Corporate Responsibility and the Primer Group
The Corporate Social Responsibility Expo sponsored a CEO Breakfast last July 7, 2006 at the Every Nations Institute in Fort Bonifacio. Present was Primer Group CEO Jimmy Thai, who gave a talk on Corporate Responsibility. In his speech, he spoke about some of the social and scientific projects that his company has been involved in for the past few years.
Thai is one of the co-founders of the Primer Group, a trading firm with ten different affiliates and subsidiaries that range from consumer and industrial goods to property investments. One of these is The North Face, the world's leading brand of outdoor gear and apparel.
Though most people know The North Face as the place to go to for their outdoor expedition needs, what a lot of them don't know is that The North Face has been conducting expeditions of its own, this time in the fields of science, research, and exploration.
In early 2006, The North Face backed mountaineer Romi Garduce's ascent to the peak of Mt. Everest. As a whole nation looked on, Romi realized his dream, becoming the third and the oldest Filipino to reach the top of the world's highest peak. Romi's climb was more than jut a personal journey. His ascent was made in conjunction with Climb for a Cause , a foundation dedicated to raising funds for the underprivileged and for the environment. This was not the first time The North Face and Garduce have worked together for Climb for a Cause. The apparel company also sponsored Garduce's climb up Mt. Cho Oyu, te sixth highest mountain in the world, also located in Nepal. Some of Climb for a Cause's projects includes coral reef rehabilitation, providing assistance to UP-PGH patients, and presenting students in Bukidnon with scholarships .
The North Face is also sponsoring the Tandikan Expedition , a Palawan-based conservation research program that revolves around the tandikan or peacock-pheasant (also called the Palawan Peacock), and the Palawan Hornbill, both of which are in danger of extinction. The Tandikan Expedition supports conservation efforts by rallying neighboring communities around popular local species. Using the two birds as models, the expedition is better able to help Palawan natives understand the impact of their presence on the local wildlife.
Another of The North Face's explorative research expeditions is the Calayan Rail Project . Until a few years ago, nobody knew that the Calayan Rail existed. Native to the island of Calayan in the Babuyan Islands, the Calayan Rail is a newly discovered specie that has already, in such a short span of time, made it to the endangered species list. The discovery of the rail gave rise to the creation of the NGO Isla Biodiversity Conservation, of which the Calayan Rail Project is under. The project aims to initiate a long-term program for the conservation of the Calayan Rail and of other wildlife in Calayan Island. So far, conducted activities include a survey of the said species on Calayan Island, a consultative workshop, community education and training, as well as other environmental advocacy work.
These are but a few of the projects that the Primer Group has undertaken. They are testament to Thai's and the Primer Group's belief that a company's responsibility is not just to itself, but to the community as well.