VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHML #1274/01 1660812
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 150812Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4385

UNCLAS MANILA 001274 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/EP 
STATE FOR EEB/EPPD NSMITH-NISSLEY 
STATE PASS EXIM, OPIC AND USTR 
TREASURY FOR OASIA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: BEXP EINV ELAB ETRD KSEP SENV RP
SUBJECT:  NOMINATION FOR CORPORATE EXCELLENCE AWARD: CHEVRON 
PHILIPPINES INC. 
 
REF: 1)STATE 51406  2)STATE 34898 
 
 
NOMINATION 
---------- 
 
¶1. Post is pleased to nominate Chevron Philippines Incorporated in 
the large enterprise category for the 2009 Award for Corporate 
Excellence in recognition of its significant contributions to the 
Philippines over the past 90 years.  Chevron began operations in the 
Philippines in 1917, making it one of the oldest and largest 
American investors in the Philippines with an estimated $489 million 
of utilized capital.  The Texas Company merged with Standard Oil of 
California (later named Chevron) to create Caltex in 1936.  In the 
Philippines, Chevron provides direct or indirect employment for over 
18,000 people.  The company's Batangas refinery was the first 
petroleum refinery in the Philippines.  The company is a leader in 
innovative environmental and social practices, and has shown 
significant commitment to forging coalitions to enhance the 
communities in which it operates. 
 
Contribution to Local Economic Development 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶2.  As a pioneer in community-based projects focused on education, 
health, environmental safety, and livelihood and development, 
Chevron Philippines has an established partnership with the local 
community to promote sustainable development.  The company 
encourages its partners to be accountable and share in the project's 
success. 
 
¶3.  Chevron's Community Engagement program is focused on youth 
involvement, education, and self-empowerment.  The Caltex Fund 
program demonstrates a successful public-private partnership between 
Chevron and the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and 
Development.  This program works with over 20 non-governmental 
organizations that provide shelter, education, and financial 
assistance to street children and disadvantaged youth. 
 
¶4.  The Caltex Fund Livelihood Program trains migrant youth in 
baking and marketing to expand their employment opportunities. 
Graduates of the program train other youth.  With the success of 
training 420 youth in Makati, Caltex expanded to General Santos 
City, where 45 youth and children in conflict with the law have been 
trained.  In the past year, the program has generated three new 
bakeshops and helped start a college fund.  In partnership with 
other programs, it provides training in General Santos City for 
out-of-school youth in welding services and small engine repair.  Of 
the 180 graduates of the mechanic program, 82 percent are now 
employed or have their own business.  These programs contribute to 
local economic development by expanding employment opportunities for 
the least advantaged Philippine youth.  Job creation in General 
Santos, Mindanao helps promote regional stability, since it is in a 
conflict area of the Philippines where disengaged youth may be 
susceptible to terrorist recruitment. 
 
Contribution to Rule of Law 
--------------------------- 
 
¶5.  Chevron Geothermal is a member of the Philippine Renewable 
Energy Coalition that supported the Renewable Energy Act approved by 
the Philippine Congress in December 2008.  This law created a more 
favorable regulatory environment level for renewable energy sources 
and supports the Philippine goal of energy security. 
 
Good Corporate Citizenship 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6.  Driven by its commitment to the social and economic well-being 
of Filipinos, Chevron supports projects that address basic human 
needs, education, small business development, and the environment. 
To help fight tuberculosis in the Philippines, the company donated 
$5 million to the Tropical Disease Foundation, a Philippine private, 
non-profit institution that offers research and training on 
infectious diseases.  The Foundation project involves advocacy and 
communication that aims for a 50% tuberculosis mortality reduction 
rate by 2010 and substantially increased case detection and 
treatment success rates.  The Philippines is ranked ninth of 
countries with the highest tuberculosis burden. 
 
¶7.  The Caltex Mentor Program Drive to Literacy enables Chevron 
employees to volunteer in public schools, and teach classes in 
reading, mathematics, science, and computer proficiency.  Employees 
also volunteer to help the "School Brigade", a collaborative effort 
between local government, non-government associations, and private 
corporations.  Their work supports maintenance of public school 
classrooms in partnership with the Philippine Department of 
Education. 
PHILIPPINES INC. 
 
 
Responsible Environmental Stewardship and Practices 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶8.  Chevron Philippines has long been a responsible steward of the 
environment and constructive partner in the Philippine communities 
in which it operates.  In 2006, prior to a government mandate, the 
company became the first oil company to offer biodiesel in all its 
stations in the Philippines.  The year 2008 marked the launch of 
Chevron Philippines' bio-ethanol gasoline, which is available in 
over one hundred sites in major Philippine cities.  Chevron 
Geothermal's innovative technologies have propelled the Philippines 
to become the world's second-largest producer of geothermal energy. 
These large-scale clean energy projects help diminish dependence on 
imported fossil fuels. 
 
¶9.  Chevron's support for multiple environmental conservation 
projects has helped preserve and protect the unique biological 
treasures of the Philippines.  The Philippine Eagle Foundation has 
helped restore the population and habitat of this endangered 
national symbol.  Project Seahorse conserves and promotes 
sustainable management of marine biodiversity in the Danajon Bank 
Double Barrier Reef, the only double barrier reef in the Philippines 
and one of only three such sites in the Indo-Pacific.  The two-year 
program promotes coastal law enforcement involving fishing 
communities, local governments, and the private sector.  Chevron is 
also the primary sponsor of the Caltex Good Roots program which 
provides livelihood training in agro-forestry and preserves through 
technology transfer to farming communities in Pagudpud, Ilocos 
Norte; Lobo, Batangas; Pugo, La Union; and Baguio City.  Chevron has 
contributed materials to 794 farming families to plant more than 
505,000 fruit and forest tree seedlings. 
 
KENNEY