CDO-Foodsphere, Inc and the UN Global Compact:
Our Communication on Progress
CDO-FOODSPHERE, INC. (FSI) continues to support the ten principles of the Global
Compact in respect to human rights, labour rights, the protection of the environment and anticorruption. With this updated communication, we intend to report additional efforts to promote
the Global Compact’s principles.
-- JEROME D. ONG
President & General Manager
Human Rights


Principle 1 – Businesses
should
support
and
respect the protection of
internationally proclaimed
human rights; and
Principle 2 – Make sure
that
they
are
not
complicit in human rights
abuses.
Human Rights
Principle 1
Notable activities that we have undertaken in support of
UN Global Compact’s Principles.
The activities, as discussed below, specifically addressed
Principle 1 which states that businesses should support and
respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human
rights.
On
June 4, 2005, Odyssey Foundation launched the Gabay Buhay Project, a supplemental
feeding initiative developed to help curb malnutrition among Filipino children. The children also
underwent normal preparations like weighing, deworming and vitamin supplementation. The
feeding program started with 120 undernourished children from Barangay Paso de Blas in
Valenzuela City as initial beneficiaries.
The first batch of these 120 previously underweight children, with ages three to six years,
graduated and received clean bill of health on October 15, 2005 after 64 days of supplemental
feeding, where they received food and vitamins. On December 3, 2006, another 150 previously
underweight children comprised the second batch of Gabay Buhay beneficiaries, this time from
Barangay Mapulang Lupa in Valenzuela City. On April 8, 2006, these children received health
certificates confirming that their weight have improved to normal levels. This was followed by
another batch of 160 undernourished children from Canumay, another barangay in Valenzuela,
who enrolled in the feeding program from June 13, 2006 to October 2006. On-going feeding
program covering the area of Bignay, Valenzuela City, already started last November 2006.
Another activity that
is worth mentioning was the seminar workshop conducted for Mancom
(Management Committee) members. The 2-day training, held last February 17 & 18, 2005,
560 West Service Road, Paso de Blas, Valenzuela City 1441, Philippines ● Tel.: (632)294-1111● Fax: (632)294-0682/83
Email: cdo@cdo.com.ph● Website: www.cdo.com.ph
entitled Personal Effectiveness Workshop, was only one of the scheduled series of trainings
lined-up for Mancom as part of the Management Development Program designed for them by the
Human Resources Department. The seminar itself was a manifestation of the company’s
pursuit/goal to promote and further develop and improve the competencies and skills of its
management team in order for them to effectively face the challenges of the current business
environment. The organization believes that people, as represented by the team, is the most
important of all its assets. Thus, being such, the organization finds ways to make them feel that
they are given importance and due recognition for their enormous contributions to the success of
the organization.
Similarly, the Supervisory Competency Development Program (SCDP) for Supervisory
personnel and Staff Competency Development Program (StCDP) for rank and file employees
were also launched in 2005 and continued until 2006. Like the seminar held for Mancom, these
series of trainings also address the need of supervisors as well as rank and file employees to
further develop and enhance their skills and competencies as they continue on with the
performance of their respective jobs.
While those mentioned above are only internal trainings, it is also worthwhile to note that these
are only some of the internal trainings being conducted and also, the company, aside from the
opportunities offered internally, continues to send participants to trainings outside the company
and even outside the country.
The health & safety committee was revitalized and along with it, a safety and health policy was
formulated. Awareness, education and trainings related to safety and health were undertaken.
These activities instilled in everyone the seriousness of working on improving the safety
conditions at work.
As one of the flagship programs of the DOLE-OSHC (Department of Labor & EmploymentOccupational Safety and Health Center), the company seriously adopted the Zero Accident
Program (ZAP), which essentially is the preservation and promotion of safety in the workplace.
The objective of this Standard is to protect every workingman against the dangers of injury,
sickness or death through safe and healthful working conditions, thereby assuring the
conservation of valuable manpower resources and the prevention of loss or damage to lives and
properties, consistent with national development goals and with the State's commitment for the
total development of every worker as a complete human being. The No LTA (No Lost-TimeAccident) Program was undertaken in support of ZAP. Number of days without Lost Time
Accident were measured and set, and milestone achievements are to be celebrated with
incentives back to the workers. A monitoring mechanism was also set up, so everyone looks out
for one another’s welfare.
Coordination with the city representatives of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, thru
the Philippine National Red Cross and the city Fire Department, were made which resulted in
further enhancing the training of the company’s first aide, and emergency response teams.
560 West Service Road, Paso de Blas, Valenzuela City 1441, Philippines ● Tel.: (632)294-1111● Fax: (632)294-0682/83
Email: cdo@cdo.com.ph● Website: www.cdo.com.ph
In fact, on-going seminars and workshops are continuously held to ensure that the company has
enough of said response teams. Among the seminars undertaken were the following: Industrial
First Aid & Life Support Training, Emergency Evacuation & Management Course. Along with
the above, companywide fire protection and control, earthquake drill, and evacuation drill were
held, to ensure that everyone knows what to do in emergency situations. These exercises have
helped instill in every employee the adoption of safety not only in the workplace but in their
households as well.
Other aspects of the safety and health were also promoted via education on occupational
illnesses, exposure to hazardous materials and processes, and even other family related concerns
and awareness, like reproductive health, family planning, etc.
Additional benefits approved in line with promoting employees’ welfare were the ‘Solo Parent
Benefit Policy’ wherein the company grants parental leave1 with pay and flexible work schedule
to all solo parent employees for the purpose of lending support to the employee during the times
where his/her presence is needed in performing his/her duties and responsibilities as parent
pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 8972; and the ‘Motorcycle Loan Program’ as a means to
provide assistance to employees in the acquisition of motorcycle unit to be used as a means of
transportation to and from the company. 2
Labor Standards
Labor Standards
Principle 3, 5 and 6

