PMFTC environmental proj wins awards

MANILA, Philippines - An environmental project of PMFTC Inc. (Philip Morris-Fortune Tobacco Corp.) for tobacco farmers in Northern Luzon won the prestigious and much coveted Environmental Responsibility Program of the Year award in the 2011 International Business Awards for Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

The International Business Awards, more popularly known as the Stevie Awards, is a global, all-encompassing business awards program honoring great performances in business.

The award-giving body said PMFTC’s “Reforestation through Cooperative Organizing & Capability Building for Tobacco Farmers” bested more than 3,000 entries from 40 nations.

“Belonging to the winners’ circle is a major feat for us,” said PMFTC president Chris Nelson. “It means we are on the right track with our multi-faceted ‘Embrace’ program.”

Embrace represents the company’s contributions in education, environment, livelihood, health, and disaster relief.

The seed of its environment project started in 2001, when Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. (PMPMI) embarked on a massive reforestation program that involved its leaf suppliers as well as non-government organizations and public schools in the Ilocos region and other parts of the country.

Nicknamed the Stevie® for the Greek word “crowned,” the award was presented to honorees at a gala event last Oct. 11 at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.