CSR pushed as key unit of businesses

CEBU, Philippines — Businesses are urged to seriously incorporate corporate social responsible (CSR) in their businesses, as one of the key departments.

The Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) is now promoting the adaption of inclusive CSR that will contribute to sustainable economic development.

In a statement, Jose Roland Moya, ECOP director-general said that responsible business is now important in the highly competitive environment.

Businesses should not only implement CSR as a seasonal program, but it has to be part of a company’s organizational structure.

However, CSR departments in the Philippines should focus on programs that are geared towards responsible business behavior, improving working conditions, productivity and competitiveness in the labor market in the Philippines.

Moya noted that in recent years, the concept of CSR has evolved into a strategic business tool for sustainable development under the triple bottom line concept.

Moya added that environmental, social and economic concerns are considered integral in the companies’ decision making processes.

Meanwhile, in a separate interview with Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) Visayas Regional executive committee chairman and trustee Jose Antonio Y. Aboitiz, he said that CSR nowadays has become mainstream, which means businesses are embracing the CSR practice.

However, it is also important that companies can be professionally guided on how to effectively implement CSR programs, like environmental compliance and engage employees in the spirit of voluntarism, among others.

“By introducing the concept of inclusive business, we provide a new mode of expressing corporate citizenship that creates shared value—enabling business to fulfill its profit goals while affecting positive change in the lives of the poor,” Aboitiz said.

Traditionally, CSR has been perceived as an act of kindness or philanthropic act of a company, donations given to poor communities or orphanages, and other vulnerable sectors of the society.

Moya said the new type of inclusive and sustainable CSR approach in the Philippines is based on principles enshrined in international instruments and guidelines.

These include the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) declaration concerning multinational enterprises (MNE) on employment, training, conditions of work and life and industrial relations; United Nation’s guiding principles on business and human rights; and guidance for MNE on responsible business conduct: human rights, employment, labor, environment, anti-corruption and consumer interest.

“Profit is still a bottom line,” Moya said. “Decent work is not at war with productivity and competitiveness.”