farm
requirements to Jollibee. This supply agreement made
available on-time and better crop yields on a fair and
just price to Jollibee and higher than the farmers'
traditional markets to KALASAG.
HOUSING FACILITIES
Businesses play a crucial role in social responsibility, as
many Filipinos live in ill-planned, filthy houses,
particularly in squatter areas. CSR approaches provide
financial aid through material and manpower support to
slums and disaster-prone areas. Companies like Banco
de Oro (BDO) use volunteerism to provide disaster
response rehabilitation programs, build classrooms, and
provide housing units for affected families.
TRANSPORTATION
The national government typically creates programs for
affordable public transport, road capacity utilization,
improved licensing procedures, and urban and rural
structure changes. However, businesses can also
support these programs. Canon's Layag-Layag Project,
known as Canon Advocacy for Reinforcing Education
(CARE), focuses on strengthening education through
partnerships with regional offices. Through fundraising
efforts, Canon provided four medium-sized boats to
Davao, which have since become the main mode of
transportation for children to school, eliminating the
need for daily chest-deep water crossings.
HEALTH & EDUCATION
Businesses in the Philippines are implementing
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to
improve the quality of life for their communities.
Companies like Quezon Power provide medical and
dental services, lectures on health prevention and
treatment, and feed malnourished children in
elementary schools. They also offer health and
nutrition training to help communities develop their
skills. CEMEX, a global leader in the building materials
industry, is investing in a program called Experto Ako
to provide knowledge about current cement technology.
These CSR initiatives aim to address issues such as lack
of health education, unwholesome environments,
poverty, and deprived diets in rural areas.
INDUSTRIAL AID TO EDUCATION
Successful businesses support educational institutions
through CSR programs, such as Manila Electric
Company's 2001 donation of free computers and training
for public school teachers. The company provided basic
computer literacy training, transportation, allowance,
food, and handouts to teachers, who were part of the
regular staff pool of Meralco. This modern CSR
approach supports technical education programs.
TOWARDS THE ENVIRONMENT
Environmental CSR aims to reduce harm to the
environment from businesses' processes. Green CSR
can decrease business risk, improve reputation, and
offer cost savings. Energy efficiency measures, such as
turning off lights and equipment when not in use,
reducing water usage, and reducing paper waste, can
generate savings. Caring about the environment can
increase revenue, as customers prefer to buy from
responsible companies.
Reduce paper waste
In recent years, businesses have moved toward going paperless. Staff
should be encouraged to do office stuffs electronically. Companies need
to cut back on paper use through setting up electronic collaboration
tools.
Use LED light bulbs
These days offices had switch to LED light bulbs that cut-down their
utility bills because 95% of the energy in LEDs is converted into light
and only 5% is wasted as heat. At the same time LED protect the
environment since less energy use reduces the demand from power
plants and decreases greenhouse gas emissions.
Allow telecommuting
Millennial prefers flexible work arrangements and sometimes even
working from homes. Telecommuting is advantageous for the
environment. This human resource (HR) practice reduces the energy
consumption in office spaces every day, saving money and cutting the
business's carbon footprint. Even with just a few employees,
telecommuting can ease commuter traffic.
Power off computers
It is a great opportunity to save money and conserve energy by
unplugging computers. Businesses need to make it compulsory for all
employees to power down their computers, printers and copiers before
they leave their respective offices.
Set-up recycling bins in common areas
Businesses should place recycling bins in common work and meeting areas of
their offices. In this way, companies would be able to send the message
especially to employees and visitors that they take environmental
responsibility seriously.
Reduce travel
Travel has a negative impact on the environment. Although it is an important
part of doing business can be substituted by tech tools like video conferencing.
Instead of travelling to a conference to get in touch with customers, schedule a
webinar and let them join online. These tech tools will not only save money of a
company but also reduce carbon emissions.
Give filtered water
Basically, water is the beverage of choice by everyone in the offices. Instead of
plastic water bottles, employees should be encouraged to bring their own
reusable cups, Businesses may add filtration to their water system to make
water available clean water to employees throughout the day.
THANK YOU BORGER ON THE BEAT!
#OSM