BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance encouraging the various civil society organizations (CSOs) and private businesses operating in the city to pursue and implement their corporate social responsibilities to promote the general welfare of the people living in the city.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Maria Mylen Victoria G. Yaranon states that to encourage the active participation of the private sector in local governance, the city officially recognizes the contributions of the various businesses and other organizations in promoting the general welfare, thus, it will be a policy of the local government to support the implementation of the corporate social responsibilities of private business and other groups by coordinating with and assisting the private sector in the planning, formulation and implementation of their desired programs and activities.
The ordinance stipulates it shall be obligatory for all program organizers to coordinate with appropriate offices of the city government before the implementation of their programs and activities related to the exercise of their corporate social responsibilities to safeguard the interest of the city and to preserve the comfort, convenience and well-being of its inhabitants.
The ordinance designates the Office of the City Administrator as the coordinating office responsible in making the proper coordination with various concerned offices that will, among other things, assist in the maintenance and preservation of public peace, public order, and public safety, the preservation and protection of the environment, the enrichment of culture, and the enhancement of the economic prosperity, comfort and convenience of the people.
Under the proposed ordinance, the City Administrator is authorized to create a coordinating committee to draw up guidelines, rules and regulations necessary for the effective discharge of the said assigned duty and responsibility, and in the formulation of such programs and activities, the administrator shall see to it that the city government shall be exempt from liability that might arise from any act or omission on the occasion of the implementation of the activities related to the corporate social responsibilities of private companies or other private organizations.
After proper coordination and before implementation, such programs and activities shall be submitted to the City Council to resolve its compliance or non-compliance with existing laws, ordinances and resolutions.
The ordinance notes corporate social responsibility is a self-regulating business model that helps a company to be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders and the general public, thus, it is a broad concept that can take many forms depending on the company and industry.
By practicing corporate social responsibility, companies will be conscious on impact they have in all aspects of society, including economic, social and environmental, thus, business and other organizations can benefit society while boosting their own brands and their corporate trade names.
By Dexter A. See