As a member of the Pulp and Paper Manufacturers’ Association of the Philippines (PULPAPEL), UPPC is a signatory to an Environmental Consent Agreement (ECONA) with DENR under the Philippine Environment Partnership Program (PEPP) supporting the industry self-regulation towards improved environmental performance (DAO 2003-14). The management of United Pulp & Paper Co., Inc. (UPPC) acknowledges that business profitability and social responsibility are distinct but inseparable ones. Having this in mind, the company responds to this call of business statesmanship by aggressively pursuing ComRel programs, anchored on the basic values of self-reliance, adherence to fairness, teamwork, honesty, perseverance, and respect for authority and love for neighbors. The Community Relations (ComRel) program of UPPC is one of the means by which the company fulfills its obligations as a corporate citizen of the country, a corporate resident of the community and as a corporate neighbor of the community’s residents.
		The long-term objectives of ComRel include the enhancement of the quality of life of the communities around the plant site and the enhancement of a set of values and attitudes favorable to the plant’s continued acceptance within the community. The company does not view the ComRel programs as a system of dole-outs but the programs would instead aim at helping the community residents help themselves. UPPC believes in a saying, “Give man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach him how to fish and he eats for a lifetime”. The company, through its ComRel, and the group of Ricky Reyes, conducted a 7-day skills training program - “Isang Gunting + Isang Suklay = Hanapbuhay”. After this skills training program, Ricky Reyes hired more than 50% of the graduates for his different branches in Metro Manila. For our Medical-Dental missions, the company coordinated and tapped the services of the professional group, Kapisanan Ng Mga Dentista sa Bulakan (KADEBU), Pharex HealthCare and the Municipal Health Office of Calumpit. And other logistics needed in the activities were provided by th local barangays. This is a so-called transformation of ComRel from that of a “patron” to something more of a “partner” but without prejudice to ComRel’s primary role in the implementation of the program.
		UPPC, as a corporate resident of the community and corporate neighbor of communities’ residents is also involved in community development programs of the nearby barangays, municipality of Calumpit and provincial government of Bulacan. The company supports the beautification and tourism programs of the municipality of Calumpit by providing trashcans, the nutrition program by providing some cavans of rice (malagkit), the relief operations of the municipal DSWD during calamities and the infrastructure projects of the municipal mayor. It also sends the firefighting team and equipments (fire truck) whenever it is needed. For the computer literacy program of the two (2) barangay elementary schools (Iba Este & San Marcos), the company donated four (4) units of computers with tables and printers through the Parents-Teachers Associations (PTA) of the respective schools.
		The company is looking forward that the company and the communities would relate to each other with a deep mutual respect and sympathy for other party’s perception and aspirations. And both would realize and recognize that development is a cooperative task where either party contributes what they are best able to contribute. UPPC is actively involved in the environmental programs of the municipality of Calumpit and provincial government of Bulacan. A project of Dangal Ng Bulacan Foundation Inc., Sagip: Angat River, the company chairs a committee (Industry Advocate and Partnership).