Koronadal City—Is integrity really important in business? How does it correlate with success? Aside from grit, persistence, and hard work, integrity becomes a byword of every businessman in running a business, but like honesty, this valuable trait is as hard as a rock to engage.
In South Cotabato, the annual search for “Dangal ng South Cotabato Enterprise Integrity Award” is now in its second year. This 2019, at least seven local businesses were evaluated. However, only four nominees passed the screening to advance to the awarding ceremony on September 17, 2019.
Emmanuel Jumilla, South Cotabato Economic, Investment and Promotions Center Head, said the province aspires to create a community of businesses that upholds integrity.
“It aims to promote and encourage integrity by giving recognition, honor, and awards to different private business enterprises in the province that have successfully implemented strategies and mechanisms to promote integrity in the conduct of their business,” Jumilla said.
Nominees came from Polomolok (3), Suralah (1), Tboli (1), Suralah(1) and Koronadal (1).
Enterprise Integrity Award is open to all business establishments in the province with a clean track record and has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude.
The four categories are based on the amount of investment: micro-enterprises (with an investment that does not exceed P3 million), small enterprises (more than P3 M), medium enterprises (P15 M but not more than P100 M) and large (P100 M or more).
Prizes for large enterprise category are P50, 000. Winners for medium and small enterprise categories will receive P40, 000 and P30, 000 respectively.
Nominees must have no derogatory record and must be compliant to all government regulations.
Selection of the nominees and finalists shall be based on the following criteria: a) compliance to all government regulations, b) enterprise-initiated programs relative to the promotion of integrity, c) practice of corporate social responsibility program, d) awards received by the enterprise related to integrity and e) membership to business groups or organizations.
Jumilla believes that “integrity is practice in everything we do.” He said the practice of integrity is reinforced by creating policies to maintain a culture of integrity.
Enterprise Integrity Award is carried out under the South Cotabato for Integrity and Jobs (I4J) program which was launched in 2017 and enabled the provincial government to establish for a clean administrative process.
