A Descriptive Study on the Trend of Corporate Social Responsibility on Education Initiatives of Caltex, Petron, and Shell for the Youths

Abstract

In any society, one of the most prominent and influential forces is the economic sector. These businesses or firms operate within an environment to which they have a responsibility to maintain a health relationship with. The society is expecting from theses business, especially the big ones like Caltex, Petron, and Shell to address some social concerns, and businesses meet this through Corporate Social responsibility or CSR. CSR is the responsibility to plan and manage an organization’s relations with all those involved in or affected by its activities, or those who can affect the ability of that organization to operate effectively. Among the social concerns the society deemed imminent is the problem on education.

This study then attempted to described the trend in the CSR initiatives on education of Caltex, Petron, and Shell for the youths. This study aimed to answer the following sub-problems: (1) what is the nature of the organizations; (2) what are their projects or initiatives for the youths; (3) what are the impetuses for engaging in CRS, and (4) how do they implement their projects or initiatives. This research is deemed significant as it promotes the good side of the three oil companies, thereby improve their images by informing the readers that Caltex, Petron, and Shell are socially responsible companies. The research identified similarities of these three companies based on the companies’ nature, their programs, impetuses, public, and implementation, then came up with a CSR model for the oil industry.

The researcher employed the descriptive approach and prepared an interview schedule as research instrument. Research participants include the corporate affairs manager and chairman of Caltex Philippines, project officer of Petron Foundation, and two deputy directors of Shell Foundation. The researcher conducted series of interview with the tree companies.

Data were analyzed based on the level of CSR, typology of CSR wherein motive and consequence are crucial factors. Social Responsibility Modes and Roles wherein categories are made depending on how business views profit and CSR, and the Foundation principles of CSR.

Caltex works by the Power of Three-DSWD, NGO, and Caltex in maintaining and improving its Caltex Fund. This program aims to educate streetchildren with practical skills that could help themselves out of poverty. Caltex believes that “with children, there is always hope” as their chairman stated. They initiated this program to be more socially active and in the end feel good that they were able to “give some back.”

Petron established its own foundation to signify its commitment to serve the society. The foundation takes pride with its TUKLAS. This promotes literacy to indigent communities by providing a venue where books are made accessible. Petron thinks that it is easier to come up with programs for the youths. TUKLAS is somehow PR for Petron but the primary reason of Petron is launching this program is to fulfill part of its mission which is “we are responsive to the needs of our stakeholders and that we are committed to the betterment of the community and environment.”

Shell also has its own foundation that takes charge of the social responsibility of the company. One of the pioneering programs of the foundation is SKIL. SKIL equips out-of-school youths with required manpower skills to be able to have an opportunity to work. Shell believes that in doing this, they can help hamper the eventuality of these youths becoming a burden to the society. SKIL is geared toward the “upliftment of the quality of life of Filipinos.”

Based on the results, the researcher draw the following conclusions: (1) that the oil industry is committed to the upliftment of the quality of life of the entire society; (2) in response to its commitment, the industry initiated programs on education for the youths and these are Caltex Fund. TUKLAS, and SKIL of Caltex, Petro and Shell, respectively; (3) the industry focuses on the youths, as it believes that these youths are the future of the society; (4) Caltex works closely with its partners to implement Caltex Fund while Petron and Shell besides partnering established their foundations to perform the companies’ social responsibilities. It can be concluded then that the trend of CSR in the oil industry is that its establishes partners for a more efficient implementation of its CSR initiatives on education to achieve a better quality of life through the educated and skilled youths of the society.

The researcher recommends to future researchers to (1) try to validate the findings of this study using the stakeholders’ opinions, (2) study the perception of the public on the CSR practices of business, and (3) attempt to see if the conclusion of this study apply to other oil companies.