201501.06

CSR in action in Balicasag, Pamilacan islands

The Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), the foundation arm of the MVP Group of Companies, has three major thrusts: education, environmental awareness and livelihood.

Around P10 million is allotted each year for projects in various areas. “Sometimes we go beyond this,” said MPIC vice president Melody Del Rosario.

The foundation is sending some 30 students at the primary level for higher education. The students are from Mano Amiga School in Taguig City. The MPIC donated P10 million to the students so they could purchase land in Parañaque City and relocate there.

Take action

In 2009, Supertyphoon “Ondoy” sharpened the environmental awareness of the foundation, and the need to take action. “We realized we should be more proactive considering the devastation that we saw and the climate change which everybody is now facing,” said the MPIC official.

There was a beach cleanup and a rescue of giant clams in the Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos, Pangasinan, followed by a similar advocacy in Siargao, Surigao del Norte.

From Luzon (Pangasinan) and Mindanao (Siargao), the MPIC-MVP Group journeyed to the Visayas recently, specifically to Balicasag Island, a well-known diving destination, and to Pamilacan Island, famed for dolphin-watching. Both islands are top tourist destinations in Bohol.

In the capital city of Tagbilaran, Commodore Geronimo Reyes gave a presentation before a large gathering on Bohol’s environmental problems and the perils of climate change. “The threats are caused by man, but the solution is in our hands,” he said.