RD FISHING (PNG) LTD. Spearheads Coastal Clean-up Activity

VIDAR, MADANG. A Coastal Clean-up activity was spearheaded by the RD Fishing (PNG) Ltd. on May 30, 2009 in celebration of May as the International Month of the Ocean. The theme for this activity was "Protect Our Sea, Our Future is Now".

Mr.Gregorio A. Authentico, RD Fishing (PNG) Ltd. Managing Director, in his opening speech said that "We need to make every single day as a day of the ocean" stressing that our uncompromising responsibility in taking care of the ocean will bring us not only a sound and clean environment but in return will continue to reward our generation and the future generations with an abundant source of living.

RD Fishing (PNG) Ltd. is a member of the RD Group of Companies operating in Papua New Guinea since 1997. It is one of the biggest players in the country's fishing industry and provides local employment. It supplies its sister Company, the RD Tuna Canners (RDTC), with fresh tuna which the latter processes both for local and international markets. RD Tuna Canners as the biggest and pioneering company in tuna processing industry helps in boosting local employment by employing around 3,000 PNG nationals.

Village leaders and local villagers were also present during the coastal clean-up activity. Mr. Patrick Manat, a village leader from the Kananam Island, expressed his appreciation to the initiative which the company is doing. Mr. John Wasau, Chairman of the Madang Lagoon Association was also present. He, likewise, expressed his appreciation of the company's commendable initiative in taking care of the ocean. Both leaders are taking part in the actual collection of garbage and pledged for continued partnership with RD in regular coastal cleaning activity. Other stakeholders will be invited to be partners in future activities.

Mr. Pedro Celso, the Managing Director of RD Tuna Canners, expressed support of the initiative of RD Fishing (PNG) together with RDTC employees. He encouraged the organizers to initiate the activity on a regular basis and hopes that such will spark interest not only in Madang but througout the country as well.

The activity's 300 participants were able to collect tremendous amount of garbage consisting of bottles, plastics, steel sheets, empty tin cans, and cellophanes.

RD Fishing (PNG) Ltd. is very thankful of the full participation of its employees, especially the expatriates who shouldered most of the task in the preparations of the activity and the vessel crews in leading the actual cleaning activity. It also acknowledges the support of RDTC, RD Construction, RD Foundation, and of the local communities for actively taking part in the cleaning. Keeping the environment clean and protecting it is a global challenge and as such RD is committed to take on the challenge with the support from its employees and the community at large to do everything possible to manage and keep it clean.

The activity closed with everyone reaffirming their commitment to care for the ocean and of the environment as a whole.

RD Group of Companies was awarded the Guinogulan Awards by BOI

18 December 2009. Celebrating its 42nd Anniversary, the Philippine Board of Investments, the lead agency of the government in promoting investments in the country, bestowed unto selected BOI-registered companies its inaugural GUINOGULAN BOI Recognition Awards.

Guinogulan is an old Filipino word that literally means “the lord of golds.” It is considered the best grade of native gold in the pre-Hispanic era. Thus, the Guinogulan Awards, in essence, becomes apt in honoring corporations that had immensely contributed by way of investments and operations to the growth, stability and development of trade and commerce in the Philippines.

The awardees were standouts in terms of capital growth, revenue and employment, and their individual corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda – which made the difference in the selection criteria.

RD Group of Companies, a global conglomerate based in General Santos City, South Cotabato, was among the three (3) companies awarded the Guinogulan Awards. From being a pawnshop in 1976 in General Santos City, the RD Group evolved into a multifaceted company that steadily grown into 44 subsidiaries and major divisions engaged in Fishing, Agri-business, Manufacturing, Processing, Banking, Pawning, Insurance, Real Estate Development, Hotels, and, Retailing of Hardware and Fishing Supplies. From operating mainly in the Philippines, it has made its mark in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.

Recognizing that success rests on its employees, RD Group instituted its Corporate Employee Reward and Recognition System along with its responsible Corporate Governance that promotes transparency and coherence to business standards; executes control, compliance, and risk management; and utilizes appropriate technology as a catalyst of improving business operations.

The RD Group, likewise, pursued advocacy programs through its “HELP-ECO” activities focusing on Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace & Development, Environmental Advocacies, Cultural Development, and Outreach Programs focusing on areas where its companies operate and in some conflict areas around the Sarangani province. It also undertook ocean cleanup projects in Papua New Guinea.