TVI Participates in Canadian "Roundtables" on Corporate Social Responsibility

MANILA (Rochelle Hilario / 12 Oct) – The Canadian government has been holding roundtable sessions to hear the public’s views on “recommendations for government, non-government organ izations, labor organizations, businesses and industry associations on ways to strengthen approaches to managing the external impacts of international business activities to benefit both businesses and the communities within which they work.” In other words: Corporate Social Responsibility, particularly in the "extractive industries" of mining and petroleum, in developing countries.

The TVI Resource Development Philippines. Inc., recommended the following:

The Canadian Government become a signatory to the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, an initiative organized by the two NGOs, Business for Social Responsibility, and the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum;

Industry to adopt, and report on, Best Practices in their projects, as defined by internationally agreed standards; and to participate in the Voluntary Principles program where security is an issue;

NGOs to commit to the Accountability Charter for NGOs, to improve responsibility, due diligence and "CSR" in the conduct of advocacy;

Government, Civil Society, Industry to develop a system of Accredited Monitors who could independently and professionally review CSR performance in international projects and make recommendations.

On the basis of TVI’s experience, in which the company’s reputation has been unjustly impugned by civil society and political-agenda organizations in the Philippines and abroad, TVI believes that a key issue is the lack of mechanisms for credible, independent monitoring and verification of project performance.

The availability of accredited monitors would go a long way toward resolving misrepresentation and conflict issues in project evaluation and execution.

TVI’s presentation to the Canadian Government Roundtables on Corporate Social Responsibility, submitted in Calgary, October 10, is available for download by clicking on this link.