Korean-led firm boosts communities in Pampanga, Tarlac, Aurora

HELPING HAND “HFI is committed for the long haul to bringing hope and enhancing the quality of lives through sustainable and impactful projects, one local community at a time,” said HFI general manager Ronnel Golimlim. —Contributed photos

MANILA, Philippines — The Korean-led Hann Philippines Inc., operator of Clark Marriott, Swissotel, and Widus in Clark Freeport in Pampanga, undertakes its corporate social responsibility programs through its Hann Foundation (formerly the Widus Foundation Inc.).

HFI aimed to “cultivate a culture of care and compassion by uplifting communities through timely, efficient, and collaborative projects, each centered on creating better opportunities and building a brighter future for all,” HFI general manager Ronnel Golimlim said.

Since its founding in 2017, HFI has done social, educational, health, disaster relief, and cultural heritage projects that have “helped rebuild, sustain and develop communities across the country,” according to Golimlim.

“HFI is committed for the long haul to bringing hope and enhancing the quality of lives through sustainable and impactful projects, one local community at a time.”

CSR programs

The company’s CSR projects are done near or outside where it does business, including the 450-hectare Hann Reserve at the New Clark City in Tarlac.

Last September, its disaster relief operation program, called BayaniHann, assisted families affected by the typhoons and oil spill in Bataan with food packs and basic goods to aid families impacted by the recent supertyphoon and oil spill.

HFI also gave a grant of P5 million to support the renovation of the 2019 earthquake-damaged Holy Rosary Parish in Angeles City.

The HFI’s Drop-to-Adopt project with Swissotel Clark and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, meanwhile, has sustained a long-term feeding program in Sitio Mabilog in Bamban town in Tarlac. Swissotel Clark donated cooking utensils, a gas stove with two burners, a gas tank, plates, spoons, and forks, a water heater, and a rice cooker. The HFI also held tree-planting activities in the same area.

Training center

For the earth, Swissotel Clark uses eco-friendly edible straws made of tapioca and rice, while Clark Marriott Hotel handles food waste with partners that repurpose surplus food responsibly.

HFI also built in Tarlac a training center in step with its Skills Training and Employment Project (STEP), complete with tools. This is aligned with Goal 4 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

HFI earlier did a school supplies project and a “drink water” campaign among schoolchildren, mostly Aetas, in Bamban town. It also began there the Light Up Bamban Project, consisting of solar lights and panels.

In September 2023, HFI distributed food packs, water and hygiene kits, temporary shelter, and medical aid to 500 survivors of Supertyphoon “Egay” and Typhoon “Falcon” in Sasmuan, Pampanga.

In August, HFI assisted 500 families in Barangays Bongtolan and Cabaroan in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, with food, water, and hygiene kits, temporary shelter, and medical support. The same was given to 500 families in Masantol and 500 families in Candaba, both in Pampanga.

The CSR extended to Nueva Ecija and Aurora provinces in 2022 through relief operations.

From the donation of 100 toilet bowls by the Grageda-Arcilla family, HFI gave these facilities to families in Sitio Gayaman, Barangay Anupul, Bamban, Tarlac.

And in September 2022, HFI built a day care center in Nabuclod, Floridablanca town in Pampanga, replacing an old structure damaged by the April 2019 earthquake there.