Cebu hosts international summit

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City hosts the 3rd Global CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Summit which opened yesterday morning at the Marriott Hotel, Cebu City. 

The city south was chosen site for the third Global CSR summit, held in Singapore since 2009, due to its “diversity and inventiveness.”

With its business-friendly atmosphere and policies, organizers and guests alike sees Cebu city as a promising and growing economy in south East Asia, according to the organizers.

With the growing economy of the city, organizers hope to bring to the local business industry their call for greener initiatives in terms of their products and services.

Senator Manny Villar was guest of honor and presented various awards during the summit. The senator also shared with hundreds of delegates from all over the world his journey from being a small businessman to his success as a public servant in the country.

Villar, businessman and philanthropist, introduced Senate Bill Number 1239 or the Corporate Social Responsibility Act which he authored.

The bill aims to bring the government at par among wealthy corporations in the country through CSR efforts.

Villar said this initiative will direct corporate and business organizations’ efforts towards community development, health services improvement and environmental preservation.

 The bill’s provisions are mandatory for the top 1,000 businesses in the country, and Villar said this will benefit the less-fortunate..

“The evolving times tells us that social services should not be a monopoly of the government, especially because we don’t have enough public funds to immediately solve the many problems affecting the country,” Villar said.

The 3rd Global CSR Summit will end today where several companies will receive recognitions in five special categories for environmental merit and other CSR initiatives in leadership and product designs.

The organization aims to recognize and honor “outstanding, innovative and world-class products, services, projects and programs implemented in 2010.”

Awardees are companies that displayed “corporate leadership, sincerity, and ongoing commitment in incorporating values, legal requirements and environmental concern into their respected businesses,” organizers said. 

Like our neighboring Taiwan, organizers look forward for a greener Philippine through the joint initiatives of its political leaders and corporate partners. (FREEMAN)