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disaster resilience

Adapt, Align, Accelerate: LCF recognizes CSR leaders driving innovation and impact at scale

by Contributor July 10, 2026

written by Contributor

MANILA, Philippines — In celebration of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Week, the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) presented the Guild Awards and Medal of Recognition consecutively on June 30 and July 1, 2026, marking a new standard: CSR that moves beyond isolated initiatives to programs that tackle real-world problems at scale.

On its 30th year, LCF is naming what the moment requires: companies must contribute measurably to the systems they operate within. Climate change, stunting, education, and widening inequality, among other issues, have made the need explicit: companies cannot just give back.

“What we’re seeing now is the most consequential shift in corporate citizenship. From isolated giving to programs that last, scale, and move the needle on issues that matter,” shared Shem Jose Garcia, LCF chairperson and executive director of Vivant Foundation, Inc.

The Guild Awards recognize CSR projects across seven thematic areas: Arts and Culture, Disaster Resilience, Education, Enterprise Development, Environment, Financial Inclusion, and Health, alongside the Outstanding CSR Collaboration Award for cross-sector initiatives and the Best Emerging Project Awards for new entrants already delivering results.

This year’s winners were recognized for programs that demonstrate precision in identifying community needs, alignment with development priorities, and a commitment to systems change.

Outstanding CSR Project for Arts and Culture: School of Indigenous Knowledge (Energy Development Corporation)
Outstanding CSR Project for Disaster Resilience: Skills-Based Volunteerism in Cebu Disaster Response: #BrigadangAyala Relief & Rehabilitation Operations (Ayala Foundation Inc.)
Outstanding CSR Project for Education: Digital Play-Based Learning for Growth: A Culturally Responsive Educational Initiative for Early Childhood Learning in Indigenous Schools of Living Tradition (TELUS International Philippines Foundation, Inc.)
Outstanding CSR Project for Enterprise Development: Agri-Tech Facilitators Program (Jollibee Group Foundation)
Outstanding CSR Project for Environment: Light at Home Araceli (acciona.org Foundation Philippines Inc.)
Outstanding CSR Project for Financial Inclusion: Farm to Table for Fisherfolks in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental (BPI Foundation)
Outstanding CSR Project for Health: BACK-to-BAKuna: Bridging the Follow-Through Gap in Childhood Vaccination (Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philippines)
Outstanding CSR Collaboration Project: Rebuilding Homes, Rebuilding Lives (Primary Structures Educational Foundation, Inc., in collaboration with Jollibee Group Foundation, Marsman Drysdale Foundation, Megawide Foundation, VICSAL Foundation, and Vivant Foundation)

For the first time, the CSR Guild Awards introduced the Best Emerging Project Award, given to projects that show promise for replication, scaling, and sustainability. Below are the recipients:

Best Emerging Project for Education: Science in a Box: A Movable Container-Based Science Laboratory (Marsman Drysdale Foundation, Inc.)
Best Emerging Project for Health: PHAPCares: Healthy Youth, Healthy Future (PHAPCares Foundation, Inc.)

Alongside the Guild Awards, LCF conferred the Medal of Recognition to non-member organizations whose programs demonstrate good practice and results in specific focus areas. This year’s winners were:

Cebu Mitsumi, Inc. for its Typhoon Tino Response and Recovery Program under Disaster Resilience;
Dole Philippines, Inc. for its Adopt-a-School Program under Education; and
Hann Foundation, Inc. for the Sasmuan Mangrove Project, a mangrove conservation and restoration initiative, under Environment.

LCF’s 2026 Conference theme is anchored in a three-part framework drawn from three decades of advancing corporate citizenship: Adapt. Align. Accelerate.

Adapt means rethinking programs that no longer serve — BACK-to-BAKuna closed gaps in childhood immunization follow-through; the Agri-Tech Facilitators Program brought technology directly to smallholder farmers. Align means connecting CSR work to the Sustainable Development Goals, the Philippine Development Plan, and corporate commitments to ESG and carbon neutrality. Accelerate is what cross-sector alignment makes possible — Rebuilding Homes, Rebuilding Lives brought organizations together to achieve what none could have done alone.

