KORONADAL CITY -- A major mining venture in Mindanao facing stiff opposition from various groups, including a key Catholic Church bishop, is banking on its Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) to win the support of critics.
Bella Lechonsito, community development and relations superintendent of Sagittarius Mines, Inc., conceded the religious sector's opposition to the Tampakan copper and gold project.
Online memorial for Cebu's Nenita "Inday Nita" Daluz. Post testimonials here.
Marbel Diocese Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, also the chairman of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines ' National Secretariat for Social Action, has been at the forefront of anti-mining movement against Sagittarius.
In various occasions, Gutierrez warned of the huge mining venture's impact to the environment and the displacement of communities. Sagittarius operates within the diocesan territory.
"He [the bishop] is a strong antagonist, being the head of Nassa. He is concerned of the people, community...so what we are doing is to show to the bishop that we care," Lechonsito said in a media dialogue last week in Davao City.
She highlighted Sagittarius' positive contribution to the communities and the environment, which largely forms part of the company's community development programs.
Lechonsito said the firm is giving free education, books and planting trees, among others, in its project development area even if the firm is still in the stage of determining the viability of the venture.
"They are not just for PRs [public relations]," she noted, parrying perceptions among media practitioners invited to the event that CSR is nothing but mere public relations.
The event, titled "Covering CSR: A Two-way Street," was initiated by Newsbreak of the Public Trust Media Group, Incorporated with funding support from the British Embassy.
"We are planting trees to serve as buffer surrounding the development area [to protect the environment]," Lechonsito said, adding the firm has been mobilizing communities for the
environment.
Lechonsito urged companies to include in their regular budget corporate social responsibility programs "as it will augur well for the firms' development."
She expressed confidence that it will temper or neutralize opposition to their venture, which is now 62.5 percent controlled by major global mining player Xstrata Copper starting last March.
Lechonsito asserted the criticisms posed by the local Catholic Church is a big challenge "that can be tempered through the firm's corporate social responsibility projects."
Moreover, it will mount further support from those who believed in the potentials of the project, she added.
Describing CSR to be an emerging concept in the country, she said her company "is learning and redirecting" to fully adopt the concept and implement it in its operations.
Lala Rimando, Newsbreak business editor, who served as one of the speakers, said that CSR in Southeast Asia is still generally not perceived as newsworthy because it does not move the markets or would not affect prices but mere feel-good stories.
She noted that CSR by default is mere public relations, thus often relegated to the PR section of newspapers.
Rimando explained that effective CSR is not just about philanthropy but also include ethical and legal responsibilities.
"It is what you make, how you take and what you give," she noted. (BSS)
(CSR) to win the support of critics.
Bella Lechonsito, community development and relations superintendent of Sagittarius Mines, Inc., conceded the religious sector's opposition to the Tampakan copper and gold project.
Online memorial for Cebu's Nenita "Inday Nita" Daluz. Post testimonials here.
Marbel Diocese Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, also the chairman of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines ' National Secretariat for Social Action, has been at the forefront of anti-mining movement against Sagittarius.
In various occasions, Gutierrez warned of the huge mining venture's impact to the environment and the displacement of communities. Sagittarius operates within the diocesan territory.
"He [the bishop] is a strong antagonist, being the head of Nassa. He is concerned of the people, community...so what we are doing is to show to the bishop that we care," Lechonsito said in a media dialogue last week in Davao City.
She highlighted Sagittarius' positive contribution to the communities and the environment, which largely forms part of the company's community development programs.
Lechonsito said the firm is giving free education, books and planting trees, among others, in its project development area even if the firm is still in the stage of determining the viability of the venture.
"They are not just for PRs [public relations]," she noted, parrying perceptions among media practitioners invited to the event that CSR is nothing but mere public relations.
The event, titled "Covering CSR: A Two-way Street," was initiated by Newsbreak of the Public Trust Media Group, Incorporated with funding support from the British Embassy.
"We are planting trees to serve as buffer surrounding the development area [to protect the environment]," Lechonsito said, adding the firm has been mobilizing communities for the
environment.
Lechonsito urged companies to include in their regular budget corporate social responsibility programs "as it will augur well for the firms' development."
She expressed confidence that it will temper or neutralize opposition to their venture, which is now 62.5 percent controlled by major global mining player Xstrata Copper starting last March.
Lechonsito asserted the criticisms posed by the local Catholic Church is a big challenge "that can be tempered through the firm's corporate social responsibility projects."
Moreover, it will mount further support from those who believed in the potentials of the project, she added.
Describing CSR to be an emerging concept in the country, she said her company "is learning and redirecting" to fully adopt the concept and implement it in its operations.
Lala Rimando, Newsbreak business editor, who served as one of the speakers, said that CSR in Southeast Asia is still generally not perceived as newsworthy because it does not move the markets or would not affect prices but mere feel-good stories.
She noted that CSR by default is mere public relations, thus often relegated to the PR section of newspapers.
Rimando explained that effective CSR is not just about philanthropy but also include ethical and legal responsibilities.
"It is what you make, how you take and what you give," she noted. (BSS)
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