In search of success stories

In search of success stories
Manila Standard Today
June 28, 2010


The administration that will begin in the middle of this week will have five years to go before 2015—the year of reckoning in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The goals were set in 2000 by 189 countries, including the Philippines, at a United Nations summit.

The goals: 1) end extreme poverty and hunger; 2) achieve universal primary education; 3) promote gender equality and empower women; 4) reduce child mortality; 5) improve maternal health; 6) combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; 7) ensure environmental sustainability and 8) develop a global partnership for development.

According to the UN, the Philippines has made “considerable progress” in some of the goals, particularly Goals 4, 6 and 7. Infant and under-5 mortality rates, as well as malaria morbidity rates, have been steadily decreasing. Safe drinking water has become available to 87.9 percent of Filipinos while 85.9 percent of the population now has access to sanitary toilet facilities, according to the Family Income and Expenditure Survey.

But more needs to be done. The UN’s 2009-2010 Asia-Pacific Regional Report says the Philippines remains off-track in more than 40 percent of 21 indicators (see www.undp.org.ph for a detailed presentation). Almost a third of Filipinos still live on less than $1 a day and 5.2 million of children are out of school. Eleven mothers die every day from pregnancy-related causes. The incidence of HIV has increased five-fold from just from 2007 to 2009.

Indeed the country needs to work double time to achieve targets in the eradication of poverty, the achievement of universal primary education and the improvement of maternal health.

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The common mistake, however, is believing that the government is solely responsible for the achievement of the goals. Nothing could be further from the truth.

A 2008 publication of the United Millennium Campaign features four success stories in working towards the attainment of these goals. The campaign says that while the government (supply side) covers policy formulation, resource allocation and program implementation, private and non-profit sectors, civil society groups and citizens themselves form the demand side of the equation.

Only when both groups have social accountability,with each acknowledging its part and becoming involved, can there be some measure of success.

The four success stories are those of the Special Congressional Committee on MDGs, Social Watch Philippines, the Philippine Business for Social Progress, and the local government of Pasay City.

The congressional committee sought to increase legislators’ awareness of the millennium targets among legislators and monitored the progress of MDG-related bills in the legislative mill.

Social Watch Philippines, a network of citizens’ organizations, noted that the government-prepared MDG accomplishment reports tend to highlight, well, accomplishments. It came up with the Quality of Life Index which presented information not otherwise revealed in aggregate macro-economic data. It organized local and national forums for building awareness of the millennium goals. It also sought to include citizens’ organizations in preparing budgets by proposing the Alternative Budget Index. As a result, the 2007 budget for education was increased by P5.5 billion while the 2008 budget for social services.

The Philippine Business for Social Progress, on the other hand, tried to introduce the concept of social investment to its member-corporations, encouraging them to align their corporate social responsibility activities with meeting the goals. It also tapped the private sector’s help to bridge the gaps in MDG financing.

Finally, there is the city government of Pasay, hounded by problems of urban poverty and solid waste management, which sought to bring the MDGs to each household by introducing the concept of Family MDGs—simple, easy-to-understand basic targets that each family can aspire to. For example, “We have jobs.”; “All our children go to school.”; “All our children are healthy.”; “We keep our home and surroundings clean.”

To complement the family MDGs, the city government came up with a community-based monitoring system that assesses the families in terms of the survival (food and nutrition, sanitation), security (shelter, peace and order) and enabling (income, employment, education). By bringing the otherwise nebulous and multi-syllabic concept of the millennium development goals to families at the level of day-to-day operations, productive engagement is encouraged.

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Other tales of success are welcome. This year, the Millennium Campaign office is again in search of stories of initiatives which have made a tangible impact on the MDGs. In identifying what these initiative are and how they have worked, there is a better chance that they can be scaled up or replicated in other areas to affect more people. Hence, progress will be made in the goals, not just in some, and not just in the more progressive cities and municipalities but all over the country.

Millennium Campaign Communications Associate Rhea Alba is optimistic that more cases will be received this time around as the self-imposed deadline looms and as more and more people become aware of these basic goals. Aside from replication, the idea is to minimize disparity among regions within a country and among different countries. The achievement of the goals, after all, is a universal effort.

The chosen case studies, not only from the Philippines but from the region, will then be compiled into a publication to be distributed in global and regional civil society events including the United Nations MDG Review Summit in September. It is said that the Philippine president will be attending this summit.

Deadline for the submission of case studies is on July 9. Visit the Web sites www.asiapacific.endpoverty2015.org and ph.one.un.org/standup. for details of the search.

Unilever works for the ‘greener good’

Unilever works for the ‘greener good’
Malaya Business Insight
June 10, 2010


The campaign to conserve the environment continues to get stronger, especially with the help of top organizations that take the advocacy to heart by implementing concrete, replicable measures.

In the business sector, Unilever Philippines has been at the forefront of environmental campaigns, working with other groups to create a lasting "green" impact.

