MANILA, Philippines — Projectseventhousand.org, which launched last June 15, is an initiative of Save Palawan Seas Foundation (SPSF). Powered by Yehey! Digital Corporation, the project promotes environmental stewardship in a fun and interactive way.

Conceived as an interactive, social networking site, www.projectseventhousand.org engages everyone to do their part in helping the planet through three simple steps: make pledge an act for the environment, commit to it, and invite friends and family to do the same.

The site also contains numerous articles about the environment, covering topics from conservation and carbon footprint, to recycling, to the latest environmental issues. SPSF was founded by pearl farmers Manuel Cojuangco and Jacques Branellec.

RSB Launches Financial Literacy Program

Many middle- to low-income Filipinos are confined to a life without improvement because they constantly think and believe that they have very little or no means at all to save money. This mindset is what RCBC Savings Bank (RSB) hopes to turn around through its “May Yaman” financial literacy program.

As the bank’s corporate social responsibility project, the program provides the basics of managing the family’s income and expenses, with the goal of guiding Filipino families to the road of saving and investing, thereby enabling them to lead a more comfortable and fulfilling life. The program is conducted by RSB personnel in community venues within the vicinity of their respective branches.

CICT Celebrates National ICT Month

The Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) ushered in the celebration of National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Month last June. Together with various industry associations, the CICT held the National ICT Summit, which featured the official launch of the Philippine Digital Strategy (PDS) 2011-2016 and the launch of a limited edition Commemorative Stamp marking National ICT Month 2011.

A significant activity was the launch of the Philippine Digital Strategy on the theme “Transformation 2.0: A Digitally Empowered Nation.” The Philippine Digital Strategy 2011-2016 aims to contribute to the Aquino Administration’s “Social Contract with the Filipino People,” mainly by leveraging the use of ICT for national development.

Trade Fair Showcases Farmer-entrepreneurs

The entrepreneurial spirit of the country’s farmer-entrepreneurs took centerstage last June 24 to 26 as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) held the Agrikultura Trade Fair (ATF).

With the theme, “Agraryo, Agrikultura at Kalikasan: A Convergence Towards Sustainable Rural Development,” the event stressed the role of increasing productivity and job generation in countryside development.

Taking off from its successful predecessor, Agraryo Trade Fair, the ATF tapped agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), farmers’ community-based organizations, food producers, packaging materials suppliers, and government agencies and financing institutions involved in Agrarian Reform and Rural Development.

NGA Appoints New Country Manager

NorthgateArinso (NGA), the global provider of HR systems and services, has appointed Hans Montenegro to the position of Country Manager for the Philippines. Montenegro will spearhead the company’s growth in the region and have responsibility for all aspects of the company’s Philippine operations.

Initially hired as Director for Business Development in 2010, Montenegro has continuously demonstrated his commitment to the company and to the Philippine HR market through various initiatives. These include the launch of Preceda, a web-based, end-to-end people management solution specifically tailored for the Philippine payroll market, in March 2011.

He also partnered with a large, local 3000-employee hospital as the launch client for Preceda and worked closely with SAP Philippines to become the preferred vendor of Zuellig Pharmaceutical Corporation for the implementation of their SAP HCM solution.