The recognition at this year’s CSR week celebration carries a message for the broader business community: the frameworks are in place, the network is here, and the bar has been raised.

July 10, 2026 0 comments

Community

Gov. Mabanglo’s First Governor’s Report Highlights Disaster Resilience, kaLAMBOan In DDO

by Contributor March 3, 2026

written by Contributor

Despite recent flooding and shear line-related impacts that affected several communities, the Provincial Government continues to deliver essential services while advancing development initiatives, Governor Raul Mabanglo said during his Governor’s Report on March 2 at the Bulawan Events Center in Nabunturan.

Relief operations remain underway in affected barangays, with assistance already extended to families displaced by floods and other hazards. In the past eight months, the province has responded to a series of challenges, including landslides and severe weather disturbances, while maintaining uninterrupted delivery of public services.

Beyond disaster response and recovery efforts, Mabanglo highlighted gains in several key sectors.

Healthcare services were expanded through the establishment of a BUCAS Center in partnership with the Davao Regional Medical Center, improvements in all four provincial hospitals, and the rollout of the Kalamboan Serbisyo Caravan, which brought medical assistance closer to communities.

Social services were strengthened through the establishment of 11 Maduolan Centers across the province and expanded crisis support programs that have assisted thousands of residents.

Infrastructure development also continued, with improvements in road networks and public facilities aimed at ensuring access to services even during emergencies.

Support to the agriculture sector was intensified through the provision of farm inputs and the implementation of a rice processing system designed to improve food security and increase farmers’ income.

Expanded scholarship programs and investments in sports development also supported education and youth engagement across the province.

Mabanglo also cited ongoing collaboration with neighboring provinces, particularly Davao Oriental, and the private sector as key to opening opportunities in tourism, business, and employment.

As the Bulawan Festival celebrates the province’s heritage and identity, Mabanglo emphasized the importance of sustained cooperation between government and communities to ensure continued progress despite recurring challenges.

He underscored that the strength behind the province’s resilience lies in its people, whom he described as the true “Bulawan” of Davao de Oro.

“Sa atong lig-on nga kolaborasyon, usa lang ang klaro nga mensahe. Ako, kamo, kitang tanan instrumento sa pagkab-ot sa kalamboan sa Davao de Oro. Kamo ang tinuod nga bulawan,” he said.

Governor Raul Mabanglo ended his report by expressing gratitude to Cong. Maricar Zamora-Mabanglo, Cong. Leonel “Jhong” Ceniza, and all his partners in public service, whom he cited as key allies in advancing the province through continued collaboration and shared responsibility essential to sustaining progress and overcoming future challenges in Davao de Oro.

March 3, 2026 0 comments

Science & Technology

HANDA PILIPINAS 2025 Mindanao leg unites sectors for disaster resilience

by Contributor October 16, 2025

written by Contributor

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — As the country continues to face increasing threats from natural hazards, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), together with its partner agencies, launched the HANDA PILIPINAS 2025 Mindanao Leg with the theme “Kabalikat sa Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na Mindanao.” The event underscored the crucial role and partnerships between government agencies, communities, and private partners in working together to reduce disaster risks and strengthen the country’s resilience.

Mindanao’s experience with catastrophic calamities calls for the urgency of such initiatives. The island has witnessed some of the nation’s most devastating disasters: the Magnitude 7.5 earthquake of September 21, 1897, and the 1976 Moro Gulf earthquake and tsunami, which claimed thousands of lives, remain grim reminders of the region’s vulnerability. More recent events, such as the 2019 Cotabato and Davao del Sur earthquakes, Tropical Storm Paeng (Nalgae) in 2022, which caused massive flooding and landslides in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, killing at least 63 people from the region, and the 2024 Cagayan de Oro landslide, highlight how communities continue to face evolving disaster risks.

In his keynote address, DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. emphasized, “Disasters happen when we forget the last one. What matters is how we prevent, mitigate, and prepare our response, and how we recover efficiently and effectively. When local minds are informed, empowered, and equipped, they become heroes of their own stories of resilience.”

Integrating Science, Building Resilience

The Mindanao Leg featured technologies and science-based tools designed to enhance disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response. Among the exhibits were:

IN PHOTO: Screenshot of GeoRiskPH Website

GeoRiskPH is a multi-agency initiative led by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS), which provides location-specific hazard information to guide decision-making and risk assessments.

IN PHOTO: DRRM-H NICER Project 3: Simulation-Based Learning Laboratory

The DRRM-H NICER Project 3: Simulation-Based Learning Laboratory is part of the UP Manila DRRM-H Program supported by the DOST’s NICER initiative. It utilizes simulation tools such as the Emergo Train System to give future professionals practical training in disaster response and emergency management, enhancing their skills in command, communication, and coordination during critical situations.

IN PHOTO: Hiraya Tech's Hiraya Intelligent Modular Optimization (HIMO)

IN PHOTO: Hiraya Tech’s Hiraya Intelligent Modular Optimization (HIMO)

The Hiraya Intelligent Modular Optimization (HIMO) by Hiraya Tech is a smart water management system that uses artificial intelligence to monitor and control water flow automatically. It helps communities manage water more efficiently, providing cleaner and more reliable water while reducing waste and lowering costs.

IN PHOTO: Lithos Manufacturing's Rainfold with Zeramic Filter

IN PHOTO: Lithos Manufacturing’s Rainfold with Zeramic Filter

Rainfold with Zeramic Filter by Lithos Manufacturing is a foldable, easy-to-install rainwater storage tank that can hold up to 1,000 liters of water. Its three-stage filter removes heavy metals, balances acidity, and improves the taste and smell of rainwater, making it a practical, portable solution for clean water storage in homes and remote communities.

IN PHOTO: DOST-PAGASA's PANaHON

IN PHOTO: DOST-PAGASA’s PANaHON

PANaHON is a web-based application developed by DOST–PAGASA that provides accurate, location-specific weather forecasts and warnings through an interactive map. It helps the public and local communities to easily access real-time information on rainfall, temperature, and hazards, supporting better planning and disaster preparedness across the country.

In fact, Zamboanga City recently adopted DOST’s Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) tool, empowering communities to respond quickly and efficiently to disasters.

Collaboration at the Core of Being HANDA

HANDA PILIPINAS is a call to action for all sectors to work together in building resilience. By creating a shared platform where local government units (LGUs), communities, national agencies, and private partners can exchange knowledge and adopt innovative solutions, the initiative strengthens the country’s disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) capabilities.

Secretary Solidum also highlighted expanded tsunami awareness campaigns in coastal communities by conducting information drives, installing early warning systems and signage, mapping evacuation routes, and supporting community drills which further reinforced localized preparedness.

The event also featured the launching and turnover of the HANDA PILIPINAS: Innovations in Climate and Disaster Resilience Guidebook. The guidebook can be accessed at handapilipinas.dost.gov.ph. Local Government Units (LGUs) are encouraged to use the Information and Technology Needs Assessment Tool included in the guidebook to contextualize local hazards and identify technology gaps, ensuring that interventions are responsive to their communities’ unique needs and contexts.

The Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST–TAPI) plays a key role in the implementation of HANDA PILIPINAS by coordinating the preparation and exhibition of technologies, facilitating the promotion and demonstration of innovative solutions, and providing support services for technology transfer and commercialization to local stakeholders.

As the nation continues to face urgent threats from natural hazards, the recent magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu on October 5, 2025, which claimed 71 lives and caused widespread damage, serves as a clear reminder of the importance of preparedness and coordinated action across all sectors.

In this context, the upcoming Visayas Leg of HANDA PILIPINAS 2025, scheduled on October 27–29, 2025, in Bacolod City and hosted by DOST–Negros Island Region, takes on even greater significance. It aims to further strengthen nationwide collaboration, ensuring that communities across the Visayas are better equipped and empowered to face the increasing threats of natural hazards through leveraging science, technology, and innovation.

October 16, 2025 0 comments