Clark: Where investments and community care thrive

• Source:https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/10/clark-where-investments-and-community-care-thrive/
• Thursday, July 11, 2019

(BusinessMirror)

CLARK FREEPORT — Part of the main focus of Clark Development Corp. (CDC) this year is to increase the Corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs in order to reach out to less-fortunate residents in the Metro Clark areas.

With the influx of investments here, CDC also steps up its CSR projects, targeting mostly programs on health, education and livelihood. Partnerships and special projects geared toward the promotion of inclusive development for its nearby communities are also given new impetus.

In Clark, there are now 1,038 locator-firms with actual investments of P154.6 billion. The value of exports is pegged at $4.7 billion.

Thus, the increase of social amelioration projects can only be achieved by implementing programs and projects crafted to promote inclusive growth. People in adjoining communities themselves will feel that they are part of the growth that this free port is gaining.

According to a report by the CDC External Affairs Division (EAD) to CDC President-CEO Noel F. Manankil, four health-related projects, seven educational programs, nine livelihood initiatives, one partnership activity and 10 special projects were already implemented as of January to May 2019.

CDC-EAD reported that under their health-related projects, the state-firm extended assistance to selected indigent communities and persons with disabilities (PWDs) from nearby Angeles City and Mabalacat City. Other health initiatives being conducted by CDC are medical and dental missions, distribution of hygiene kits, feeding programs and health education activities. More than 1,200 indigent and indigenous patients benefited from the medical and dental mission conducted by CDC last year.

Educational assistance

Valuing the importance of education, 21 students who excel in academe were recently recognized as CDC Academic Excellence Awardees and were given cash incentives and allowance for the incoming school year.

Some assistance was also extended to several schools in the provinces of Tarlac and Pampanga in terms of materials and improvement of facilities. The schools are Aranguren Integrated School, San Vicente Elementary School and Mabalacat City College. Pertaining to the students, Manankil said the various developments in this free port will help bring about more opportunities for them in the future.

“I think with what is happening in Clark right now, there are a lot of opportunities for students and for those who graduate,” he said.

Moreover, since Brigada Eskwela was launched by the Department of Education (DepEd), the CDC with some locators and partner agencies supported 48 schools from Lubao, Porac, Angeles City, Mabalacat City, San Fernando—all in the province of Pampanga—and several schools in nearby Tarlac province. Various construction materials were distributed to selected schools to help maintain and beautify school facilities and premises prior to the opening of the school year.

Aside from the construction materials, CDC and its partners also donated ventilation materials, health and hygiene materials, first aid kits as well as school supplies among others. Clark locators also gave cash aid to selected schools. The state-owned firm allotted a total of P375,000 for the Brigada Eskwela program.

Livelihood projects

Meanwhile, more than 1,300 individuals have benefitted from livelihood-related projects of CDC.

These include the biannual jobs fair, local recruitment activity, agricultural livelihood and livelihood assistance, among others.

A total of 20 Kabuhayan Mobile Karts were also distributed Angeles City residents to help them start small businesses.

Training

CDC also partnered with its two locator companies in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry, namely Sutherland Global Services Inc., and IQOR Philippines, to conduct trainings for individuals from nearby communities for language and call center proficiency and BPO readiness.

This project is intended to match the skills of the talent pool with their potential employers and the growing number of BPOs inside the Freeport.

As of May 2019, 50 individuals were employed under the same companies after having completed training.

Also in May, 17 trainees were hired at O&G Leather after completing the Skills Training and Employment Program for the Underprivileged Persons (STEP-UP) initiated by CDC and its locator partners.

The STEP–UP Program is a major CSR program of CDC where it partners with its locators to conduct 30-day training for individuals in wig-making and sewing, among others. Trainees also get allowances and guaranteed employment from the firm that supported the CDC’s STEP-UP.

Special projects

For special projects, the state-run firm posted 1,222 beneficiaries, including 973 families from three barangays of Porac, Pampanga where CDC extended assistance to the victims of the recent 6.1 magnitude earthquake. An annual outreach program was also conducted in partnership with Solaire Resort and Casino, benefitting 170 Aeta students from Haduan Negrito Elementary School.

For social development, CDC also provided sponsorships to schools near this Freeport: Brightwoods School, Sta. Ines Elementary School, three Day Care Centers from Mabalacat City and Buensuceso Elementary School in Arayat, Pampanga.

In a recent CSR activity, Manankil said that while CDC has been active in bringing in further CSR-related programs, they are now leaning toward a more strategic and developmental approach in terms of crafting their projects. “We are willing to explore and encourage more strategic and developmental CSR projects,” he said.