Globe Telecom Bags Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards 2012

Globe Telecom is the first Philippine telecommunications firm to win in the Social Empowerment Category of the Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards (AREA) 2012 Southeast Asia.

Manila (I-Newswire) July 3, 2012 - Globe Telecom's ”Sagot Ka ni Kap”, a community vigilance program of Globe Bridging Communities, won in the Social Empowerment category besting 25 entries in Southeast Asia. This multi-awarded program harnesses the power and speed of mobile technologies for good governance at the barangay level.

AREA is the region’s most prestigious recognition for organizations that go beyond standard business operations to fulfill their responsibilities to internal and external environment. It honors deserving enterprises for outstanding, innovative products, services, and projects in the field of corporate responsibility. The Social Empowerment Category, on the other hand, focuses on programs for communities or individuals that are socially excluded or that suffer discrimination in work, business, or in community life.

“This award is a testament to the dedication of Globe to social responsibility. For “Sagot Ka ni Kap,” we were able to capitalize on the core business and competencies of Globe to make way for mobile and broadband technologies for ordinary citizens to have a voice in the community resulting in responsive governance and efficient peacekeeping activities in rural areas,” said Rob I. Nazal, head of Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.

He added: “This program hopes to strengthen local security infrastructure and inspire the essential set of capabilities needed for effective leadership and at the same time, develop their capacities as future community leaders.”

“Sagot Ka ni Kap” was launched in 2008 by Globe Bridging Communities, the flagship CSR program of Globe. It enables community members to contribute in keeping the peace and order in the community by equipping community watch volunteers with mobile phones, hand-held radios, rain gears, and first-aid kits as well as providing capacity-building workshops on the Barangay Rule of Law or “Katarungan Pambarangay”, conflict resolution and crisis management. The beneficiaries also receive a one-year personal accident insurance complete with medical reimbursements and unprovoked murder and assault coverage.

To date, there are 385 host communities included in the program. Reporting of complaints on various community disturbances also increased from 1 - 2 per day in 2008 to 15-20 incidents reported through SMS messages in 2011. Likewise, there is also a 34% decrease in negative incidents in “Sagot Ka ni Kap” communities since the start of program implementation.

For the awards, Globe underwent an independent audit to ascertain the validity and reliability of information provided. AREA also put together an independent jury comprised of business leaders, academician and retired senior government and political leaders to evaluate the credibility of all submitted projects. The projects demonstrate the enterprise’s leadership, sincerity and on-going commitment in incorporating ethical values, compliance with legal requirements, respect for individuals, involvement in communities and protection of the environment into the way they do business.

The jury uses a scorecard system which was built with the aim to assess the program’s delivery in achieving innovation, solution orientation, results, sustainability and integration. Ratings given are the average score that is attained by each of the applicants.