The iCSR Luzon regional council is composed of three subgroups based on the business units’ locations: Northern, Central, and Southern Luzon. The series of dialogue and assessments of the regional council showed that compared to the rest of the regions, Luzon has the highest frequency of calamities per year. This led them to drive the ‘Collaboration Towards Disaster Resilience’, an integrated CSR program that aims to develop and scale up disaster-prone areas in the Luzon region through end-to-end sustainable development programs.

As part of the program, Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management training sessions were rolled out in various barangays in Itogon and Bakun, Benguet; Sto. Tomas, Batangas, and Hermosa, Batangas. These sessions and other initiatives of iCSR Luzon work towards helping the assisted communities develop and implement their disaster preparedness plans. To date, iCSR Luzon has trained 100 individuals and reached six barangays in their target areas.

The iCSR Visayas regional council is working on two CSR programs: Cebu A-Park and the School-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program (“SBDRRM”).

In partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress, the Cebu A-Park was established to rehabilitate the 150-hectare adopted area in the Buhisan Watershed. This is the focus of the five-year program that will reforest and enrich the upland area through tree planting, establish nursery and butterfly sanctuary, plantation area to name a few. Through Cebu A-Park, the partner-communities will also be trained on project management and Disaster Risk Reduction Management.

On the other hand, SBDRRM program has been conducted in 11 schools and trained 30 teachers in San Carlos City, Cebu. In partnership with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the local government in San Carlos City, the teachers (Disaster Risk Reduction Coordinators) became aware of the possible risks in their respective schools’ locations. Moreover, the training identified the school’s requirements to fully implement the disaster resilience plans. These gaps are being addressed by the LGU.

Following the training sessions, the iCSR Visayas is continuously monitoring the assisted schools, organizing follow-through meetings and workshops, and coordinating with the concerned agencies to ensure that the plans are updated and executed.

The iCSR Mindanao is implementing the three-year Cacao Agribusiness project in Davao City. This is done in partnership with the Apo Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (AFAMULCO), which is composed of Bagobo Klata Indigenous Peoples, and the Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao (CIDAMI).

The collaboration of twelve Aboitiz business units in Mindanao focuses on value-adding activities for AFAMULCO, which was found to produce raw cacao and supply wet beans to buyers at a very low price. Without the essential skills, resources to invest in processing facilities, and lack of entrepreneurial skills, its members continue to pursue challenging lives.

A set of organizational, leadership, and cacao-specific training sessions and business incubation activities help strengthen AFAMULCO and revitalize its cacao business. This enables the farmers to participate in other phases of the cacao value chain.

The Kakao Konek conference sponsored by CIDAMI provided an opportunity for the farmers to learn about the latest trends and income possibilities related to cacao farming. The cooperative strengthening activities included Strategic Planning, workshops on leadership, and values reorientation were facilitated by trainers from Davao Light. The business units also provided mentoring on growing its membership and shared capital, connected them to other networks that will help them expand their capacities.

The project also aims to preserve the IP culture through the design of culturally-sensitive activities, and the documentation and promotions of their culture for the community members and the young generation.