SYSPRO, the Asia Pacific division of Global manufacturing and distribution Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) technology company has selected a local fishing community on Gaspar Island in the Philippines as a beneficiary as a part of its global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, SYSPRO UPLift. The community will receive long-term support in sustainable solutions with improved access to safe and clean drinking water.
SYSPRO UPLift is the organisation’s global outreach program aimed at giving back to the communities in which SYSPRO operates worldwide. One of which is the Gaspar Island community, a few kilometres away from mainland Marinduque, a small island province 160 kilometres south of Manila. The Island residents have limited access to clean drinking water and with one functional rainwater tank and need to make daily trips uphill to collect rainwater. As part of this CSR initiative, Rob Stummer, CEO of SYSPRO Asia Pacific, signed a Memorandum of Support with Gaspar Island’s community representatives as a show of their long-term commitment.
“Providing the Gaspar farming and fishing communities with convenient access to clean water is a critical solution and will be an integral part of its sustainable and healthy community food system,” said Rob Stummer, Asia Pacific CEO at SYSPRO.
Majority of the rainwater tanks of the island were damaged, SYSPRO Asia Pacific sponsored repairs as well as purchased new tanks, and installed a water piping system for residents. This will allow them the convenience of collecting water supplies without the need for daily up and downhill travelling.
“Water is a basic right and necessity for everyone and is also essential for food production. For as long as this community can remember, reliable access to safe drinking water has been an extraordinary challenge for the people of Gaspar Island. Whilst they are now able to access rain water much more conveniently on the island, the next step will be to ensure a water filtration system will be in place in the near future. This has recently been approved by the Government after several unsuccessful previous applications by the island residents,” said Rob Stummer. “The efforts we have made are the beginning of the many plans we have to help develop and grow the community with sustainable solutions, including areas such as education and employment.”
When fully functioning, the Gaspar Island water tank’s filtration systems will have the ability to remove 99.99999% of bacteria that cause water-borne diseases such as cholera, salmonella and E. coli. Each system can filter one million gallons of water and provide clean drinking water for 100 people a day. If properly maintained, they should last up to ten years. The community residents will be provided with maintenance training to ensure the water tanks keep functioning properly.
Mr. Franklin S. Palomares, one of the three representatives in the virtual online Memorandum of Support ceremony and a Teacher In-Charge of Gaspar Elementary School said, “Although I am not a resident of the Island, I am privileged to witness how people live and enjoy their modest life despite all challenges they face. And this opportunity SYSPRO has given to the Gaspar Island community really is a huge benefit to the people.“ He added “The representatives of Gaspar Island would like to extend our gratitude to the SYSPRO Asia Pacific team for supporting our community with the Water Tank Repair and Piping Project and particularly to Mr. Rob Stummer for approving the project and for offering a long term partnership of support.”
