Philippine Business for Social Progress
Encyclopedia
Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) is the largest corporate-led social development foundation in the Philippines
. Committed to poverty
reduction, PBSP is the first of its kind in Asia
leading the promotion and practice of corporate social responsibility
(CSR). More than 260 large, medium-scale and small businesses comprise PBSP. Together, PBSP members help the poor rise above poverty
and become self-reliant. PBSP operates nationwide, with programs in Education
, Health
, Sustainable Livelihood, Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Development, and the Environment
implemented with partners and communities as empowered players in development
. Since its inception in 1970, PBSP has benefited 4.5 million Filipinos and assisted over 6,200 social development projects through more than PHP 7 billion in grants and development loans. Leading the way in the practice of corporate citizenship, PBSP has been influencing companies to integrate CSR into their core businesses, and advocating the application of business solutions to poverty
.
(CSR) and corporate citizenship. It was modeled after the Venezuelan Dividendo Voluntario para la Comunidad, adopting self-taxation for its poverty alleviation programs.
For more than three decades, PBSP has been the business sector’s vehicle in delivering organized, professional and sustainable assistance to the Filipino poor, particularly the landless farmers, fisher folk, rural workers, urban poor and indigenous cultural communities.
Rising above traditional charity
and welfare
approaches, PBSP promotes the philosophy of efficiency, self-help
and participation in improving the quality of life
of the underprivileged.
Realizing that “helping people help themselves” was no easy task, we capitalized on our strength as a corporate-led foundation to develop our unique strategy of applying management skills and business sensibilities in our approach to social development.
In the 1980s, we focused our efforts on the poorest 15 provinces in the country where at least 40% of the families live below the poverty line, where we have been involved in the past, and where there were partner organizations we could work with.
In the 1990s, we redefined our strategy to focus on “impact areas”. We implemented the Area Resource Management (ARM) Program, the first PBSP program to consider environmental conservation as a goal and success indicator.
In the early 2000s, we started workforce development as a core strategy, asserted our role in Mindanao (specifically basic services such as health and education), and spearheaded the business sectors’ support of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
In the last half decade, we have seen an improvement from our beneficiaries in five key aspects: Livelihood, Education, Enterprise Development, Health and Water, and Area Resource Management. Most importantly, we were able to increase our assisted communities’ participation in development.
to spearhead the implementation of the business sector’s contribution to the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs). Four clusters were established to champion the causes of Poverty
, Education, Environment
and Health
.
Geared towards the realization of the MDGs, the commitments of the clusters are programs that focus on: the promotion of reproductive and family health in the workplace and in the community, creation of an integrated education program, adoption of water conservation and sustainability measures, popularization of waste reduction and management, and direct involvement of the business sector in poverty reduction
.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Committed to poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
reduction, PBSP is the first of its kind in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
leading the promotion and practice of corporate social responsibility
Corporate social responsibility
Corporate social responsibility is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model...
(CSR). More than 260 large, medium-scale and small businesses comprise PBSP. Together, PBSP members help the poor rise above poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
and become self-reliant. PBSP operates nationwide, with programs in Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, Health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
, Sustainable Livelihood, Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Development, and the Environment
Environmental quality
Environmental quality is a set of properties and characteristics of the environment, either generalized or local, as they impinge on human beings and other organisms...
implemented with partners and communities as empowered players in development
Land development
Land development refers to altering the landscape in any number of ways such as:* changing landforms from a natural or semi-natural state for a purpose such as agriculture or housing...
. Since its inception in 1970, PBSP has benefited 4.5 million Filipinos and assisted over 6,200 social development projects through more than PHP 7 billion in grants and development loans. Leading the way in the practice of corporate citizenship, PBSP has been influencing companies to integrate CSR into their core businesses, and advocating the application of business solutions to poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
.
Legacy
Founded in 1970, PBSP is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, which led a consortium of corporations in the advocacy and practice of corporate social responsibilityCorporate social responsibility
Corporate social responsibility is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model...
(CSR) and corporate citizenship. It was modeled after the Venezuelan Dividendo Voluntario para la Comunidad, adopting self-taxation for its poverty alleviation programs.
For more than three decades, PBSP has been the business sector’s vehicle in delivering organized, professional and sustainable assistance to the Filipino poor, particularly the landless farmers, fisher folk, rural workers, urban poor and indigenous cultural communities.
Rising above traditional charity
Charity (practice)
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need who are not related to the giver.- Etymology :The word "charity" entered the English language through the Old French word "charité" which was derived from the Latin "caritas".Originally in Latin the word caritas meant...
and welfare
Welfare
Welfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma of charity. This is termed "social solidarity"...
approaches, PBSP promotes the philosophy of efficiency, self-help
Self-help
Self-help, or self-improvement, is a self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis. There are many different self-help movements and each has its own focus, techniques, associated beliefs, proponents and in some cases, leaders...
and participation in improving the quality of life
Quality of life
The term quality of life is used to evaluate the general well-being of individuals and societies. The term is used in a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, and politics. Quality of life should not be confused with the concept of standard of...
of the underprivileged.
History
PBSP was established in 1970, during a period of national and economic unrest. Fifty Filipino businessmen pledged to set aside 1% of their companies’ net income before taxes to pursue poverty reduction programs. Through the Foundation, the business community’s pool of resources would create a difference in the lives of the poor.Realizing that “helping people help themselves” was no easy task, we capitalized on our strength as a corporate-led foundation to develop our unique strategy of applying management skills and business sensibilities in our approach to social development.
In the 1980s, we focused our efforts on the poorest 15 provinces in the country where at least 40% of the families live below the poverty line, where we have been involved in the past, and where there were partner organizations we could work with.
In the 1990s, we redefined our strategy to focus on “impact areas”. We implemented the Area Resource Management (ARM) Program, the first PBSP program to consider environmental conservation as a goal and success indicator.
In the early 2000s, we started workforce development as a core strategy, asserted our role in Mindanao (specifically basic services such as health and education), and spearheaded the business sectors’ support of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
In the last half decade, we have seen an improvement from our beneficiaries in five key aspects: Livelihood, Education, Enterprise Development, Health and Water, and Area Resource Management. Most importantly, we were able to increase our assisted communities’ participation in development.
Millennium development movement
PBSP has been tapped by the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
to spearhead the implementation of the business sector’s contribution to the Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
(MDGs). Four clusters were established to champion the causes of Poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, Education, Environment
Environment (biophysical)
The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...
and Health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
.
Geared towards the realization of the MDGs, the commitments of the clusters are programs that focus on: the promotion of reproductive and family health in the workplace and in the community, creation of an integrated education program, adoption of water conservation and sustainability measures, popularization of waste reduction and management, and direct involvement of the business sector in poverty reduction
Poverty reduction
Poverty is the state of human beings who are poor. That is, they have little or no material means of surviving—little or no food, shelter, clothes, healthcare, education, and other physical means of living and improving one's life....
.