Asia CEO, World Vision launch CSR Company of the Year Award

The Asia CEO Awards (ACA) and World Vision Development Foundation (WVDF) are set to recognize organizations in the business community which have embraced and exemplified their commitment to society through corporate social responsibility (CSR).

WVDF National Director Rommel V. Fuerte said the child-focused humanitarian organization is delighted to launch the CSR Company of the Year award at the 11th Asia CEO Awards.

“As our country navigates the new normal, it is imperative that we appreciate the efforts of our partners supporting education, health and nutrition, economic development, disaster risk reduction, child protection and many other contributions to society,” Fuerte added.

ACA Chairman Richard Mills said that “through Asia CEO Awards, the largest business awards in the Asia Pacific Region, the whole country can acknowledge the most accomplished leadership teams and individuals who have demonstrated outstanding successes for their organizations and good will to others.”

Collaboration for COVID-19 Emergency Response

Responding to the current health emergency, World Vision together with its partners has served and assisted over five million people nationwide.

Through the efforts of corporate companies namely St. Theresa’s College of Quezon City HS Alumni Batch ’83, Accenture, Aidea Inc., BHP Shared Services Philippines, Inc., ChekHup, Colgate Palmolive, ComCo Southeast Asia, DTCC, Ellite Ads Corporation, Emerson Electric (Asia) Ltd., Frankie & Friends, GCash, Giftaway, Gifted PH, Grab Philippines, ING Foundation, Inc., and Investagrams, World Vision was able to deploy 17 triage tents and two giant tent halls to hospitals, as well as, provided basic Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the frontliners.

Support from other partners from Lazada, Lexus Manila, Inc., Ligo, Medtronic Philippines, Inc., Merck Inc., Microsourcing, Mirth & Yift, Mondelez, PayMaya, PCCW Solutions, Inc., Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc., Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., Seaoil Philippines, Inc., Security Bank, Shopee, Storm Technologies, Inc., ticket2me, Unilever, and Zalora enabled World Vision's response team to provide families with sanitation kits which contained cleaning alcohol, mouthwash, face mask, and reading materials about hygiene and handwashing.

Disinfectant kits were also supplied to the health facilities in the poorest of the poor communities. To assist those who lost their income, unconditional cash distribution was implemented for the most affected families. About 52 tons of fresh vegetable were also distributed to families.

Finding Purpose in the Age of Pandemic

According to one the learning sessions of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) where WVDF is a part of, solutions that address today’s shifting business mindsets and customer habits are found in companies’ brand purpose, and that what you do to help today will define how people will see you post COVID-19.

Norman Agatep, the president of PRSP, the country's premier organization for communication and public relations (PR) professionals, advised that as companies implement marketing strategies and CSR, they  must remember that first, businesses should protect and support employees and customers as their baseline response to the crisis; second, they should lean towards public service and demonstrate compassion to the communities where they operate.

“Even after the pandemic is over, people will be beyond grateful to companies that have helped spur the economy and have channeled resources to those who can assist in this time of COVID-19,” Agatep added.

Who can join?

ACA President Rebecca Bustamante said “this is a chance for business people to show how driven they are in leading this country back to employment and prosperity for all Filipinos.”

The award is open to corporate and non-corporate organizations with existing CSR programs, with majority of demonstrable results, major new activities or initiatives should have occurred within the current calendar year but may have begun earlier. Entries will be judged according to the following criteria: Leadership Commitment, Sustainability, Workforce Involvement, Relevance and Social Impact.

To nominate entries and to see the complete list of categories and judges, visit www.asia-ceo-awards.org/nominations or like www.facebook.com/AsiaCeoAwards. Deadline for the submission of entries is on August 14, 2020, while the awards night will be on October 13, 2020.

About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, their families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by its Christian faith and values, it is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people. It serves and collaborates with all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.