League calls for stronger CSR in disaster response

The League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) is pressing companies to expand and institutionalize corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs as climate-driven disasters and governance concerns strain communities across Cebu and the Visayas.

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The call comes ahead of LCF’s first CSR convention in the region, where business leaders will convene to build a stronger, coordinated CSR network.

The two-day convention, set for February 4-5, 2026 at Maayo Hotel in Mandaue City, aims to draw at least 120 delegates per day—roughly in line with LCF’s annual turnout in Manila.

The event will gather corporations, foundations, chambers, and civil society groups to discuss how the private sector can deepen its role in disaster preparedness, public health, education, environmental protection, and long-term community development.

“The most vulnerable suffer the most when calamities strike, and unresolved governance issues only make recovery harder,” said LCF Chairman Shem Jose Garcia.

“This is the time for corporations to amplify CSR efforts and work as a community, with CSR embedded in their DNA,” added Garcia, who is also the executive director of Vivant Foundation.

Disasters Push Companies to Revisit CSR Budgets

While LCF officials said it is too early to measure whether Cebu-based firms have immediately shifted additional funds to CSR following recent earthquakes and Typhoon Tino, early signals point to rising pressure to expand allocations.

LCF’s internal mapping shows most member companies already maintain annual CSR and disaster-response budgets. But when major calamities hit, firms often seek supplemental funds from parent companies or raise resources from consumers and employees.