CITATION
Holcim, a global company involved in cement manufacturing, attributes its longevity to its adaptability to change and its capability to capture opportunities for growth – all the time ensuring sustainability in all aspects of its operations.
Ernst Schmidheiny and Adolf Gygi founded Holderbank cement in 1912 as a modern cement manufacturing company in Switzerland. After establishing and strengthening its foothold in that market, the company decided to expand globally in 1962. In 1969, Holcim entered into a partnership with Alsons Cement Corporation in Lugait. Holcim also acquired shares in Union Cement Corporation, which operated plants in La Union, Bulacan and Davao. This led to the creation of Holcim Philippines.
Holcim's vision is to build foundations (literally and figuratively) for the society's future. Its various initiatives in the field of Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility are anchored on the principles of business empowering its stakeholders – immediate communities, government agencies, non-government organizations and other private sector organizations. Building strong relationships with its stakeholders allows Holcim to work side-by-side thought leaders to set new standards and see initiatives impacting our stakeholders.
Sustainability is a critical factor in Holcim's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs . This is exemplified in the 'galing Mason Program, Holcim's flagship CSR initiative initiated in 2004.
Masonry is a key skill in the construction industry. However, most Filipino construction workers acquire this skill through years of actual work experience and without formal training. In 2004, the company launched "Holcim 'galing Mason Training," a program that initially aims to provide comprehensive training for aspiring masons and "uncertified" masons across the country. What started as a simple masonry training program, ' evolved into a multi-skill training for masons on Carpentry, Advanced Masonry and Tile Setting. This capability building program is now producing new masonry trainers, foremen and entrepreneurs.
Holcim Philippines works closely with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to ensure that trainees get a TESDA National Certificate (NC I, II or III), an essential requirement for seeking employment in premier construction companies in the Philippines and abroad. Holcim also partners with the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA), the umbrella organization of construction companies in the Philippines to ensure that the trainings provided are in line with the current need of the construction industry. The company also taps the Association of Construction and Informal Workers (ACIW) to partner in the 'galing Mason Training to guide and look after the welfare of the masons.
The program also has a recognition component by way of the 'galing Mason Awards, a national search for the most outstanding mason in the Philippines.
Because of their admirable capacity building program for a marginalized and underprivileged sector, the Philippine Marketing Association awards the 2014 Agora for Advocacy Marketing to Holcim Philippines. This is first time that an industrial manufacturing company will receive a prestigious marketing award.