corporate social responsibility

manila bay

DBOS Collaborates with WWF-Philippines for the Manila Bay Clean-Up

January 25, 2020, Saturday – To continue the efforts of giving back to the community and to help create a long-term impact on our environment for future generations, the Dynamic Business Outsourcing Solutions (DBOS) once again collaborated with WWF-Philippines, but this time for the Manila Bay Coastal Clean-Up along with other individual volunteers.

manila bay clean-up

Equipped with gloves, trash pickers, masks, and sacks, the DBOS team went on their way to join WWF-Philippines’ initiative in cleaning up the trash that has been washed along the coast of Manila Bay. Divided into 5 groups, a couple of hours was allocated for all teams to pick plastics, styrofoam, rubber, and glass, all on separate sacks.

After a few hours of digging and picking up trash along the southern coast of Manila Bay, the team collected hundreds of kilos of garbage, which is mostly composed of single-use plastic materials.

On the other hand, during the opening remarks, a WWF representative explained the importance of clean-up drives and asked a few people why they volunteered.

Later on, she boldly stated that the Philippines is declared as the third-largest contributor to plastic waste in the world and enumerated the top 5 plastic wastes that we contribute which include; plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic straws, plastic cups, and plastic cutleries – all are usually used in a common Filipino household and can easily be bought anywhere.

In a recent survey, 48 million shopping bags are used throughout the Philippines. In a year, it adds up to a staggering 17 billion and could still be increasing every single day. Just imagine how we are destroying our planet with all those plastic wastes.

What and why the LPPCHEA is important

The Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) is a nature reserve covering around 175 hectares of the wetland ecosystem situated on the south of Manila Bay. In 2015, it is declared to be the first critical habitat in the country.

According to DENR, the LPPCHEA is consist of two (2) islands – Freedom Island and Long Island – with mangroves, ponds, lagoons, and mudflats. At present, it also serves as home to 82 species of wild birds, 41 of which are migratory.

The LPPCHEA is the sixth Wetland of International Importance in the Philippines that plays a critical role in the survival of threatened, restricted-range and migratory bird species. It serves as an important resting and refuelling stop for these birds making their way to the warmer regions of the globe during the migration season.

Also, the mangroves forests maintained in the LPPCHEA serves as natural barriers that protect the communities of Las Piñas and Parañaque from storm surges and high tide.

People eat their own trash – but how?

Partially, we are all aware that global waste is a huge problem in today’s generation. But did you know that the world’s waste is set to swell to 3.4 billion tonnes in 2050? Along with those numbers, 2.7 million tonnes of plastic waste is from the Philippines alone. Sadly, 20 per cent – or half a million tonnes of those trash leaks into the oceans.

Although we don’t directly feel its impact, the truth is, in one way or another, we’re eating our own trash.

Microplastics. These are the tiny pieces of plastic that particularly sits at the bottom of the sea, consumed by the marine population, or might’ve been blown by the wind. Although we can’t see it, it’s everywhere.

A new study in the journal Environmental Science and Technology says that it’s possible that humans may be consuming anywhere from 39,000 to 52,000 microplastic particles a year.

When we buy a plastic product, it eventually becomes trash. Once it is thrown away, it will find its way to the sea. Now when in the ocean, plastic decomposes slowly, breaking down into tiny pieces called microplastics. These microplastics gets eaten by fishes and other marine species that we, humans later on consume.

What can we do to help reduce these plastic waste?

As individuals, we can always make a small step towards change. We could choose to buy recyclable products or drink from reusable water bottles. We can even buy refillable bottles for our hair products instead of one-time sachets. These changes in our lifestyle might look small, but collectively, it’ll be huge.

Joining clean-up drives and raising awareness, most especially to the uneducated population of the country could, later on, be another successful step towards change. And if we don’t act now, it might be too late for the next generation.

Conclusion

And so we here at DBOS, together with our CEO, Jacqui Miller, will actively take a stand to promote and raise awareness of the effects of using plastic products, starting inside our company. We will also continue to take part in meaningful drives such as this, and help secure a better place for future generations.

