Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI)

Of
corporate value and outreach programs

By
Nico Erle Ciriaco

Since
1982, Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI) has been managing and implementing
Shell’s social development programs in the country. It is a pioneer in pursuing
best practice projects that respond to the needs of Shell worksites and host
communities. Pilipinas Shell, through its refinery, transforms, transports, and
sells what its upstream counterpart Malampaya (an exploration initiative with
PNOC and Chevron) finds underneath the seabed.

Its
BPO offices, which started with 50 in 2004 and rising to 3,000 at present, help
in facilitating the exchanges from the various channels. To date, Shell
operates 22 depots and 22,000 gas stores nationwide.

Cottage
industries

The
quaint town of Aborlan is where the SAKA (Sanayan sa Kakayahang Agrikultura)
farm is located. The model farm house is surrounded with cash crops, orchards,
and a fish pond. SAKA is a one-year scholarship program for rural and
out-of-school youth leading to a certificate in Agricultural Entrepreneurship
at the Western Philippines University.

The
program empowers the unschooled youth in agricultural technologies and
entrepreneurial skills designed to improve farm productivity and management,
thereby increasing the family income while honing their leadership skills and
aptitudes that will contribute to community development. Scholars are provided
with a start-up fund for their income-generating projects.

“This
project started in 1999 with the Tao’t Bato indigenous people from Rizal town.
Now, we have five tribal centers monitoring the project. We impart assessment
of the program after graduation,” informed Elsa Manarpaac, president of Western
Philippines University.

Integrated
Farming Bio-Systems (IFBS), on the other hand, is a one-week capacity building
program for training farmers on appropriate technologies; focusing on organic
farming, soil analysis, and water conservation techniques. It is basically
teaching the farmers on maximizing use of resources through an environment
friendly, market-driven, and financially-rewarding practices.

“It’s
not just about technical skills but enhancement and attitude development. We
strive to free farmers from his ‘law of the jungle’ mentality. So they
understand that the labor force is made up of people who are all part of a
team. This is what sets us apart from other initiatives,” enthused PSFI president Edgar Chua.

Outbreak
control

Kilusan
Ligtas Malaria (KLM) is a malaria-control program in Palawan that was
replicated in four other provinces since 2006. Tagged as ‘Movement Against
Malaria’ (MAM), it was expanded further to 35 other provinces around the
archipelago in 2010. In Palawan alone, there was a 92 per cent and 97 per cent
decrease in malaria cases and deaths, respectively, as of year-end 2012.

The
Malaria Awareness Day (MAD) is an assortment of malaria-preventive activities
conducted within a full-day in a specific village. Last July, mediamen as well
as PSFI volunteers met with the Batak tribes-folk, comprised of 37 families,
for the yearly LGU initiative on awareness and preventive measures to combat
malaria.

MAD
aimed to promote awareness of the fatal disease and usually starts with a short
program. The fun-filled games that ensue are geared towards preventive
measures. Lectures on the disease are also conducted to children and parents,
especially mothers. The distribution and re-treatment of mosquito nets and
blood-smearing for malaria parasites are conducted simultaneously with the
other activities.

The
site in Sitio Tagnaya, Brgy. Concepcion (one of Puerto Princesa’s far-flung
communities) is accessible through 4-wheel drive vehicles, passing by five
tributaries. There are 37 indigenous families in the community but other
indigenous groups from nearby settlements also participate. Before, the Batak
indigenous group was on the Top 5 list as most of the outbreak cases originated
from therein. But last year, they were no longer in the Top 5 watchlist.

Corollary
to the KLM and MAM campaign is the SINAG (Save, Invest, And Nurture Access to
Gleam) project, an access to energy program for remote areas and island
communities. It recognizes the needs of the people to light their homes for
ease of movement and study time for children as well as spur growth of
home-based enterprises. The donation of solar-powered lamps is one of the components
of this project.

“There
are still factors that need time to change due to culture and traditions. A lot
of things still need to be in place in the execution of the health mandate. And
we are getting there. Empowering ordinary people like Deborah Aroz to function
like a professional medical technologist to work in their respective
communities is no mean feat. Even the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in
Atlanta, Georgia asked for our project blueprint for their projects in Africa. After
MAM, the HIV/AIDS concern is the next project PSFI is eyeing,” apprised program
manager Marvi Trudeau.

The
local hospital recognizes Shell’s initiative on health services, the Impok Pang
Kalusugan (IPK), a community-based micro-insurance program that provides hospitalization
to its members. Families simply pay a P360 annual fee (or P1/day) for a
two-time hospitalization amounting to P2500, an amount they can first exhaust
before using their PhilHealth benefits.

Marine
sanctuary

The
project “Sustaining Conservation Gains in the Tubbataha Reefs National Park
(TRNP)” supports the information, education and communication activities of the
famous dive site that’s directed towards children, the Filipino youth, local
fisherfolk in Puerto Princesa and Cagayancillo as well as other nearby island
municipalities. The project’s objective is to provide information on the value
of the TRNP and the TRNP Act to increase compliance and better appreciation
towards conservation. To date, the Tubbathaha Reef remains to be at the top of must-visit
dive spots in the Philippines.

As
Shell move towards its centennial, the global company continues to help
governments in nation-building as well as in providing power sources to
communities in the countries where they operate, in a more sustainable manner.
Shell is focused on diversifying the energy mix in the country by delivering
cleaner-burning natural gas and smarter products for clean and fuel efficient
transport, and in producing smarter infrastructure while limiting CO2 emissions
and encouraging customers to do the same. The company aims to address social
concerns and work to benefit local communities, whilst protecting its
reputation while doing business.

In
all its operations, Shell and PSFI work with partners, communities, and
governments to help meet rising demand in a more sustainable manner;

sharpening its focus
on environmental management in projects and operations as well as in providing
support to programs relating to educating the youth, increasing agricultural
productivity, skills training and development, promoting road safety by
increasing awareness, and improving health care systems, among others.