PRSP Concludes First-Ever Virtual and Nationwide Students’ PR Con with Grand Prix Hack Sprint Edition

 

The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) has finally concluded the Grand Prix Hack Sprint Edition, the second leg of this year's Students’ PR Con, the first virtual, interactive, and nationwide edition of the organization’s Students’ PR Congress.

Being the first Hack Sprint edition of PRSP’s annual student event and competition, this year’s Grand Prix was fully virtual wherein to qualify, students from all over the country were invited to submit a position paper about “The Great Resignation”, a current social issue being tackled across the world, provided by the initiative’s Platinum Sponsor JobStreet.

Eight (8) universities successfully advanced as qualifiers for the second phase, the Hack Sprint, where the students were given 24 hours to develop their communications plan. These are De La Salle University - Dasmariñas, Far Eastern University, Holy Angel University in Angeles, Pampanga, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, San Beda University, Saint Louis University in Baguio, University of the Philippines - Los Baños, and University of the Philippines - Manila.

Out of these schools, five (5) outstanding teams were identified to move forward to the final round – the Pitch Proper, where each team presented their plan to a select jury panel comprised of industry thought leaders and experts.

After a thorough evaluation, University of the Philippines (UP) Manila emerged as the grand champion, followed by University of the Philippines Los Baños and De La Salle University – Dasmariñas as first and second runners-up, respectively. San Beda University and Polytechnic University of the Philippines were among the top five finalists. 

 

The winning team from UP Manila, comprised of Jia Jarin, Karmela Amon, and Charlette Inao, expressed their gratitude for the exciting opportunity to be part of this year’s Grand Prix, albeit virtually.

“[Grand Prix] was a very valuable and fulfilling experience for us, especially as communications students. Aside from our win as a team, we learned and realized something that we really want to do—PR for good,” said Charlette Inao, representative of the winning team.

 

The winners of the Grand Prix Hack Sprint received cash prizes, trophies, and certificates. The champion received Php 30,000 for the team, a trophy for the  school, and certificates and gift packs for each member, and three Xiaomi mobile phones sponsored by COMCO Southeast Asia. The 1st and 2nd runners-up have received Php 20,000 and Php 10,000, respectively, plus trophies for the school, and certificates and gift packs for each member. The remaining teams in the Top 5 have also received Php 5,000 for the team, and certificates and gift packs for each member.

The PRSP Grand Prix Hack Sprint is supported by JobStreet as platinum sponsor; Maynilad Water Services, NIVEA and PLDT as gold sponsors; Converge ICT Solutions, GCash, Maya, PayMaya, Smart, Unilab Consumer Health and Unilab Skin Sciences as silver sponsors; and Jollibee Foods Corporation, McDonald’s Philippines (Golden Arches Development Corporation), Meralco, Teleperformance and SM Supermalls as bronze sponsors. COMCO Southeast Asia serves as the event’s staging and creative partner with ABS-CBN, Adobo Magazine, Class A Magazine, ClickTheCity.com and WhenInManila.com as media partners and Warner Music Philippines and PhilPop Musicfest Foundation as entertainment partners. 

 

The event is also supported by student organization partners – ADPROS from Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila, Mass Communication Students’ League from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila), PRSSP (Public Relations Student Society of the Philippines) from University of the Philippines Manila, HAU Communicators' League from Holy Angel University in Pampanga, Journalism Guild from Cavite State University, Josenian AdComm Guild and Josenian Communication Society from San Jose Recoletos University in Cebu, Kapunungan sa mga Mass Communicators from Silliman University in Dumaguete, SWU Junior Communication Designers Guild from Southwestern University in Cebu, The Society of Student Communicators from Negros Oriental State University in Dumaguete, and Junior Marketing Association from Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro.

 

Mr. Ferdinand Bondoy, Chairman of PRSP Students’ PR Con and Grand Prix, Board Trustee of PRSP and Regional Integration & Chief Executive Director of COMCO Southeast Asia said, “As I've mentioned last year, this work given to me by PRSP is really close to my heart. Back then, I was also a PR academic scholar of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines. And it has come full circle. That's why we made the 2021 Students' PR Con and Grand Prix Hack Sprint truly meaningful and special, even if it's fully digital and virtual. It is with much honor and fulfillment that we've ended this event on a high note. Our sacrifices are all worth it.”

Mr. Bondoy closes this year’s Students’ PR Congress with a challenge to the students: “I’m passing on the torch to you. As soon as you finish school, see you in the real world. And we invite you to join us in doing PR for good and making a  difference in society,” Mr. Bondoy said.