In the long run, we aim to be a fully eco-friendly company that actively promotes a NO TO SINGLE-USE PLASTIC campaign!

We are all and have been a part of the problem. So we all must fight to bring back the environment that we once had.

A challenge to all BPOs!

We are also encouraging all other BPO companies to take a stand against this escalating issue facing our planet. Start by banning the use of single-use plastics in our offices and later on our households. Educate your staff about the negative effects of using plastic products. Because if we don’t come together, what chance do future generations have?

If you want to be a part of meaningful efforts in saving our environment such as clean-up drives and more, visit WWF-Philippines on their website and other social media accounts.

There’s not much time left, let’s all act now.

Beton

DBOS Brings the Joy of Clean Water to Beton

DBOS believes in the value of exercising our corporate shared responsibility. We understand the impact it could make to our people, the company, and everyone outside of it. Giving back to the communities and encouraging our staff to do the same has been a regular practise since the company started. Not only it gives our employees a sense of meaning, but also the feeling that they are contributing, not just to their organisation but also to the communities outside of it. It also makes them better colleagues with a more attuned sense of empathy and understanding toward others.

Our CEO and Founder, Jacqui Miller always make sure that the company’s anniversary celebration includes a charity event or any form of giving back to the people. She empowers and encourages her people to practise giving back – it is a vital part of how she operates a business.

To celebrate the 4 fruitful years of DBOS in the business, we aim to pursue our corporate shared responsibility with a bigger range. Just when we were looking for the right moment to do so, WWF-Philippines reached out to us and presented the “Let’s Bring Water to Beton” project which aims to build two rainwater collecting tanks to suffice the resident’s need for clean water.

After careful deliberation and planning, finally, on May 6, 2019, Dynamic Business Outsourcing Solutions and WWF-Philippines officially launched the “Let’s Bring Water to Beton” fundraising project.

wwf-dbos

The Fundraising

Raising the funds for the two (2) rainwater tanks amounting to PHP100,000 was not easy. With 3 months on our hands, numerous ideas came to mind to fulfil the total cost. Together with our think tanks, we came up with a fundraising competition for the staff by selling WWF notebooks and raffle tickets – that comes with a chance to win a 32″-inch smart TV.

dbos-fundraising

Extending our efforts, we also set up a gofundme campaign to reach the international audience, which in the end, we raised a total of $935.

gofundme

It is caused by the endless support and cooperation of all staff, their families, friends, and the clients, that we raised a huge amount of donations, with DBOS filling up the remaining balance. And after 3 months of a collective effort from everyone, the official fundraising activity successfully concluded on August 17.

The Awarding of Donation/Top Fundraisers

On the same day, after the DBOS annual sports fest, a simple handing over ceremony was held. The full amount of PHP100,000 for building the two rainwater tanks was handed over to the representatives of WWF-Philippines.

Still, with high spirits from the recent sports activities, the staff of DBOS gathered around to hear the message of appreciation from WWF-Philippines. To further express their gratitude for making the project possible, they brought special gift sets for the top 3 fundraisers.

top fundraisers
The top 3 fundraisers from DBOS with the representatives of WWF-Philippines.

On the same event, the lucky winner of a 32″-inch smart TV was drawn and announced.

(3rd from left) Maris Stella Miguel, the winner of the 32″-inch Smart TV with her family.

Jean Geraldine Gatus, the top DBOS fundraiser gathered a total of PHP11,760 by selling the notebooks and raffle tickets also won the all-expenses-paid special trip to Beton for 3 days and 2 nights. She was set to experience the life of the locals, as well as take part in the construction of the rainwater tanks.

The DBOS Team Goes to Beton

Less than a month after the fundraising event, the DBOS team, together with a WWF representative, was set to visit the island of Beton.

On the morning of September 6, their 1-hour flight was bound to Puerto Princesa. From the airport, they travelled 4 hours by land to mainland Taytay. After that, another 5-minute tricycle ride to the port. From there, a final 40-minute boat ride to the island of Icadambanaua sailed to where Barangay Beton is located.

From afar, the first thing that you’ll notice is the vibrant-coloured fishing boats that were carefully lined up on the coast of the island. Those are owned by the residents of Beton as they rely on fishing alone to feed their families and also as a source of income. But, some of them farm sea cucumbers and sell it on the mainland for additional profit.

Living in Beton appears to be quite simple when you look on the outside. However, diving deeper in the community will give you a better insight into how the people get by every single day.

As we live with the locals for 3 days and 2 nights, we learned that the electricity only reached their island just before Christmas last year. But, it is not a 24-hour supply yet. They only have at least 8 hours of electric consumption every day that lasts from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm. But it is a good thing that they were given solar lamps to light up their houses from the wee of the night until the morning comes.

Electricity is one thing, but their major problem is the stable and cleaner source of potable water. Households in Beton has no faucets. On this modern day and age, the lack of a stable water source is a battle that they continue to face every day. Fetching water from the well on the mountain is a routine for most of the residents.

However, the water on the well is still undrinkable. They only use it for cleaning their toilets, the school, and watering the plants. As for the clean water for bathing, drinking, and toothbrushing, they have no other choice but to get it from the mainland which requires an hour and 20 minutes to go back and forth.

The Rainwater Collecting Tanks

To provide the community with easier and cleaner access to drinking water, the DBOS fundraising project in partnership with WWF-Philippines made it possible to build two rainwater collecting tanks for the people of Beton. Each water tank costs around PHP50,000 including the labour and materials needed. One rainwater collecting tank is expected to store 3,000 litres or 15 drums of water which when multiplied twice is just enough supply for the community to use during the dry season.

The construction of the rainwater tanks started on September 2 and was completed on September 9, under the supervision of Geoffrey Aidula, WWF’s community coordinator for the “Let’s Bring Water to Beton” project. With his help, some of the residents of Beton skillfully learned how to build, clean, and maintain the rainwater tanks. The skillset that they’ve earned could also be another source of income for them.

According to him, the rainwater tanks will last for at least a decade, guaranteed that it is well taken care of. He also mentioned how these rainwater tanks would hugely impact the community’s shortage of clean water.

The Beton Elementary School

Aside from the households as major beneficiaries of clean water from the tanks are the children of Beton Elementary School.

Before the rainwater tanks, the students are required to bring at least one litre of water every day to school for flushing their toilets. To comply, the kids went as far as daily going up the mountains to fetch water on the well. And although they are used to this routine, the risk of an accident is still unforeseen.

Now, one of the rainwater tanks is strategically placed at the back of the school and is connected to the faucets for the school’s handwashing program.

The school’s headteacher, Mr Ricknel Herman is planning to implement better hygiene programs for the students. One of those is to teach the kids how to properly wash their hands. Also, on behalf of their school, he did not forget to extend his grateful heart to DBOS and WWF for helping their community.

Beton Elementary School adorns their small community as it occupies the centre of the island. The colourfully painted tires which were used as decorations and the clean school grounds bring life to the remote island. Also surrounded by luscious greenery, the students get to enjoy the serenity of their environment and focus on learning. When the current is strong, some of them needs to walk through the mountains to reach the school and attend their classes. However, when it rains, most parents don’t allow their kids to go to school because the mountain becomes slippery which is risky for them. Nonetheless, the students of Beton Elementary School appreciate the opportunity of getting a good education. Their lack of proper school uniforms and shoes does not affect their willingness to learn.

Takeaway

Witnessing and experiencing the life of the residents is a lesson learned a motivation to continue the meaningful practice of the corporate shared responsibility. Not only it is fulfilling to do so, but just imagine how many lives you’ll get to touch by being a part of a collective effort like such.

So in behalf of the whole DBOS family, we would like to send our utmost gratitude to Barangay Beton for the warm welcome to our team and we are very much happy to be of service to the community. And even if the project has already been concluded, Barangay Beton is surely a place we’ll never forget.