Leading building solutions provider Holcim Philippines assisted more than 160,000 people in 2020, diverting more resources to community health and sanitation projects in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the impact of COVID-19 on its business and the challenges on bringing out support to local communities due to safety, the Company continued its corporate citizenship campaign Holcim HELPS, which benefitted 164,913 individuals in 2020.
The centerpiece of this year’s Holcim HELPS campaign is on water access, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for schools and communities in partnership with the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) and the Manila Water Foundation.
Through these partnerships, Holcim Philippines communities received 5,300 information and education materials on proper hand washing and COVID-19 prevention, as well as 800 hygiene kits and children’s storybooks on WASH.
The initiative benefited 78,698 individuals in Bacnotan, La Union, Norzagaray, Bulacan), Mabini, Batangas, Lugait, Misamis Oriental, and Bunawan District, Davao City.
Community Health and Sanitation projects accounted for 35% of total Holcim HELPS expenditures, as the Company focused more on this area to help strengthen host communities against the disease. The company leveraged on its strong partnerships with stakeholders and regularly consulted with communities to deliver the needed support.
Infrastructure projects, which previously cornered the biggest allocation of the Holcim HELPS budget, slid to second in 2020 with 26% share followed by Community Donations (21%), and Community Water Projects (11%).
Holcim Vice President for Communications Cara Ramirez said: “Our Company remains committed to support in any way that we can the communities that have been home to our people and facilities for decades especially during challenging times such as 2020.”
“With the assistance from our partners and great dedication from our people on the ground, we provided much needed support that responds to our communities’ needs. As we grow our company, we will continue and strive further to support the sustainable development of our communities through the HELPS campaign,” she added.
Another Holcim HELPS highlight was its donations to fight the COVID-19 pandemic that benefitted 45,901 community members and government and medical frontliners.
The Company distributed more than 15,000 food packs, 10,000 masks, 300 face shields and goggles, and 50 liters of soap and sanitizers to various stakeholders nationwide.
Since the Holcim HELPS’ campaign launch in 2018, more than 770,000 community partners have benefitted from the social development initiatives of the Company through its cement plants and terminals nationwide.
For the next ten years, the company intends to help and an additional 1.6 million people.
Other Holcim HELPS highlights in 2020 were its partnership with the Manila Water Foundation to build 45 lavatories for an Aeta community at Sitio Monicayo, Mabalacat, Pampanga. This program provided water for waterless communities and sanitation facilities to promote proper hygiene and eliminate open defecation.
For infrastructure, Holcim’s Bulacan plant supported the road and pavement improvement of host community, Barangay Matictic in Norzagaray, so people can more easily access social services. Since 2017, the program has improved three kilometers of roads and pathways benefitting more than 6,000 residents.
In 2020, the company’s Davao Plant turned over its second water system project that will provide clean and safe water to communities in the Bunawan District of Davao City. The two facilities now provide close to 500 households sustainable access to water and a future source of livelihood.
Meanwhile, the Company’s terminal sites in Calaca, Batangas is nearing completion of an artificial coral reef project developed in consultation with the local government and fisherfolk community.
Over the past two years, the terminal supported the fabrication of 145 concrete artificial corals to invigorate the marine life in the area. Two hundred households will benefit once these artificial corals are deployed in the site to be selected.
Finally, more than 260 houses for families displaced by the conflict in Marawi were built in 2020 under Holcim Philippines’ partnership with the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to support the rebuilding of the city.
Close to 45,000 bags of Holcim Excel cement were used to build the structures assisted by the 116 workers who underwent masonry training under the company’s ‘galing Mason program.
This is part of the Phase-1 of the project the UN-Habitat in partnership with the Government of Japan, the Task Force Bangon Marawi, and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. The next phases are set for this year.
