Holcim bags 5 Anvils for employee, external communications

Cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines, Inc. (HPHI) was recently recognized with five Anvil Awards for its communication initiatives, including three for the company’s sustainable development advocacy.

HPHI took home Anvil Excellence Awards for its Sustainable Construction Advocacy Program and its 2010 Annual Report with the theme: Paving the Way to Sustainable Tomorrow.

HPHI’s sustainable construction advocacy was recognized for facilitating stakeholder collaboration on programs aimed at sustainable communities. This campaign sought to create greater awareness and support for the idea that sustainability in construction should be holistic and not limited to environmental concerns. The program engaged students and the media to help spread the advocacy through a journalism contest, while Holcim Philippines held local fora to involve government and the civil sector. An internal roadshow was also held for the company’s employees.

Meanwhile, HPHIs 2010 Annual Report: Paving the Way to a Sustainable Future was cited for a powerful and colorful rendition of stories from the grey powder truck as it reaches to build relationships, and cement the bonds that propel its growth to a sustainable future. The report highlighted how the company’s relationships with stakeholders helped it grow, and how long-term partnerships help sustain the business while catalyzing the development of communities and the protection of the environment.

HPHI also collected Anvil Merit Awards for its first-ever Sustainability Report, its employee communication program, and its ‘galing Mason program, the company's flagship corporate social responsibility program which seeks to improve the skills of masons and raise their public profile.

“We are deeply honored to have been recognized by the 47th Anvil Awards Board of Jurors for these programs. These awards validate not only our approach to open communications, but also our various advocacies especially sustainable construction. We are committed not only in communicating these causes but also actively gathering support for these worthwhile advocacies," said HPHI Vice President for Communications Beng Prado.

For his part, HPHI Sustainable Development head Mike Cabalda said communicating the company's advocacies is important in getting the support of its stakeholders for these.

"We believe that the effectiveness of our programs is enhanced by our ability to convince our partners of their necessity. These recognitions further affirm that communicating effectively plays a large role is our efforts to build consensus in crafting sustainable solutions," he said.

Now on its 47th year, the Anvil has become a symbol of excellence in public relations practice in the Philippines. This annual project of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines taps a distinguished multisectoral jury in recognizing outstanding PR programs and tools designed and implemented in the past year.

Last November, Holcim Philippines also received a Quill Excellence Award for its Employee Communication Program.