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I attended a conference two weeks back of an
organization whose member—companies are among the bigger and more
successful corporations in the country. The organization’s primary
objective is to generate programs and activities among its members
to have a more effective and efficient contribution to the social
responsibility challenge among the companies in its fold. The annual
conference is meant to bring together people and organizations of
like-minded persuasion to foster greater awareness as well as
institute more programs in helping alleviate the social issues
facing the country today.
It is good that big businesses in
the country have realized the need for them to be involved in
alleviating the social challenges the country is grappling with.
These are issues about providing proper education, alleviating
poverty, addressing environmental concerns, among others.
Traditionally arrogated for the government to address, there is the
realization that the problems facing the country are much bigger for
the government to address alone. As responsible corporate citizens,
businesses are going beyond their boardrooms and offices to provide
a helping hand in a lot of areas of societal concerns.
One of the conference discussants
detailed how the organization has grown its efforts and
contributions towards this end. It was mentioned that from the
period 1997 to 2001, P7 billion was spent for social programs. The
amount jumped to P18 billion for the 2002 to 2007 period. Most of
the efforts were focused on interventions in education and the
environment. The figures cited were nothing to scoff at considering
the increase not only in the amount itself but also in the programs
created in helping out in the problem areas mentioned.
The Good Book says whatever you
do to the least of your brethren, you do it for me. I am sure there
is much appreciation among people whose lives were touched by the
social programs initiated and sustained by the organization. But the
Good Book also says that to those much is given, much is also
expected. How much profit and what was the net worth of the
organization’s members for the period 1997 to 2007 and how does
the P25 billion spent for social programs relate to the metrics
cited? That was a performance measure conveniently not mentioned by
the discussant, as I am sure it would have raised similar concerns
being raised here.
It is appropriate for the
organization’s members to ask themselves, “How much is
enough?” They are not being asked to solve the ills of society but
if corporate help is forthcoming, in the allocation of resources for
the social programs, are they going to be like the widow in the Good
Book who just gave several cents, but she gave from the very little
of what she had, or like the wealthy person who gave much but gave
from his surplus?
Some sectors are challenging big
business to go beyond the public relations, feel-good impact of
their philanthropic and social responsibility efforts but look in
earnest on how they can have a meaningful and sustaining impact in
contributing to the welfare of the poor and the lesser privileged.
Another discussant in fact
challenged the organization that they can do more since she
mentioned that Philippine businesses’ surplus is twice corporate
employee income. In the US, the discussant said the reverse holds.
This affirms that businesses here can do much more in terms of
helping ameliorate the social inequity pervading our society.
Much has been done but much work
still has to be accomplished. I look forward to the future
activities, programs and metrics of the organization to see if they
will continue to push the envelope further in touching more Filipino
lives with the tremendous resources at their disposal.
The author teaches at the
Ramon V. del Rosario Sr. Graduate School of Business of De La Salle
University-Manila’s College of Business and Economic. He welcomes
comments at berinod@dlsu.edu.ph
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