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Watsons Inspires Change and Impact – A Year of Doing Good for People, Community, Customers, and the Planet

Watsons, the leading health, wellness, and beauty retailer,  is dedicated to making a positive impact across four pillars: People, Community, Customers, and the Planet. Through these pillars, Watsons aims to uplift the health and well-being of the communities it serves, ensure a sustainable and healthy workforce, provide customers with sustainable options, manage supply-chain risk, and reduce its ecological footprint.

At the heart of Watsons’ business is its mission to inspire its customers to feel their best while looking good and doing good for themselves and those around them.

In 2022, Watsons made significant achievements in its mission to Do Good by inspiring both its employees and customers by making a meaningful impact on communities and the environment.

People:

The health, beauty, and wellness retailer ended 2022 with an impressive 1,048 stores and a dedicated workforce of 9,228 employees, with an outstanding 98% of them being trained in sustainability practices.

Transforming its employees into sustainability advocates, Watsons initiated the Live Green campaign, a waste segregation initiative in its stores nationwide, which involves the active participation of its people.

In pursuit of nurturing talent and fostering leadership development, Watsons aims to achieve the Gold Health & Wellbeing certification from Investors in People by 2025.

Watsons believes in the importance of nurturing talents and developing leaders who are essential in building a strong, sustainable and high-performing organization.

Community:

In line with its commitment to uplifting the health and well-being of underserved communities, Watsons conducted medical outreach programs throughout the year.

In collaboration with Operation Smile Philippines, Watsons played a vital role in changing the lives of 116 children through cleft surgeries in 2022, bringing the total number of surgery beneficiaries since their partnership began in 2013 to 2,152. Additionally, Watsons provided medicines to 910 people through medical missions in 2022, contributing to a cumulative total of 6,579 beneficiaries since 2013.

Through the Alagang Pangkalusugan program, Watsons offered free doctor’s consultations and various screening services such as bone scanning, ECG, glucose check, eye check, and so much more, furthering its commitment to the community’s well-being.

Moreover, Watsons played an instrumental role in making COVID-19 booster shots accessible to more than 25,000 people nationwide by partnering with the Department of Health and various LGUs. Over 80,000 customers also received flu, pneumonia, and HPV vaccines from Watsons in 2022.

By 2030, Watsons aspires to perform 3,300 cleft surgeries and benefit 20,000 individuals through the provision of free medicines.

Customers:

A key component of the Watsons Philippines ecosystem is its team of 1,702 trained pharmacists who played a pivotal role in guiding customers towards informed purchases. In 2022, customers were delighted to explore an extended selection of 1,632 Sustainable Choices products, reflecting Watsons’ dedication to providing more sustainable options.

To empower shoppers to make environmentally responsible choices, Watsons provided additional information and guidance on making eco-friendly purchases through the “ Do Good for the Community and the Planet Campaign.”

By 2025, Watsons aims to have 15% of sales derived from Sustainable Choices products and aims to collect 65,000 kg of trash by 2030.

Planet:

With a firm commitment to sustainability, Watsons made significant strides in adopting eco-friendly practices in 2022. A total of 1,691,000 plastic bottles were recycled within the Watsons ecosystem, while 25,454 kg of trash were collected, highlighting the retailer’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact.

Among its eco-conscious measures, Watsons minimized the use of plastics in its e-commerce parcels by 79% and switched to 100% recycled packaging. The introduction of two Refill Stations contributed to a notable 46% growth in refills. As of end-2022, four Watsons stores nationwide integrated solar panels to harness renewable energy.

Energy-efficient appliances, such as LED lights and inverter air conditioners, were employed in Watsons stores to reduce electricity consumption. Smart switches for automatic light control and air curtains were also utilized to preserve energy. Store personnel received comprehensive training in energy-conserving practices and are now monitored and incentivized to achieve reduction targets.

Watsons took an active role in environmental conservation by partnering with CORA Philippines for a coastal cleanup project in the Las Piñas Parañaque Critical Habit and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA). Moreover, the retailer collaborated with Plastic Bank to recover plastic bottles from the ecosystem, minimizing local plastic manufacturing.

Through the Trash for Cash program, customers were encouraged to participate in recycling efforts with designated drop-off bins at participating SM malls, allowing them to exchange recyclables for discounts or vouchers from partner brands redeemable at Watsons stores.

Danilo S. Chiong, Watsons Philippines Managing Director.

