Each one of us will have our own lasting memory of the COVID years. There are those who lost loved ones. Others suffered through the pain of having been infected by the virus. Yet others endured together with family or friends who were afflicted. The sense of helplessness and hopelessness certainly pervaded many homes. The lethality of COVID – and, worse, not knowing what to do to contain it– was nerve-racking and an assault on our mortality.
But, out of misfortunes also come good things. One of the most significant positive outcomes was the pandemic of kindness that accompanied the spread of COVID. Many suffered but many, too, heeded the call for good Samaritans. It was not so much an organized response as it was a natural outpouring of caring. The Filipinos refer to it as “malasakit”(concern for others) and “bayanihan”(sense of community). Seeing the outpouring of assistance, sharing and even simple gestures of being there for others truly touched many hearts, mine included.
In the early days of community quarantine, there was a rush to help essential workers get to and from their places of duty. Due to the lockdown on public transport, many front liners walked tens of kilometers. The community responded with ride sharingand a supply of bikes and scooters, used or new. Auto makers donated vehicles or loaned much needed transport units to hospitals, local government units or NGO’s.
Another manifestation that spread like wildfire was the establishment of “community pantries” where people gave what they couldand took based on whatthey needed. It was a purely voluntary movement that demonstrated how genuinely people cared for each other. Of course, many acts of individual kindness also mushroomed. It was truly heartening to see the goodness of people shine through the darkness of COVID.
On a larger scale, the partnership between business enterprises and the government was also elevated.To the extent possible, businesses protected livelihoods by avoiding or minimizing lay-offs. Companies also instituted protocols, especially testing and health care, that helped employees manage their personal circumstances. Shuttles were even provided to compensate for the impairment of public transport.
Additionally, community outreach efforts were stepped-up particularly in terms of alleviatingbasicneeds of indigent communities.Assistance to the general public in terms of the establishment of COVIDtesting centers were undertaken in earnest. At a time when the critical health care capacity of the country was floundering under the weight of rising COVID cases, companies responded by partnering with government to set-up isolation centers and even treatment facilities.But, most importantly, was the joint effort to source the much needed vaccines to inoculate the population. It was amazing to see what concerted efforts could make happen.
One of the most important enablers of the government and business collaboration was the philanthropic arm of companies.In the case of the GT Capital group, the Metrobank Foundation (MBFI), the Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation (TMPF) and the Tyfamily-led GT Foundation (GTFI)were at the forefront of various CSR initiatives during the COVID pandemic.
The scale of CSR activities has been growing for many years now. Recently, though, the growing importance of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) standards in enterprises underscored the need to align both CSR and ESG initiatives.The Metrobank Foundation and GT Foundation have been prime movers of CSR activities for the GT Capital group. Headed by its President, Chito Sobrepeña, MBFI has been an active partner in differentphilanthropic fields.
As the country prepares to exit from the COVID pandemic, MBFI and GTFI see an even more significant role. They have determined that economic recovery must be accompanied by social recovery. In preparation for this, they are spearheading a new initiative that is aimed at achieving a higher level of alignment between the CSR and ESG goals of the GT Capital group. It also aims to optimize the combined resources of the entire group for a more impactful engagement with its stakeholders and society-at-large.
The main direction is to focus on six Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)–poverty alleviation, good health and well-being, quality education, decent work and economic growth, sustainable cities and communities, and climate action. CSR projects of the GT Capital group will center on these SDG goals and will also be geographically focused.
Moving forward, the GT Foundation established a resiliency framework that aims to create an impactful, long-term, sustainableand collaborative initiative.A more integrated program will allow the GT Capital group to converge projects, assemble committed stakeholders and realize maximum development impact for target beneficiaries. This all-of-GT Capital approach, as I see it, will significantly amplify the achievement of the group’s CSR and ESG goals.
We all wish the COVID pandemic will fade away. I hope, though, that the pandemic evolves into an endemic of kindness that is here to stay.
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