MANILA, Philippines, 14 March 2018 – Ford Philippines emerged as the frontrunner in the 2nd Driven to Serve Awards of the Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists (SPMJ) as the lone automotive company who has received two (2) Platinum award citations. SPMJ’s Driven to Serve Awards recognizes the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs of automotive companies in the areas of road safety, education and training, environment protection, and community development with Platinum, Gold, and Silver citations.
Ford took home a Platinum award for Operation Better World (OBW) under the community development category. OBW is Ford’s umbrella program for its CSR projects around the world. In the Philippines, Ford focuses on providing access to clean water and community building initiatives in several Gawad Kalinga areas around the Philippines. In 2017, Ford built 3 water facilities in Nueva Ecija and Batangas to serve 120 families. Ford also helped improve the quality of life of Gawad Kalinga communities where Ford’s employee and dealer volunteers conduct medical and dental missions; help build, paint, and repair houses; and even organize kids’ activities. In 2017 alone, Ford has mapped out 8 community outreach programs.
Ford also received a Platinum citation for its globally-recognized Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) under the road safety category. In 2017, DSFL marked its 10th year in the Philippines and extended its scope to cover Pampanga, Batangas, Cebu, and Davao aside from Metro Manila, with more hands-on driving sessions conducted than in previous years. Almost 3,000 attendees participated in the DSFL last year, the biggest in its 10-year history. The landmark year also recorded an increased focus on bus, jeepney, school bus and taxi drivers. One of the major highlights was the inclusion of a training module on distracted driving, in response to the recent law which imposes stiff penalties on the use of mobile gadgets while driving.
“We thank the SPMJ and its board of judges for recognizing our CSR programs and the impact they make in our society. Operation Better World and DSFL showcase our commitment to help address the needs of the communities we serve, especially in the areas of community development and road safety. We look forward to helping make the automotive industry a catalyst to nation-building through these initiatives that drive positive change and progress,” enthuses Bert Lessard, managing director, Ford Philippines.
“Driven to Serve’s shared mission is to improve the lives of the marginalized Filipino families and the community projects of automotive companies contribute to this in the areas of education, road safety, environment, and community development,” says SPMJ founding chairman Ray Butch Gamboa.
“The Driven to Serve Awards aims to tell the inspiring stories of the CSR projects to encourage and to inspire, to encourage those already conducting projects that make a difference to go on, and to inspire those who are about to embark on that selfless journey to go ahead,” adds SPMJ president Pinky Concha Colmenares.
Receiving the awards from Colmenares and the Driven to Serve board of judges are Ford Philippines managing director Bert Lessard, AVP for Government Affairs Josephine Gonzalez (program head for Operation Better World), and AVP for Communications EJ Francisco (program head for Driving Skills for Life).