Following the natural disasters that befell the Philippines and Indonesia over the past week, UBS and its employees have responded generously with personal and corporate contributions. Employees have used UBS's regular matched giving program, in which contributions to non-government organizations (NGOs) in any of the 13 countries across the Asia Pacific region where UBS has a business presence are matched dollar for dollar. In addition, UBS's Asia Pacific Management Committee added additional funds to the existing community affairs programs in Indonesia and the Philippines.
These additional funds will be used for long-term reconstruction and retraining efforts led by our existing community partner organizations in those two countries.
"Following the 2004 Asian tsunami, UBS supported the Indonesian Development of Education and Permaculture Foundation (IDEP) with excellent results," said Sarah-Jane Wagg, country head of UBS Indonesia. "We are fortunate that they will be called into action again to assist the people of Sumatra affected by last week's earthquake to rebuild their communities in a sustainable way."
In the Philippines, ABS-CBN Foundation and Happy Earth will be addressing numerous short- and long-term challenges facing Manila following the floods that resulted from Typhoon Ketsana. "We have been heartened by the support shown by our clients and colleagues throughout the region," Robrina Go, country head of UBS Philippines, said. "And through our existing partnerships with local community organizations, we will be able to address rebuilding efforts in the months ahead."
In Switzerland, UBS works in close collaboration with Glückskette/Swiss Solidarity. On the national donation day, UBS Switzerland will encourage its employees to take part in the initiative, and all donations will be matched by the firm.
UBS welcomes the initiative of SACC and supports its and Glueckskette/Swiss Solidarity's efforts on behalf of this cause.
German Text below:
UBS leistet rechtzeitig Unterstützung für die Hilfsaktionen in Indonesien und auf den Philippinen und begrüsst die Initiativen der Glückskette und der SACC
Die UBS und ihre Angestellten haben in der vergangenen Woche sowohl individuell als auch als Unternehmen grosszügige Beiträge geleistet, um die von den verschiedenen Naturkatastrophen betroffenen Menschen auf den Philippinen und in Indonesien zu unterstützen. Die Mitarbeiter haben das bestehende sogenannte „Matched Giving“ Programm genutzt; für jeden Beitrag, der im Rahmen dieses Programms zugunsten einer Nichtregierungsorganisation (NGO) geleistet wird, die in einem der 13 Länder der Region Asia Pacific aktiv ist, in denen die UBS präsent ist, spendet die Bank den entsprechenden Betrag aus der Unternehmenskasse. Überdies hat das Asia Pacific Management Committee der UBS zusätzliche finanzielle Mittel für die auf Gemeindeebene in Indonesien und auf den Philippinen bereits existierenden Programme zur Verfügung gestellt.
Diese zusätzlichen Mittel werden für langfristige Wiederaufbau- und Wiederausbildungsmassnahmen verwendet werden, die von unseren Partner Organisationen vor Ort in diesen beiden Ländern geleitet werden.
„Nach dem asiatischen Tsunami im Jahre 2004 erzielte die von der UBS geleistete Unterstützung der Indonesian Development of Education and Permaculture Foundation (IDEP) ausgezeichnete Resultate“, sagt Sarah-Jane Wagg, Leiterin der Abteilung Indonesien der UBS. „Wir sind in der glücklichen Lage, dass diese wieder zum Einsatz kommen wird, um die Menschen auf Sumatra, welche letzte Woche von einem Erdbeben heimgesucht wurden, dabei zu unterstützen, ihre Gemeinden nachhaltig wieder aufzubauen.“
Auf den Philippinen selbst haben sich die ABS-CBN Foundation und die Organisation Happy Earth verschiedener kurz- und langfristiger Herausforderungen angenommen, mit denen Manila als Folge der durch Taifun Ketsana verursachten Überschwemmungen konfrontiert ist. „Wir wurden ermutigt durch die Unterstützung, die uns von unseren Kunden und Kollegen in der ganzen Region zuteil wurde“, berichtete Robrina Go, Leiterin der Abteilung Philippinen der UBS. „Zusammen mit den bestehenden Partnerschaften mit lokalen Organisationen wird dies es uns ermöglichen, die in den kommenden Monaten anstehenden Wiederaufbaumassnahmen zu bewältigen.“
In der Schweiz arbeitet die UBS eng zusammen mit der Glückskette. Am nationalen Sammeltag wird die UBS Schweiz ihre Angestellten ermutigen, sich an den Hilfsaktionen zu beteiligen; die Bank wird jeden gespendeten Betrag ihrerseits verdoppeln.
Die UBS begrüsst den Einsatz der SACC und unterstützt die von ihr und der Glückskette getroffenen Massnahmen.
Report from Edgar U. Timbungco, Corporate Communications,
Holcim (Philippines) Inc.
Following are the initiatives undertaken by Holcim Cement Philippines, Inc., in support of employees affected by the recent devastation brought about by Typhoon Ondoy:
1. Field Relief Operations
As early as Sunday, Sept. 27, Holcim Philippines organized field relief operations teams that were sent to Cainta,Marikina, Pasig and Taguig. The teams provided affected Holcim employees residing in these areas, assistance in terms of evacuation, food and clothing. On the following day, Monday, Sept. 28, additional teams were formed and sent to Laguna, Cavite and Antipolo. Employees of third party contractors were also among those assisted. At the same time, several contractors also volunteered their vehicles and donated goods for the relief operations.
2. Corporate donation of PhP 1 million to ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya
Pledge was made immediately on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 27 during the ABS-CBN Telethon. Actual check turnover took place on Friday, Oct. 2.
3. Financial assistance to employees
Several affected Holcim employees were also given monetary support to help them deal with the damages wrought by Typhoon Ondoy on their lives and properties. A total of PhP1 million was released for employee assistance, given in cash and kind.
In addition, those who had to negotiate flooded streets and were thus among those at risk in contracting flood-borne diseases, were given doxycycline as preventive measure.
4. Assistance to Communities
A total of PhP2 million was allotted to help our hard-hit communities near our Bulacan plant and our ready-mix plants in Taguig and Antipolo.
5. Employee Engagement
Even as Monday, Sept. 28, was declared by the company as a non-working day to allow employees to clean up their respective houses, several head office and plant employees still went to the office to volunteer for the relief operations, either to buy goods, repack donated items or dispatch the packages to distressed communities.
As of this writing, employee volunteers at Holcim Head Office continue to repack goods intended for distribution to affected communities within the week.
Many employees offered to donate their rice allocation for one or two months.
At the Holcim Bulacan plant, the Corporate Social Responsibility team and employee volunteers responded promptly to the needs of the surrounding communities in Norzagaray, Marilao, Meycauayan, Sta. Maria and Dona Remedios Trinidad. The teams have been extending help to the communities as early as Sunday, Sept. 27.
Meanwhile, the Holcim Lugait Plant dispatched some members of its Disaster Preparedness Team to provide advice and assistance. Its first aid team also gave their time and effort to help out in the rescue operations in the community surrounding Holcim’s Ready to Mix plant in Taguig.
Account for donations
Swiss-Asian Chamber of Commerce
Glückskette / Task Force Asia
Postfinance Account
87-612054-5
IBAN CH32 0900 0000 87612054 5
