FedEx to continue CSR effort in Asia
FedEx Philippines says it will continue supporting the communities and businesses in the coming years despite its recent pullout of its Asia-Pacific hub in Olongapo, reports Business Mirror. The article continues:
Samuel S. David, FedEx country manager, said its continuing corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in the Philippines only indicate that they want to do business here on a long term basis.
“History will show that companies that focus its efforts only on short-term profit is [using] a business model that is not bound to succeed in the long term. So our presence in the Philippines is long term,” David said in an interview.
The FedEx official said the company’s strategic partnerships with various non-profit groups will also continue for as long as these organizations will remain within the thrust of the firm. FedEx’s CSR thrusts are on human services, education, emergency and relief and pedestrian and child safety.
At present, the company is in partnership with organizations such as Gawad Kalinga, Safe Kids Philippines and Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge.
The company also gives financial support to schools in eight different Gawad Kalinga communities, three of which are in Parañaque City and the others are in Zambales, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Sultan Kudarat and Bukidnon.
David, who also managed the company’s former Asia-Pacific hub in Subic before its pullout earlier this year, said they may have further partnerships with other groups in the future.
At the moment, David said that they are monitoring Mayon Volcano in Bicol as they may be of help to the communities there.
During the relief efforts for typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng that visited the country in October, FedEx was instrumental in moving goods on the ground by providing trucks and helped groups such as the Philippine National Red Cross, ABS-CBN Foundation, and GMA Kapuso Foundation.
Over $30,000 in cash donations was raised by FedEx from its employees in the Asia-Pacific region, David said.
After pulling the plug on its Subic facility, FedEx said its operations in the country will be focused in Manila and in Cebu, mainly on exports of electronics materials.
“FedEx will maintain its presence in the Philippines and remains committed to the Philippine market in the long term as we expand our operations gateway in Manila, with back-office facilities being ramped up as part of a regional strategy to centralize certain services,” the company earlier said.
