MANILA, Philippines—Publicly listed Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. has been recognized at the prestigious Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards (AREA) for its social programs on education, marking a first for the country.
Phoenix said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange that this was the first time that a Philippine company has been honored in the regional awards.
AREA recognizes and honors Asian businesses for championing sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship. It is given annually by Enterprise Asia, the region’s leading non-governmental organization for entrepreneurship.
According to the independent oil company, it won in the social empowerment category for its “Phoenix for Education” program that benefits public schools, teachers and students in Davao City.
Enterprise Asia recognized Phoenix for promoting empowerment of communities through its corporate social responsibility programs and for embodying “innovation, solution-oriented approach, results, sustainability, and integration.”
Phoenix for Education comprises three programs: Adopt-a-School, Alternative Learning System, and book donations.
Through a partnership with the Department of Education, Phoenix has adopted two pre-schools in Davao City, directly benefiting teachers, whose salary Phoenix shoulders, and students, who avail themselves of free education and have access to new books.
Since 2008, when Phoenix began supporting pre-school education, a total of 390 young students have already benefited. A Phoenix Library has been built at the first adopted school.
Meanwhile, the Alternative Learning System benefits out-of-school youth, unemployed, and working students through free high school weekend classes and free vocational courses such as welding, electricity, electronics and cosmetology.
Since 2009, 69 livelihood students and 33 high school students have graduated. Most of them have become employed and productive, the company said.
The awarding was held in Singapore on June 10 and was attended by entrepreneurs from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Winners were recognized for their contributions to social empowerment, investment in people, promotion of health, and protection of the environment.