Business and social conscience

In a study done by the UK-based InternationalCenter for Corporate SocialResponsibility, it was concluded that Asian businesses, including those in the Philippineshave not done enough to alleviate social ills commensurate to their size.

There is a stark contrast between the state of corporatephilanthropy here in the Philippines,and in the United Statesand even in other countries, where businesses have taken their corporategift-giving in a more systematic, organized and focused manner.

For instance, the Ford Foundation’s Peace and SocialJustice arm has been instrumental in strengthening advocacy groups, supportingresearch and promoting outreach and education efforts. Overall, the foundation has distributed $15billion worldwide and gives 2,000 grants annually for programs that includeasset building and community development, peace and social justice, knowledge generation and health.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, founded in 2000 bythe Microsoft mogul and his wife, has paid $916 million in grants for globalhealth in 2006, according to its latest financial statement. Its total grants paid in 2006 amounted to$1.56 billion for programs on education, technology, biodiversity, and to fightpoverty in Africa, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis andneglected diseases.

Another example, the Rockefeller Foundation, provides ahuge amount of grants to Southeast Asia inresponse to emerging cross-border threats of crime, drugs and infectiousdiseases, including HIV/AIDS. Its pioneering support to rice research through IRRI has staved off mass hunger in Asia.

Similarly, the foundation founded by American mediamagnate Ted Turner of CNN has had 675 grants amounting to US $ 69.7 millionsince its inception in 1990. Its focus is on protecting natural habitats, wildlife and biodiversity for sustainable living.

Of course, these huge sums are at a whole differentleague from what is possible to pool together in our country. But the point that must be stressed is that corporate giving does make a difference.

The philosophy behind corporate social responsiblity is that people are more than consumers, more than laborers, more than hired help. It acknowledges that businesses and people belong to one society, and that we are all responsible for the well-being of one another, beyond business and beyond politics.