In the recent Earth Day celebration, the multinational corporation’s Philippine office was recognized for its green projects. At the first Zero Basura Olympics—a competition that showcased the best "green" practices—it was one of two companies declared Grandmaster awardees. It was also declared the Green Technology Champion. The recognition came in light of Unilever’s pioneering effort of having shredded plastic packaging recycled into bricks and pavers that help build community homes.

"Being a global business means recognizing our bigger role in caring for the environment. This is something all of us in Unilever will not compromise," said Ali Gokcelik, vice president for Supply Chain, Unilever Philippines. "Unilever aims to bring vitality to communities with (our) products and services…so the environmental agenda is a priority all the time… We commit to ensure that our operations do not pollute and (that our operations) encourage others in the community to do the same."

The Zero Basura Olympics aims to inspire more organizations to implement comprehensive programs that will positively impact the environment. It also aims to showcase such efforts so that the public may be aware of greener alternatives and help them make greener decisions. Following the declaration of winners for the business sector, the organizers will confer awards on local governments and NGOs. The Zero Basura Olympics is a project of the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Philippine Business for the Environment, Earth Day Network Philippines, Pollution Control Association of the Philippines, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Solid Waste Management Commission.

The award affirms Unilever’s commitment to caring for the environment through comprehensive, long-range and sustained efforts. Apart from the plastic sachet project, the company has been showcasing its concern for nature through long-standing multi-sectoral partnerships in various water initiatives .

Every contribution is vital in the fight against climate change—this is the idea behind the 10 Million Movement (10MM) which Unilever supports. The advocacy hopes to encourage everyone—individuals and groups alike—to commit to doing something for the environment and register it online.

"We really feel that we are running out of time. We cannot be waiting for one project to be fully successful before you launch the other. The idea is to have a layering of projects which will hopefully address most of these environmental concerns," said Chito Macapagal, vice president for Corporate Affairs of Unilever Philippines. "Filipinos working together can actually make a difference and all we need is to focus on doing a few key things in a collective manner, regularly. That’s what the 10MM stands for."

ECHOstore promotes green consumerism, healthy living

ECHOstore promotes green consumerism, healthy living
By Ehda M. Dagooc
The Freeman
June 09, 2010


CEBU, Philippines - Green consumerism women advocates recently opened their fifth ECHOstore in Cebu to introduce a sustainable lifestyle to the Cebuano market at the same time expanding their reach in helping depressed communities by uplifting livelihood resources.

ECHOstore is a marketing integrator of Sustainable Lifestyle which represents products from small marginalized, cultural communities, creative industry practitioners, women groups and foundations. 

“We work through, and network with partner organizations and communities to represent products to help break the cycle of poverty through livelihood programs and fair trade practices. ECHOstore is a profit venture with a social cause.”

The Cebu store, which is located at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel-Gift Shop, is seen to drum up a strong interest from the Cebuanos towards a sustainable consumerism lifestyle. Embracing their products would mean developing a healthy living at the same time helping Filipino producers gain a fair share of their produce.

ECHOstore, owned by three women who are hardcore advocates of sustainable lifestyle concept Reena Francisco, Jeannie Javelosa and Chit Juan will start the revolution of uplifting the local industries by prioritizing locally produced products that are environment-friendly and promotes healthy living.

ECHOstore Sustainable Lifestyle is the first concept store of its kind in the Philippines.

During the formal launching of the opening of the Cebu ECHOstore, partner-owner Pacita Juan said aside from pushing for a sustainable consumer lifestyle, the store is also the answer to the growing demand for eco and health-friendly made products emphasizing that green lifestyle is no longer considered as a fad but rather a “mega-trend.”

Because of these women’s passion to inculcate the essence of green living among Filipinos, the ECHOstore is evolving not only as a social-conscious retail entity, but also as an educator to communities that have the potential to produce sustainable products that will be strongly patronized not only by Filipinos, but also among foreign consumers.

ECHOstore, which has been in business for over a year now, is also eyeing the overseas market noting the growing demand for eco-friendly products in other countries, specifically in Europe.

Juan, however said that before considering the products for export, they must first strengthen the concept here in the Philippines by opening more ECHOstore outlets and expanding partner communities at the same time bolster its partnership with non-government organizations (NGOs) such as Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), and PinoyMe, among others to spread the promotion of a sustainable lifestyle, not only in the urban areas, but also in far flung communities.

“We are trying to encourage consumers to shift and change their mindset, in considering the alternative way of purchasing products,” said Juan adding that with the controversial global warming issue, and people getting sick, “sustainable lifestyle is no longer a choice now, but it’s already a necessity.”

So far, ECHOstore is working closely with six communities, one of these is the community in Barangay Luz in Cebu, which is famous for its sustainable bag production made of juice tetra pack trash.

ECHO is the acronym for Environment & Community Hope Organization STORE. In one place, one can get everything he/she needs to start the way to living a sustainable lifestyle.