Mr. Norman Agatep, President of PRSP and President and Managing Director of Grupo Agatep shared, “PRSP is honored to have this year’s Students’ PR Congress as the platform for students from all over the Philippines to learn new insights and perspectives about where our industry is headed. May everyone use their learnings and experiences from both PR Con and Grand Prix as a tool to create and inspire positive change in more people, especially during this crucial period.” 

To learn more about the PRSP 2021 Students’ PR Con and Grand Prix, follow www.facebook.com/studentsprcongress or linkedin.com/company/prsp-students-pr-con-and-grand-prix. For inquiries, please email studentsprcongress@prsp.ph. 

 

 

Eight Universities Advance as Qualifiers in PRSP Grand Prix Hack Sprint Edition

The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) is thrilled to announce that eight (8) universities are moving forward to the second phase of the Grand Prix Hack Sprint Edition, the second leg of the recent Students’ PR Congress.

These are De La Salle University - Dasmariñas, Far Eastern University, Holy Angel University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, San Beda University, Saint Louis University, University of the Philippines - Los Baños and University of the Philippines - Manila.

These universities successfully advanced after participating in the first phase of the initiative wherein students (1 team per school comprised of 3 members) from all over the country were invited to submit a position paper about “The Great Resignation”, a topic provided by JobStreet Philippines, the Platinum Sponsor of the 2021 PRSP Students’ PR Con and Grand Prix.

In the second phase – the Hack Sprint, the students will be given 24 hours to develop their communications plan. Students will be briefed on February 3 and must start developing their plan, presented in a maximum of 10 slides, for submission on February 4.  A distinguished jury will evaluate and score the entries and identify 5 outstanding teams advancing to the third and final phase.

The Top 5 teams will then proceed to the final round of the competition happening on February 5 – the Pitch Proper, where each team will be presenting their plan to a select jury composed of industry thought leaders and experts. The winners will be announced on the same day, and they can win exciting prizes courtesy of PRSP Students’ PR Con and Grand Prix Hack Sprint sponsors.

Being the first Hack Sprint edition of PRSP’s annual student event and competition, the upcoming Students’ Grand Prix will be fully virtual. 

The PRSP Grand Prix Hack Sprint is supported by JobStreet as platinum sponsor; Maynilad Water Services, NIVEA and PLDT as gold sponsors; Converge ICT Solutions, GCash, Maya, PayMaya, Smart, Unilab Consumer Health and Unilab Skin Sciences as silver sponsors; and Jollibee Foods Corporation, McDonald’s Philippines (Golden Arches Development Corporation), Meralco, Teleperformance and SM Supermalls as bronze sponsors. COMCO Southeast Asia serves as the event’s staging and creative partner with ABS-CBN, Adobo Magazine, Class A Magazine, ClickTheCity.com and WhenInManila.com as media partners and Warner Music Philippines and PhilPop Musicfest Foundation as entertainment partners. 

The event is also supported by student organization partners – ADPROS from Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila, Mass Communication Students’ League from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila), PRSSP (Public Relations Student Society of the Philippines) from University of the Philippines Manila, HAU Communicators' League from Holy Angel University in Pampanga, Journalism Guild from Cavite State University, Josenian AdComm Guild and Josenian Communication Society from San Jose Recoletos University in Cebu, Kapunungan sa mga Mass Communicators from Silliman University in Dumaguete, SWU Junior Communication Designers Guild from Southwestern University in Cebu, The Society of Student Communicators from Negros Oriental State University in Dumaguete, and Junior Marketing Association from Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro.

To learn more about the PRSP 2021 Students’ PR Con and Grand Prix, follow www.facebook.com/studentsprcongress or linkedin.com/company/prsp-students-pr-con-and-grand-prix. For inquiries, please email studentsprcongress@prsp.ph.

Businesses commit to more sustainable paths forward post-pandemic

With the continuing battle against plastic pollution in the country, Philippine business leaders highlight their initiatives and show support for the Extended Producer Responsibility.  

Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR is an environmental policy approach introduced in the 1990s for accelerating the transition to sustainable waste management and a circular economy and more and more businesses worldwide are on board. 

EPR relies on two factors - improvement of product design and recyclability and improvement of waste management systems - and businesses here in the Philippines have stepped up to the challenge, taking sustainability seriously, by working on both upstream and downstream measures to address the plastic crisis. 

Coca-Cola Philippines is continuously moving forward with its “World Without Waste” campaign, a global effort of the Coca-Cola Company that aims to successfully recycle used bottles to new ones. In the Philippines, Coca-Cola’s one-billion-peso recycling facility is already nearing completion with a target to be open this year.

Meanwhile, Nestle Philippines which aims to make 100% of its packaging recyclable by 2021 recently launched its “Tibayanihan” project. This project upcycles used foil packs of its powdered milk into plastic school chairs and tables. This project is for the benefit of elementary schools in the vicinity of Nestlé factories and distribution centers. 

On the other hand, