LCF sets out priorities for 2023 CSR Expo

Green light for a greener present and future, the 2023 CSR Expo—the much-anticipated annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) event in the country organized by the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF), as part of the nationwide commemoration, of which LCF is the lead, of National CSR Week—is all set for July 4 to 7 at the Makati Diamond Residences and the Palm Drive Activity Center in Makati City. 

The 21st edition of the CSR Expo aims to bring together companies from various sectors–corporate and private foundations, private sector, non-government organizations, civil society, academe, and government agencies–to expand networks, strengthen collaboration, and learn about the latest models, trends, and best practices in CSR. 

“The pandemic has intensified issues of climate change and food security, and the need for disaster-resilient communities. Significant future-ready education for Filipino children has also become a more pressing concern today than ever before.” ~Sebastian C. Quiniones, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the LCF and Executive Director of Pilipinas Shell Foundation

This year’s theme of the CSR Expo, “From Extra to Essential,” acts as a continuation of last year’s theme and is a rallying cry for the business sector to lead and challenge the business sector to fully embody the principles of good corporate citizenship to achieve sustainability through accountable governance and strict compliance with legal requirements. 

“We turn to CSR to help us integrate principles of sustainability and accountability in our everyday work. The 21st CSR Expo is taking last year’s theme forward to emphasize that good and accountable citizenship and environmental stewardship are imperative for organizations to drive change and to achieve long-term sustainability.” ~Shem Jose Garcia, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of LCF and Executive Director of Vivant Foundation

Diverse perspectives 

The 2023 CSR Conference is set from July 4-6 at the Legazpi Ballroom of the Makati Diamond Residences. The Conference will feature a strong speaker panel composed of thought leaders from various industries and sectors to offer diverse perspectives on how to create real value through effective CSR practice and environment, social, and governance (ESG) compliance. 

These include H.E. Juha Markus Pyykko, Ambassador of Finland to the Philippines; Maria Divina De Leon, Principal Technical Expert at Shell International, B.V.; Aleli Arcilla, Vice President and Country Managing Director at Mondelez International; Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, head of the National Economic Development Authority; Ma. Victoria Tan, Chairperson of the Global Compact Network Philippines; and Secretary Rex Gatchalian, head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 

The members of LCF organize themselves into various Committees anchored on knowledge-sharing, partnership building and resource-leveraging. Each Committee will organize a Session during the Conference that will take the theme forward in their own contexts and will feature their own set of speakers and unique format specifically chosen to engender audience discussion and thought. Committee Sessions at the 2023 CSR Conference include: Enterprise Development: “Responsible Investing: Driving the ESG Agenda in Enterprise Development”; Environment: “Opportunities and Challenges for Nature-Based Solutions”; Education: “Learning for the Future: the Role of ESG in Education”; and Disaster Resilience: “ESG+R: Think Resilience”.

Recognition of CSR excellence

The awarding ceremonies of the 4th CSR Guild Awards will be awarded on July 6. The Award is conferred on organizations that have developed outstanding CSR projects which created a positive impact to the communities they serve after a rigorous  nomination, screening, and judging process by a panel of judges. There will be eight awards to be bestowed under two major categories: seven Program awards (Arts & Culture, Enterprise Development, Environment, Education, Health, Financial Inclusion, and Disaster Resilience) and one Collaboration Awards that showcases initiatives organized by two or more LCF members or partnerships.

A full-day CSR Exhibit will also be held from July 6-7 at the Glorietta Activity Center, one of the most popular malls in the country, to feature diverse CSR initiatives of various exhibitors, including those organized by LCF non-members, to a large public audience. 

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2023 CSR Expo is slated for a full in-person event to offer unique experiences that are difficult to replicate virtually. 

For more information contact: Christian Sanchez, Communications Officer, League of Corporate Foundations - communications@lcf.org.ph.

BPI SEAL empowers micro and small enterprises for sustainable growth

BPI Foundation extends opportunities to micro and small enterprises through its new program, SEAL-SEGA.

BPI Foundation, the social development arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) today, launched a program for the development of local micro and small enterprises (MSEs) called BPI Small Enterprise Acceleration Lab (SEAL), with its first track, Small Enterprise Growth Agenda (SEGA), in partnership with Bayan Academy.  

BPI SEAL-SEGA is a search for start-up businesses that are ready to develop their viable business ventures.  This project is designed to meet the needs of start-up businesses through training, mentoring sessions, and cash grants. The training program aims to help the startups assess their enterprise’s products, services, operations, and marketing and assist them in developing their start-up enterprise development plan.

Photo shows, clockwise from upper left: DTI Undersecretary of Regional Operations Group Blesila A. Lantayona, BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen Cammayo, Start Up Village President Carlo Calimon, and Bayan Academy President and Chairman Prof. Francisco “Jay” Bernardo.

“It’s no secret that the past two years have been extra tough for the entire business community, most especially for the Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) which faced multiple challenges including the lack of funds to maintain their businesses after a series of lockdowns. To help address the pressing need for an intervention and spur growth to the MSE sector, we are excited to kick-off the pilot run of the BPI SEAL-SEGA.” ~Owen Cammayo, BPI Foundation Executive Director

In 2020, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported that 99.51% of all businesses across the country belong to the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector.  Micro enterprises account for 88.77%, while 10.25% are small enterprises.   

According to a study conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies in 2018, this sector continues to struggle in the value chain, primarily due to lack of access to finance, labor and technical and management know-how. SEAL-SEGA aims to help bridge the gaps.

“Startups proved to us that crisis can also be a strong driving force for creativity and innovation. If this new normal has taught us anything, it is harnessing the benefits of digital technologies and transformation that could be an opportunity to create sustainable and adaptable businesses.” ~Blesila A. Lantayona, DTI Undersecretary of Regional Operations Group

Fifty (50) MSEs will be chosen to join the boot camps and showcase their plans through a business pitch to a panel of judges.  The Top 1–10 will receive a cash grant of P100,000 each, while the Top 11–20 will bring home Php50,000 each.

“BPI SEAL SEGA is dedicated to helping startups sustain, develop and scale up their businesses. We are here to be part of the nation-building efforts that SMEs have been providing us.” ~Prof. Francisco “Jay” Bernardo, Bayan Academy President and Chairman

The business challenge is open to start-up entrepreneurs who are 18 years old and above, and whose enterprise’s asset size is Php1 million and below. The application period will run until July 15, 2022.

To know more about SEAL, visit https://bpifoundation.org/page/bpi-seal-sega and follow BPI Foundation on Facebook and Instagram.  

BPI Sinag evolves to achieve more inclusive and sustainable growth

BPI Foundation remains committed to be at the forefront of social entrepreneurship in the country through its Sinag program.

BPI Foundation, the social development arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), officially launched the 8th iteration of its flagship program, BPI Sinag, which champions the social enterprise (SE) sector in the country. 

With this year’s theme: BPI Sinag Evolution, the program aims to elevate its impact and achieve inclusive and sustainable growth by implementing for the first time, a multi-stakeholder approach, highlighting three vital pillars: the social entrepreneurs, the educators, and the intervenors or sub-sectors. BPI Foundation has committed Php3 million worth of cash grants for these pillars this year.

BPI Sinag Evolution is also aligned with the National Social Enterprise Development Roadmap, one of the accomplishments of Sinag Spark last year, translating the roadmap strategies into viable programs. 

Introduced in 2015, the BPI Sinag program was initially conceived as a business challenge for social enterprises (SEs). It has now evolved into a growing ecosystem that continues to bring together not just the country’s visionary entrepreneurs, but also mentors, investors, and other stakeholders with a collective goal of inclusive and sustainable growth through social entrepreneurship. 

Over the years, the program has supported 238 SEs nationwide and awarded over Php20 million cash grants to help them strengthen their enterprises, widen their reach, and further uplift the lives of their communities.

Owen Cammayo, BPI Foundation Executive Director

“Evolution best represents the enhancements in our Sinag program over time to better address the needs of the broader SE ecosystem. Doing well by doing good as an economic and social imperative is more relevant now more than ever. This is the perfect time to increase our collective efforts to become more inclusive, responsible, and sustainable when doing business. This is the essence why we strongly support social enterprises.” ~Owen Cammayo, BPI Foundation Executive Director

Delighted to continue its long-time partnership with BPI Foundation in empowering social enterprises. 

Prof. Francisco “Jay” Bernardo, Bayan Academy President and Chairman

“BPI Foundation together with Bayan Academy and other program partners will contribute and make available suitable resources to assist social enterprises in their journey to evolve. The BPI Sinag Evolution program fully supports the promotion of an enabling environment so social enterprises cannot just merely survive, and it doesn’t stop at thriving, but also allowing them to evolve.” ~Prof. Francisco “Jay” Bernardo, Bayan Academy President and Chairman

During the virtual launch, four Sinag alumni, JT Solis of Mayani, Catherine Diquit of Likhang Maragondon, Cecille Virtucio of Batangas Egg Producers Cooperation, and Lorielinda Bella Rago-Marte of Tagolwanen Women Weavers Association also talked about their experiences on how the program helped grow their social enterprises.

Ms. Catherine Diquit of Likhang Maragondon

“Kami ay maliit na social enterprise lamang and we are only months-old noong sumali kami dito. Because of BPI Sinag, we had a better understanding kung ano ba ang social enterprise. We met so many inspiring people. Nagkaroon kami ng better connections and network. The funding that we got from BPI Sinag really help us kasi ngayon nakapagpagawa na kami ng manufacturing hub.” ~Ms. Catherine Diquit of Likhang Maragondon

Together with its main implementing partner, Bayan Academy, BPI Foundation will continue its partnerships with BPI’s microfinance arm, BPI BanKo, together with Ayala Land, Start Up Village, and Villgro Philippines. As part of the program’s evolution, the foundation also sealed a collaboration with Entrego to boost the market access of SEs by providing reliable logistic solutions for the safe and timely delivery of their products.

Business challenge for social enterprises

The “Sinag Evolution” business challenge will open its doors again to social enterprises. Of 60 SEs who will qualify for the bootcamps and mentoring sessions, the Top 25 will be shortlisted for the selection of the Top 10, who will receive as much as Php300,000 cash grant.

Aside from the cash grants, BPI Foundation will provide Sinag SEs with an MBA-like experience through virtual mentoring sessions, which will include sessions on business strategy and planning, marketing, operations, finance, organization & HR development, and social innovation, among others. Sinag SEs will also benefit from market access through the Sinag Sari-Sari Store in Ayala malls nationwide through its partnership with Alagang Ayala Land.

The business challenge is open to social entrepreneurs who are 18 years old and above leading a registered social enterprise that has been operating for at least six months. The application period will run until June 30, 2022. 

New offerings for the academe and sub-sectors

With the multi-stakeholder approach, the “Sinag Evolution” will also give opportunities to the members of the academe and the support intervenors of SEs through a customized management program and competition.

Aiming to encourage academic institutions to be at the active forefront of social entrepreneurship, BPI Foundation offers the BPI Sinag Social Entrepreneurship and Management Course for Educators. The course, which will focus on effective methodologies in teaching social entrepreneurship management, is open to the members of the academe, including school heads, administrators, and lead teachers who specialize in general entrepreneurship and business management. 

The deadline for applications is on June 10, 2022, while the training will be from June 13 to 17. The participating educators will then submit their proposals and present them to an esteemed panel of judges. Five educators with the best proposals will win a cash grant of Php100,000 each.

For the SE Intervenors and Subs-sectors, BPI Foundation aims to collaborate with various organizations, including corporate foundations, NGOs, civil society organizations, and other government agencies, in promulgating social entrepreneurship as part of their corporate social responsibility programs.

The participants will be given the chance to learn about social entrepreneurship management and frameworks that may be used as interventions in the community that they support. In addition, they will be asked to present proposals to integrate social entrepreneurship in their existing programs to achieve better social impact in the communities they serve. 

Interested participants may register until August 12, 2022, while the five-day bootcamp will be held from August 22 to 26. Five participants with the most viable proposals will win a cash grant of Php100,000 each.

To know more about Sinag Evolution, visit https://www.bpifoundation.org/page/bpi-sinag and follow BPI Foundation on Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT BPI FOUNDATION

The story of empowerment is at the center of BPI Foundation’s work. It is our commitment to enable underserved communities with financial knowledge and access to spur responsible and sustainable growth and progress for Filipinos. 

BPI donates 94 computers to public schools in Muntinlupa

Photo shows, from left: BPI Director Ignacio “Toting” Bunye, BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen Cammayo, Poblacion Elementary School (POBES) Principal IV Dr. Raul T. Felix, Muntinlupa Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Dominico Idanan CESO V, POBES GPTA President Jackelyn Inople, and POBES Faculty President Milagros Barroga during the turnover of computer units in Poblacion Elementary School, Muntinlupa City.

Aligned with its sustainability push, BPI, through its social development arm, BPI Foundation, committed to donating 94 used but functional computer units to four public schools in Muntinlupa City. 

“One of BPI's key business priorities for 2022 and beyond is to champion sustainability. We believe that doing well by doing good is key to building a sustainable and better Philippines. This donation is also our way of supporting our public school teachers and students by providing them additional access to online learning amid these trying times.” ~Owen Cammayo, BPI Foundation Executive Director

For the first leg, 26 desktops and two laptops were turned over to Poblacion Elementary School, which has 144 faculty members and more than 5,000 students, with most of them from relocated families. 

Dr. Dominic Idanan, the Muntinlupa Schools Division Superintendent noted that technology has become an important platform for learning during this time of the pandemic.

“These gadgets can help a lot and contribute to the quality education of our students.” ~Dr. Dominic Idanan, the Muntinlupa Schools Division Superintendent

Meanwhile, the remaining computer units will be distributed to Itaas Elementary School, Muntinlupa National High School, and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa in the coming weeks. 

To know more about BPI Foundation, follow its Facebook and Instagram pages and visit www.bpifoundation.org.  

Mapúa, BPI Foundation to offer scholarship to next of kin of deceased health frontliners



 

The Pagpugay Scholarship Fund aims to support the college education of the deserving next of kin of deceased medical frontliners such as doctors, nurses, medical technologists, community health workers, and administrative, utility, and support service personnel in health facilities.

 

Mapúa University has partnered with BPI Foundation to offer scholarship to next of kin of medical frontliners who passed away in the line of duty in the fight against COVID-19.

 

“Pagpugay,” which is a five-year scholarship program with an initial P1-million fund per school year, will choose 10 scholars who will be supported annually until the completion of their academic programs based on the scholarship program’s renewal guidelines.

 

Children of the deceased frontliners will be the priority beneficiaries of the program. If the frontliners were single and had no children, the beneficiaries can be next of kin up to second degree of consanguinity.

“iPeople and its network of schools are one with the bigger academic community in the advocacy to uplift the lives amid and through COVID-19. We are happy to open the Pagpugay Scholarship Program to our students from Mapúa, Malayan Colleges Laguna and Mindanao, National Teachers College, and University of Nueva Caceres. We hope that through education, our scholars will, in turn, use their knowledge and future expertise to build a better place for Filipinos and humankind, just like their parents so selflessly did.” ~Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, Mapúa and iPeople President

 

Qualified scholars will receive a maximum amount of P100,000 per academic year to cover tuition and other school fees for regular academic term.

 

Participating in Pagpugay Scholarship Fund are other iPeople schools, namely, Malayan Colleges Laguna, Malayan Colleges Mindanao, National Teachers College, and University of Nueva Caceres.

 

For more information on the requirements and the application process, visit the website of Mapúa University at www.mapua.edu.ph. Deadline of submission of applications is on July 10, 2020.