“Our heritage of Doing Good has brought about our passion to support the community and the planet. We are proud of many achievements – children whose lives we have transformed, families given access to health services and products, more sustainable products made available to our customers, drastic reduction of plastics in our packaging, and tons of plastics we have recycled. The task is too enormous. We have to continue on and  accelerate our pace by building greener stores and investing more in renewable energy,” said Danilo Chiong, Watsons Philippines Managing Director.

Through its relentless pursuit of positive change and sustainable practices, Watsons continues to lead the way as a responsible and impactful retailer, promoting the well-being of people, communities, customers, and the environment.

#Watsons #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph

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SMAC turns over P5.5M in funds raised for the Hapag Movement, thanks customers for support

SMAC (SM Advantage Card), the biggest loyalty program of retail giant SM, has donated P5.5 million to the Hapag Movement gathered over the holidays through vigorous support from its members. The donation to the Globe-led program aims to address involuntary hunger among Filipinos affected by the pandemic and economic challenges.

Under the month-long campaign over the Christmas season, proceeds from every SMAC card sold was donated to the movement and SM Foundation programs.

Additionally, part of SMAC members’ extra points are earned through purchasing select items from SM’s partner establishments– SM Store, SM Beauty, SM Appliance, Kultura, Surplus, Our Home, Baby Company, Crate and Barrel, Levi’s, The Body Shop, Forever21, Ecco, and Miniso – were donated to the Hapag Movement from December 15, 2022, until January 15, 2023, making holiday shopping even more meaningful and impactful. This is very empowering as each SMAC member can participate in doing a Globe of Good!

SMAC’s donation will support supplementary feeding and livelihood initiatives by the Hapag Movement’s implementing partners– the Ayala Foundation, Inc, Caritas Philippines, Tzu Chi Foundation, and World Vision.

“We are very grateful to SMAC and the SM Group for their generous support for the Hapag Movement. This donation will have a significant impact on the lives of those who are experiencing involuntary hunger, especially as the movement aims to expand its reach this year to help more of our vulnerable kababayans,” said Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto.

“This program is a true demonstration of the heart and generosity of SMAC members as well as the SM brands and its affiliates who came together and supported this campaign. All SMAC membership cards sold and all purchases made with SMAC converted a donation amount that far exceeded our expectations.  SMAC became a channel through which members were able to bless our fellowmen who are experiencing involuntary hunger with the Hapag Movement,” said Jay Beltran, SMAC Head of Sales and Marketing.

“Without the help of our members, we would not have been able to raise as much as PHP5.5 million in just one month. We are immensely grateful to our customers for choosing to shop for a cause by using SMAC. Through your support, vulnerable families will get proper meals and livelihood training,” Beltran said.

Globe’s Hapag Movement leverages on technology and collaboration to help 100,000 families experiencing involuntary hunger through supplemental feeding and livelihood support.

An estimated 2.7 million Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger in the first quarter of 2023, according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey.

Those who would like to support the Hapag Movement may donate via GCash and credit cards or send their unused Globe Rewards points to the cause via the GlobeOne app.

To learn more about Globe, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/.

#Globe #HapagMovement #SMAC #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph

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#SEATED: Bumble and LGBTQ+ Filipinos discuss the importance of kindness in online dating in honor of Pride Month

Bumble, the app that started a movement by putting women in charge when dating, has been taking steps to improve the experience of its nonbinary users within the app, showing its commitment to creating an inclusive and kind environment where people of all genders can connect authentically.  This Pride Month, Bumble has partnered with Metro Manila Pride to raise the importance of creating kinder and safer spaces for the LGBTQ+ community.

In recent years, online dating has become essential to the LGBTQ+ community’s pursuit of love, companionship, and support. Ahead of Metro Manila Pride March and Festival on June 24th, Bumble and Metro Manila Pride held their first joint Pride virtual event, #SEATED: Conversations around creating Kinder, Safer, and Stronger online spaces for the LGBTQ+ community together with a diverse panel of LGBTQ+ advocates from all walks of life. The event sparked discussions around what it means to date with kindness in mind, safety in online dating, and ways for allies to continue to foster connections built on mutual respect.

“Beyond celebration, Pride is a continuous movement for the community and allies alike to work toward a future that recognizes and respects the rights of LGBTQIA+ Filipinos. This includes both online and offline spaces, which is why as part of the community and as a long-time volunteer of the organization, Metro Manila Pride and I appreciate companies like Bumble, who genuinely reach out to us as allies to help in amplifying the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community so we can be better heard. ,” said Fats Santos Roxas, one of the leads of Metro Manila Pride, “We hope that through this virtual event, we can kickstart the process of making online spaces a safer and kinder environment for all Filipinos.”

An Inclusive and Welcoming Space

To help the Filipino LGBTQ+ community embrace their authentic selves, Bumble enhanced the member experience for matches with nonbinary people where either person can make the first move on Bumble Date. Women will continue to make the first move in matches with men and, in matches between people of the same gender, either person can make the first move. In 2022, Bumble also introduced an expanded selection of gender options to better provide a space that allows everyone across the gender spectrum to feel safe and seen. Allies, regardless of gender, may also declare their support for the community through Bumble’s LGBTQ+ Rights badge.

“We believe that kindness is the foundation of building authentic and meaningful connections, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. This Pride Month, Bumble aims to contribute to a more inclusive and positive landscape for LGBTQ+ people pursuing love and connection, and we are honored to partner with Metro Manila Pride to bring to life important conversations around Allyship, even if they may feel difficult, unfamiliar, or uncomfortable,” Bumble APAC Communications Director, Lucille McCart said. “By showcasing and promoting the power of kindness when it comes to online dating, we hope to create a ripple effect of compassion and kindness in communities extending far beyond our platform.”

LGBTQ+ Allyship at Bumble, for Pride Month, and Year-Round

Bumble Inc., the parent company of Bumble, Badoo, Fruitz, and Official, is committed to supporting the LGBTQ+ community during Pride month and beyond. As part of its corporate allyship efforts, Bumble Inc. has partnered with the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in the United States, to advance its mission of ending discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and promoting fairness and equality for all. Throughout the year, Bumble Inc. will also partner with region-specific organizations throughout the world that are dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ individuals in their communities.

Bumble has previously supported organizations that do important work for LGBTQ+ communities, including Trans Lifeline, Equality Texas, My Sistah’s House, and others. Bumble takes a strong stance against hate speech, transphobic language, and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. In addition, last year Bumble introduced an identity-based hate policy, which prohibits content or behavior that promotes hatred and contempt against marginalized or underrepresented groups with protected attributes. Engaging in identity-based hate, including making a false report, may result in content being removed, an account receiving a warning or being banned from the app.

To learn more about Bumble Inc.’s allyship efforts and the organizations we will partner with throughout the year, please visit our editorial hub The Buzz for more details.

About Bumble app: Bumble, the women-first dating and social networking app, was founded by CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd in 2014. Bumble connects people across dating (Bumble Date), friendship (Bumble BFF), and professional networking (Bumble Bizz). No matter the type of relationship, women make the first move on Bumble. Bumble is built on the importance of equitable relationships and how crucial they are to a healthy, happy life. They’ve built their platform around kindness, respect, and equality – and their community plays an important part in that. Bumble holds its users accountable for their actions and does not allow any form of hate, aggression, or bullying. Bumble is free to download and widely available in the App Store and Google Play.

About Metro Manila Pride Organization: Metro Manila Pride (MMPride) is a volunteer-managed, non-partisan, and not-for-profit organization registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as Metro Manila LGBTQ+ Pride, Inc. Metro Manila Pride educates, equips, and empowers the LGBTQIA+ Filipino and their communities to work toward a future that recognizes and respects the rights of LGBTQIA+ persons to a dignified life without discrimination and prejudice.

*Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and other gender minorities

#Bumble #PrideMonth #LGBTQ+ #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph

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Davao City, Dipolog City, and Quezon City are this year’s Philippine flagbearers in WWF’s We Love Cities

Davao City, Dipolog City, and Quezon City are representing the Philippines in this year’s leg of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)’s We Love Cities Campaign (WLC)—the organization’s global campaign that supports the creation and development of cities that enable all people to thrive and prosper while respecting the ecological limits of our only planet.

Linked with the One Planet City Challenge (OPCC), which guides cities globally to reach their climate mitigation and adaptation plans, WLC aims to raise awareness and inspire citizens to support the sustainable urban development initiatives of their respective cities. The country’s WLC 2022 representatives have also emerged as the national finalists for the OPCC 2022.

Safer Davao City

 Qualifying Davao City in this year’s campaign is its outsized goal for emissions reductions, targeting a 75% reduction by 2030 from a 2017 baseline. Helping the Philippines’ second-largest city by land area and third largest by population size achieve its climate mitigation target are the fifty-four-kilometer cycle lanes that encourage Davao residents to be active on their bikes and reduce their carbon footprint, as well as the ongoing installation of solar street lights, making brighter, safer Davao streets. The city has also launched several initiatives that promote sustainable food production and improved farming practices, including the efforts of local farms to go organic.

100% emissions reduction of Dipolog City

On the other hand, Dipolog City plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and will undertake a 100% emissions reduction compared to its 2018 baseline. As such, the mid-sized city on the northwestern island of Mindanao will convert three-quarters of city street lights to solar to reduce emissions and generate positive savings for the city. The city will also undertake a large forest restoration project covering an area of 589 hectares in the mountain ranges of Barangays Dicayas and Lugdungan, where a variety of flora and fauna, including the endangered Mindanao tarsier, thrive. This project will also increase biodiversity in the area to eventually sequester 4,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually and counter deforestation in the city’s surrounding zone.

Sustainable energy initiatives of Quezon City

As the sole Luzon island representative for this year’s roster of flagbearers, Quezon City is ramping up its sustainable energy initiatives to meet its goal of reducing emissions by 30% in 2030 compared to business-as-usual projections while also committing to reduce 80% emissions, leading to net-zero by 2050. The city is also set to shift to a more sustainable energy source, with solar PV installations set to be installed in city-owned hospitals and schools and eventually, in all viable city buildings and facilities in the next eight years. The City of Stars also doubled its bike lanes to 93 kilometers by the end of 2020, which has earned recognition for its foresight in creating protected bike lanes for cyclists. In addition, the city launched an innovative program that allows citizens to switch to a more sustainable lifestyle by trading their recyclables and single-use plastics for environmental points to buy necessities and pay utility bills.

Atty. Angela Ibay, WWF-Philippines’ Climate and Energy Program Head, expressed her appreciation for the country’s local qualifiers this year as they participate in this campaign to promote sustainable urban development.  “As local governments continue addressing the effects of the pandemic, we would like to commend Davao City, Dipolog City, Quezon City, and the other LGUs who have taken part in this call to achieve climate mitigation and enhance their cities’ resiliency. With the pandemic proving the link between planetary and human health, it is important now, more than ever, that cities and citizens do their part to #ChangeTheEnding for the planet.”

This year’s WLC will run until October 31. The city that will receive the most number of website votes, social media posts, and suggestion submissions by the end of the campaign period will be declared the We Love Cities 2022 global campaign winner.

Campaign for your favorite Philippine city on your social media platforms by using the hashtags #WeLoveDavaoCityPH, #WeLoveDipologCityPH, or #WeLoveQuezonCityPH. For more information and updates about the We Love Cities 2022 campaign, log on to https://welovecities.org/.

 

#WWF #welovecities  #WeLoveDavaoCityPH, #WeLoveDipologCityPH #WeLoveQuezonCityPH #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph

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Overcoming a personal challenge and finding the right career

Overdoughs, famous for its mouthwatering chonky cookies and donuts, stands out not just for its products but for providing employment and opportunities for the deaf.

 

When his mother was pregnant with him, she contracted German measles. This caused 31-year-old Jan Aldrin L. Lontoc to be born deaf. Lontoc, however, did not allow his condition to affect what he wanted to achieve in life – to be the best version of himself and to be a valuable member of the community.

After graduating from a two-year course in hotel and restaurant services, Lontoc worked as a part-time waiter in a catering company. He also had stints in Bench and Hapee Toothpaste.

“I learned about the Caravan Food Group, Inc. when I submitted my resume at the UNILAB Office. And that was the start of my working relationship with Elait in 2017,” Lontoc said.

The Caravan Food Group Inc. is the company behind Elait and Overdoughs. Elait offers ice cream where customers can witness ice cream being rolled with their favorite flavors right in front of them. Overdoughs, on the other hand, offers their very own versions of donuts or doughnuts, mouthwatering chunky cookies or Chonky Cookies, brownies or brookies, pizza, and fries.

What makes these two establishments stand out is that they provide employment and opportunities for the deaf.

“When I was a teenager, I remember visiting a clothing shop. The employees at the shop were all at the cashier talking to each other. And then there was a guy who approached me but he was not talking. He was trying his best to assist me and it was then that I noticed that there was a name tag and the word deaf was placed,’ recalled Francis Carl Reyes, CEO, and Founder of Caravan Food Group Inc.

That was Reyes’ first experience with a deaf person who he felt was the “epitome of good customer service. No matter who you are, he is going to assist you. No judgment.” That experience made him decide that he would employ deaf partners for his store.

He tried out the deaf partner program initially with Elait. When he saw that it was doing well, he implemented it at Overdoughs. Initially, Reyes started with two tables and two deaf partners and he would be observing how they were doing their jobs.

Before he was deployed in Elait, Lontoc underwent training and he said that it was a good experience for him.

“I learned a lot during my training with Elait. I learned how to roll the ice cream properly and serve customers. After a while, my supervisors allowed me to transfer to Overdoughs. There, I learned to prepare the doughnuts and our best-selling Chonky Cookies,” Lontoc said.

 

Jan with other colleagues and deaf partners at a training session last March 2022.

 

Despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lontoc persevered and rose the ranks to become a team leader in just five years.

“As of now, I am currently in training to be an area supervisor and I am very thankful to my managers because they are very supportive,” Lontoc said.

Lontoc will have his hands full in the coming months as Reyes hopes to convert more of their Overdoughs outlets into cafes so that customers can get to savor their other products like pizzas, fried chicken, fries, and empanadas.

Overdoughs currently has one such outlet in Greenhills where customers can not only enjoy good food but do good as well.

“I have learned to do my best, to be patient, trustworthy, dependable. I want to be a successful area supervisor, a position, I hope I can have for a lifetime. Now that I am married, I want to have a stable job for my family,” Lontoc said.

 

#Overdoughs  #donuts #deafemployment #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph

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Dipolog City emerges as Philippines’ National Winner in WWF’s One Planet City Challenge

Dipolog City is the national winner of the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) 2021-2022, joining national winners from 20 countries around the world.

Bogotá, Colombia, and Lund, Sweden were selected as the OPCC Global Winners which saw a total of 280 cities participating from 50 countries.

As the Philippines’ National Winner, Dipolog City representatives were able to attend the OPCC Global Awarding Ceremony in Helsingborg, Sweden, personally last June 2 to receive their award.

Dipolog City Representatives (2nd and 3rd from L) receive their award as OPCC National Winner of Philippines during the OPCC Global Awarding Ceremony in Helsingborg, Sweden, last June 2, 2022. Photo: WWF-Sweden.

Dipolog city was commended by the international jury of the OPCC Core Team in Sweden for its bold emissions reduction plan, which is aligned with science-based targets needed to keep global warming within 1.5°C. Dipolog has reported innovative and impactful action plans that will help achieve these targets and bring long-term co-benefits.

The cities were measured against rigorous criteria that included: ambitious climate targets, bold leadership, ability to meet upcoming challenges, and a holistic climate action plan that is well balanced towards their goals.

One Planet City Challenge is a friendly global competition initiated by WWF to recognize cities for their climate actions and ambitions and assess whether they align with the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement in limiting climate change to 1.5 °C.

Since its inception 10 years ago, close to 600 cities from 53 countries on 5 continents have already participated in this challenge. Dipolog, Quezon, and Davao Cities were the national finalists in the Philippines. Other cities that were included in the country’s roster of qualifiers for OPCC 2021-2022 are Baguio, Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Legazpi, Makati, Ormoc, Pasig, San Carlos,  San Fernando (La Union), Santa Rosa, Tagum, Zamboanga and Vigan.

“As highlighted in the recently released IPCC AR6 reports, cities play a key role in avoiding the most severe impacts of global warming,” said Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International. “Bogotá and Lund are two inspiring examples of how dedicated local governments from very different contexts can drive the transition toward more liveable and sustainable cities. For the world over, both cities are showing others what can be achieved!”

Impact of Climate Change

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, climate change directly impacts cities and urban life. Increasing global temperatures result in rising sea levels and more extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and storms, particularly affecting coastal communities. Further, increases in the spread of vector-borne and water-borne diseases and heat-related illnesses have affected urban populations as global temperatures increase.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report reinforces these findings, stating that cities are areas of concentrated risk to climate change with losses due to infrastructure damage and disruption in services and affected supply chains already occurring. Cities are also areas where opportunities for delivering urgent climate action abound.

Cities are also key contributors to climate change, as urban activities are significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions. An estimated 75% of global CO2 emissions are from cities, with transport and buildings among the most significant contributors.

However, some cities have started to use renewable energy sources, implement regulations to limit industrial emissions, and institute energy efficiency measures. Many have undertaken climate actions to increase their city’s resilience with its residents and businesses adapting to the changing climate. Others have also enforced laws that help to restore and preserve the environment.

One Planet Cities Project Manager for WWF-Philippines Imee Bellen hopes that more Philippine cities will participate in OPCC in the future. “This is an example that shows OPCC is not about being the most advanced city, but it’s about how holistic the local governments plan for their cities towards low-carbon development,” she said.

Atty. Angela Ibay, Head of the Climate and Energy Programme of WWF-Philippines, encouraged citizens to help their cities boost their capacity to respond to the climate crisis.

“The cities’ plans would not come to life if it wasn’t for the collective action of its residents. However, we as individuals can still make a difference on our own. Even the most trivial habits, such as reducing energy consumption, can have a long-lasting impact on the community and nature.”

“Winners and finalists of this year’s OPCC are also eligible to participate in We Love Cities (WLC) by September 2022. WLC is a WWF campaign interwoven with the OPCC which aims to provide a platform for the citizens to give suggestions for improvement that city leaders can consider in their climate action planning process and sustainable development.”

For more information and updates about the One Planet City Challenge, visit http://panda.org/opcc.

 Featured photo: Dipolog City, a 3rd-class component city in Zamboanga del Norte is the National Winner in this year’s One Planet City Challenge. The photo shows the Pagsalabuk Circle or the Dipolog Rotunda, a symbol of diverse culture representing the Muslim, Subanen, and Christian people of the city. Photo: Dipolog City Government

  #WWFPH #Dipolog #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph

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Pilipinas Kontra Gutom helps lower hunger incidence in the country

More than a year after its launch in November 2020, Pilipinas Kontra Gutom (PKG) partners share milestones towards the movement’s goal of less hungry Filipinos.

Pilipinas Kontra Gutom is a multi-sectoral movement of Task Force Zero Hunger with the public sector and 80 partner members from private corporations and non-government organizations working hand in hand to address the country’s concerns on involuntary hunger – food production and distribution, malnutrition, food surplus and immediate food needed during times of disasters.

Four-Fold Mission

Divide and conquer is one of the guiding principles of the movement. Multi-sectoral working groups were set up targeting specific beneficiaries and focused on different priorities toward achieving zero hunger in the country.

The first priority is food availability and accessibility with the vision to elevate farming as a dignified, sustainable profession among smallholder farmers and other food producers. The goal is to increase farmer income by as much as 20% in the first year and double productivity by 2025. Key programs include the expansion of value chain projects by partner companies through capacity building and logistics improvement in the farm-to-consumer process.

Second is the nutrition adequacy goal. The group is eyeing zero undernourished Filipino children across all households by 2030. The key program to drive this objective involves a sustainable, nutrition education program for pregnant mothers that guides them during the first 1000 days of a child and teaches them how to build a healthy food culture at home through nutritious, delicious yet budget-friendly recipes for the family.

Food assistance and security during disasters are the third priority of the movement. A strengthened and synchronized public and private sectors’ disaster response initiatives during disasters to ensure efficient food distribution is the end in mind.

Food banking is the landmark project for availability and assistance, the fourth priority. The aim is to establish an effective food banking system in Metro Manila that will help supply and ensure a sustainable flow of food to communities in need.

 Milestones

On food availability and accessibility, 4,000 farmers and agripreneurs have been assisted through programs such as Nestle and GIZ’s Project Coffee+, TESDA-Nestle’s Coffee Farmer Scholarship Program, Cargil’s Yellow Corn Project with Aboitiz, Cargill, Bayer, Pilmico, Vitarich, Save the Children and PPSA, and Learning Series led by Jollibee Group Foundation with Harbest and PPSA.

Another program that helps with food availability and accessibility is Feed Back, a community-based vegetable exchange, that helps solve hunger in just 5 weeks. It creates a path for families to source food from their backyards, exchange excess produces with their neighbors, and sell it to their community, nearby villages, and towns.

In the area of assistance during times of crisis, the group collaborates with local and national organizations, corporations, civil society groups, and local government units to execute efforts for the victims of calamities, and pre-evacuation for typhoon-affected families.

On availability of food surplus and repurposing it through assistance, this team has set up a food bank portal where companies and groups can key in their food surplus to be distributed via the Assistance workstream. Through the collaboration of DOLE, Grab, San Miguel Corporation, URC, Scaling Up Nutrition, and Supply Chain Management Association of the Phils., the goal is to establish an effective food banking system that will help supply and sustain food to communities in need.

Lahat kasali, lahat kasalo.

To date, the movement has reached more than 450,000 Filipinos across its four-fold mission where incidences of hunger and malnutrition are high.

In a recent PKG gathering, Task Force Zero Hunger Chair, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles shared that the hunger incidence in the country has improved. “The Philippines also improved its ranking in the 2021 Global Hunger Index. The Philippines ranked 68th out of 116 countries. With a score of 16.8, we have a moderate level of hunger. This is a notch higher than in the 2020 GHI when we ranked 69th with a score of 19.0,” shared Chair Nograles.

PKG invites every Filipino to help. Lahat kasali, lahat kasalo. Individuals may visit kaintayopilipinas.com for details and private corporations, non-profit organizations, and groups who would like to be part of the movement may send an email to pkg@ph.mcd.com.

 

#pilipinaskontragutom #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph

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Join the global celebration of Earth Hour 2022

On March 26 at 8:30 p.m. local time, WWF-Philippines invites Filipinos to turn off their lights during the annual celebration of Earth Hour as a symbol of a broader commitment toward the planet. This global celebration started as a symbolic event in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and has grown into one of the world’s largest grassroots environmental movements spanning over 7,000 cities and 193 countries and territories.

This year’s Earth Hour takes place at a particularly crucial time as it calls for increased ambition and urgent action to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. It also takes place before the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15, initially scheduled for April 25-May 8, where leaders from around the world will gather to decide on a new global action plan for nature for the coming decade. WWF aims to build a groundswell of actions and noise en-masse, including on the news, to put pressure on world leaders in the build-up to CBD COP15.

Earth Hour 2022 also puts forward a broader call to action for individuals to step towards living sustainably and for companies and governments to help build an equitable, nature-positive, and net-zero carbon future.

WWF-Philippines’ Earth Hour Ambassador Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski shared what this movement means for everyone saying “Earth Hour might be symbolic, but it’s the most powerful reminder that we care, and how many of us all over the world do care.”

For a decade since its inception back in 2007, Earth Hour focused on building awareness of climate change. From 2018, the focus of the movement pivoted to include both climate and nature as their interconnectivity became more evident with human activity causing direct negative impacts on nature and the environment, which then contributes to biodiversity loss and climate change.

Most of the events and campaigns for Earth Hour Philippines 2022 will be celebrated online. The #ShapeOurFuture social media mini-series that ran from March 1 to 11 features select individuals encouraging the public to probe into the election candidates’ platform for the country’s biodiversity conservation.

Earth Hour Virtual Run, a self-paced virtual run that aims to promote a sustainable and healthy lifestyle, raise environmental awareness, and support conservation efforts of WWF-Philippines, will span from March 26 to April 22. Participants can choose their distance from 10 km to 60 km. The registration started February 2 and will end April 9.

Jefferson Lo, founder of Pinoy Fitness, which partnered with WWF-Philippines for the Earth Hour Virtual Run said he believes that “protecting the planet is everyone’s responsibility, especially for us runners and those who are into fitness knows how important the environment is.”

On the day itself, an hour before the switch-off, there will be a Countdown to Earth Hour roundtable discussion hosted by WWF ambassadors Marc Nelson and Pia Wurtzbach. The speaker line-up includes representatives from the Green Thumb Coalition, farmers and fisherfolks, and on-the-ground environmental workers.

The roundtable will be anchored on the importance of legislation and policies for the future of the Philippine environment. With 2022 being a critical year for both the environment and Filipinos, this aims to empower voters with the proper knowledge to create well-thought-of choices in the upcoming national election and elect leaders that will put sustainability on the pedestal.

Follow WWF-Philippines on social media for updates and events related to Earth Hour Philippines 2022.

#EarthHour2022 #EarthHourPhilippines2022  #ShapeOurFuture #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph

 

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Globe customers raise P1.9M for Typhoon Odette survivors

Globe customers have raised P1,925,284 worth of Globe and TM Rewards points to help survivors of Typhoon Odette, sending critical aid to families reeling from the impact of the deadly December storm.

The donations have been turned over to Globe’s partner organizations — the Ayala Foundation, GMA Kapuso Foundation, and Rise Against Hunger Philippines.

Such support came at a crucial time when typhoon survivors needed life-saving aid, as Odette destroyed over 344,000 houses and damaged more than 1 million others. The destruction displaced over 58,000 families, leaving them straining for basic needs.

A total of 406 people were killed, while 1,265 were hurt and 65 remain missing.

“The devastation left by Typhoon Odette called for a swift response. We are very grateful to our customers who are with us in this undertaking.  The Rewards points that they donated will go a long way in helping step up humanitarian efforts to help as many people as we possibly can,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.

