The second Driven To Serve Awards, an annual project of the Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists (SPMJ) to recognize CSR projects by automotive industry players, were hels in simple ceremonies at the Yuchengco Museum last March 7, 2018. The awards recognized projects that have made the most impact on communities through four categories— road safety, community development, environment, and education and training.
The top CSR projects in this year’s awards are projects of Ford Motor Philippines, who bagged two Platinum DTS awards with its “Operation Better World” in the community development category, and “Driving Skills For Life,” in the Road Safety category. “Operation Better World” provided communities access to clean water, while “Driving Skills for Life” educated drivers to improve their driving skills.
Honda Philippines’ “Tree Planting with Harrison Foundation’s Road to 2020” was adjudged the Platinum awardee in the environment category. Honda also brought home two Silver awards for Road Safety and Education and Training.
Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation’s two projects — Adopt-A-Forest and Medical and Dental Outreach Program — each was recognized with the Gold DTS Award for Environment and Community Development. TMP also took home a third DTS trophy for its “Pasiglahin and Estudyanteng Pinky Feeding Program” which was given the Silver award.
Isuzu Philippines Corporation’s two projects — the Tree Planting at Mt. Making Forest Reserve and the Knowledge Sharing partnership with the Jacobo Gonzales Memorial School — were each awarded the Silver trophy.
Other outstanding CSR projects were:
In Road Safety, Volkswagen Philippines’ Child Safety Initiative Campaign was given the Gold award.
In Community Development, the Gold award was given to Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI) for its Rainwater Harvesting System which now provides drinking water to residents of a barangay in Tanay; Mitsubishi Motors Philippines’ Reading Literacy program, and Lexus Manila, Inc.’s Donations to Children’s Hour were recognized with the Silver award.
Bermaz Auto Philippines, the exclusive distributor of Mazda cars here, was cited for its Motorsports Development Program in partnership with the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP).
The DTS Awards is supported by the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., Petron Corporation, Yuchengco Museum, Vista Residences, Prestone Motor Oil.
This year’s board of judges included Rodrigo E. Franco, president and chief executive officer of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation; Dr. Michael M. Alba, president of Far Eastern University; Marites Tejero Dagdag, president and general manager for the Southeast Asia Region of the Clorox Company; Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., honorary chairman and treasurer of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Asec. Dante M. Lantin, Department of Transportation assistant secretary for Administration and Finance; and Enrique Da Rosa, veteran marketing practitioner and professor at De La Salle University.
The organization behind the DTS is SPMJ, a group of motoring journalists well-known in broadcast, print, radio and digital media. Its founding chairman is Rey Butch Gamboa of Sunshine Television. This year’s president is Pinky Concha Colmenares of Manila Bulletin.
In photo (L-R): Sergio Ortiz Luis, honorary chairman and treasurer of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Asec. Dante Lantin of the Department of Transportation; Josephine Gonzales, Ford Philippines vice-president for corporate and government affairs; Bertrand Lessard, Ford Philippines managing director; Marites Dagdag, president and general manager of the Clorox Company Southeast Asia region; and Pinky Colmenares, executive editor of Manila Bulletin and SPMJ president.