FSI
recognizes the union’s right as guaranteed by the
Constitution to perform a mutual obligation to meet and
convene promptly and in good faith for the purpose of
negotiating an agreement with respect to terms and conditions
of employment; and executing a contract incorporating such
agreements. The new CBA in fact was just concluded last
August 1, 2006. With this, both management and labor are
looking forward to another 5-year of industrial peace and
harmony. Meantime, on-going efforts to continuously create
better working conditions and environment keep the
cooperation alive and working.
The
company also supports the prohibition of child labor,
and therefore strictly enforces hiring of employees 18 years old



Principle 3 –
Businesses should
uphold the freedom of
association and the
effective recognition of
the right to collective
bargaining
Principle 4 – The
elimination of all forms
of forced and
compulsory labor
Principle 5 – The
effective abolition of
child labor
Principle 6 – The
elimination of
discrimination in
respect of employment
and occupation
Parental leave – refers to the leave credits granted to solo parent employee other than the agreed Sick Leave/Vacation Leave of
the company to allow him to earn compensation equivalent to a maximum of seven (7) working days without reporting for work,
provided that he will use this leave in performing his duty as a single parent or where his presence is needed by his child.
2
The vehicle must be covered by a comprehensive motorcycle insurance and using of safety gear (helmet) is required.
1
560 West Service Road, Paso de Blas, Valenzuela City 1441, Philippines ● Tel.: (632)294-1111● Fax: (632)294-0682/83
Email: cdo@cdo.com.ph● Website: www.cdo.com.ph
and above. As additional proof of this, the average age of employees is between 21 to 28 years
old. The company has also incorporated in its Suppliers Accreditation and Audit Program the
prohibition of child labor, as one of its requirements to ensure that only qualified employees
engage in the supply of its products and materials. Further, in cases, where the company needs
to engage the services of child endorsers, in the matter of its TV and print advertisements,
necessary permits and contracts are secured and executed, and other stringent requirements from
the Department of Labor are followed, to ensure that the children’s rights are protected. We also
see to it that personal care is taken, and a safe environment is promoted whenever the children
are around.
The company also promotes non-discrimination in employee recruitment, whether in gender,
age, religion or physical ability, even education. We have in fact some employees with slight
disabilities, and yet are productive employees. As also practiced, while the celebration of the
mass are held for Catholics, ecumenical services are also held for other Christian brothers and
sisters. A testament that religion is not discriminated against. At the same time, it can be said
that even education is not discriminated against, for the company continue to employ people who
are challenged in that area, and have in fact continued to support these employees in personal
development so they can at least keep abreast, and have proven not only their loyalty but their
productivity in their areas of specialization.
Environment



Principle 7 – Businesses
should
support
a
precautionary
approach
to
environmental
challenges
Principle 8 – Undertake
initiatives
to
promote
greater
environmental
responsibility
Principle 9 – Encourage
the
development
and
diffusion
of
environmentally friendly
technologies
Environment
Principle 8 & 9
Care for the environment is also evidenced by compliance to
DENR requirements of clean air and water. The company
in fact just recently was given a 5-year permit to operate its
“anti-air and water pollution” devices, effective January 5,
2007 to August 28, 2011. By itself, it helps promote and
instill not only consciousness but more so commitment from
management and its employees.
560 West Service Road, Paso de Blas, Valenzuela City 1441, Philippines ● Tel.: (632)294-1111● Fax: (632)294-0682/83
Email: cdo@cdo.com.ph● Website: www.cdo.com.ph
Anti-Corruption
Principle 10
Anti-Corruption
company has also endeavored to work against
corruption, in whatever form, an example of which is the
 Principle
10
–
pursuit of justice in the case of the “extortion” case
Businesses
should
against one attorney and broadcaster. Hard as it maybe,
work against all forms
the company tries to set an example so that others will
of corruption, including
not suffer the same aggravation the company was
extortion and bribery.
exposed to due to the workings of the mind of an
unscrupulous individual. To date, the Integrated Bar of
the Philippines (IBP) has already released a resolution adopting and approving a two-year
suspension from the practice of law, of the person charged with actuations constituting
deceitful conduct (internally coined as the “Batas” case). The case is now with the Supreme
Court for final ruling.
The
With the above, FSI continues to endeavor towards continuously trying to improve itself, and
help promote the ten principles of the Global Compact. And in so doing, helps provide not only
a better and safe workplace, but one that its employees can be truly proud of.
560 West Service Road, Paso de Blas, Valenzuela City 1441, Philippines ● Tel.: (632)294-1111● Fax: (632)294-0682/83
Email: cdo@cdo.com.ph● Website: www.cdo.com.ph