Globe Rewards currently has 15 non-government organizations, charitable institutions, and foundations in its program roster, supporting several advocacies in line with the company’s vision towards national development and upliftment of lives. These include disaster relief, reforestation, child protection, hunger mitigation, education, animal welfare, marine biodiversity, mental wellness, and medical support.

Through Globe Rewards, Globe and TM subscribers can provide support and malasakit to worthwhile causes in time of need within the safety of their homes.

For Odette response, one of Globe’s major partners Ayala Foundation through its disaster relief and recovery efforts under the #BrigadangAyala program continues to provide food packs in heavily affected areas in partnership with the Ayala Group of Companies.

Another partner is the GMA Foundation, which provides aid through the “Operation Bayanihan” program. The organization extends immediate relief and assistance to victims of disasters and calamities nationwide.

Other donation partners that extend support to disaster survivors are ABS-CBN Foundation and the Tzu Chi Foundation.

To date, relief efforts led by Globe and its partner organizations have now reached over 10,000 families in Palawan, Visayas, and Mindanao.

With thousands of Filipinos affected by the disaster still in need of urgent help, Globe continues to send out a call for support to its customers.

Globe and TM customers can still donate their Rewards points to ongoing relief operations for as low as P1 via the New GlobeOne app at glbe.co/NewGlobeONE. Customers can go to the Rewards section, click the “DONATE” icon, choose the organization and corresponding denomination, and then press “REDEEM.” A confirmation message will be sent by 4438 upon successful donation.

The company strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9, highlighting the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. Globe is committed to upholding the United Nations Global Compact principles and contributing to 10 UN SDGs.

To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.

#globe #typhoonodette #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph

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The climate crisis should be on the agenda of candidates in the 2022 elections

Political candidates in the 2022 national elections must put the climate crisis on their agenda and ensure that the Philippines complies with our international commitments, environmental group WWF-Philippines said.

“The climate, nature, and environment should be on the agenda of candidates along with our advocacies on climate justice and equity. There needs to be a lot of thought and attention on how we will implement the proper actions in line with our international commitments,” Atty. Angela Consuelo Ibay, WWF-Philippines’ Head of Climate and Energy, said.

“I think now is the time to ensure that. We need to lobby with the candidates to put the climate on their agenda and to think of it carefully. All of us will be impacted by climate change and are already feeling it,” she said during an online webinar co-organized by the Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (CREST) and WWF-Philippines titled “Energy Transition to Halt the Climate Crisis.”

 

UN Climate Change Conference (COP26)

 In the recently concluded UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, the Philippines was a signatory in the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use which commits to halting deforestation and restoring forest land, the COP26 Coal to Clean Power Transition Agreement, and the Global Methane Pledge.

The Philippines sent a delegation led by Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to COP26 which ran from October 31 up to November 12. The conference ended one day beyond the schedule due to the negotiations over the text of the Glasgow Climate Pact.

As the election season heats up in the Philippines, Ibay called on those officials to ensure that the agreements they signed in the international conference with hundreds of other countries will become institutionalized and continue to be implemented by the next administration.

 

PH ranked 7th globally in coal expansion

“Even though historically the Philippines’ GHG emissions are small compared to developed countries, we should not belittle our contribution to the climate crisis because our emissions are higher compared to 100 other countries and in 2020, we are ranked 7th globally in terms of coal expansion,” Atty. Avril de Torres of the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED) said.

“That’s how many coal power plants are planned to be built. And there should have been more coal plants operating and in the pipeline, because back in 2012, the forecasted energy mix of the Department of Energy (DOE) was 70 to 80% from coal,” Torres said.

Torres cited the 2020 coal moratorium by the DOE as an important step in the energy transition as this halted 6 gigawatts of coal capacity. However, a CEED study published July 2021 found that proponents of 10 coal projects are still in the process of obtaining permits while 6 proposed projects were allowed to continue.

Maris Cardenas, Executive Director of the Center for Empowerment, Innovation, and Training on Renewable Energy (CENTRE) emphasized the need to speed up the growth of the renewable energy sector so that it can contribute 35% of the total Philippines energy mix by 2030.

“That target should be higher but the 35% target is already low and yet very hard to achieve,” Cardenas said. “That should be a reality. We need to make the 35% target an imperative and not merely an aspirational target.”

Climate and renewable energy institutions that also co-organized the event include Laudato Si Philippines, Power 4 People Coalition, and Renewable Energy Transition Institute (Reboot PH).

Watch the full webinar here: https://www.facebook.com/WWF.Philippines/videos/4431707490199990

 

#climatecrisis #wwfph #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph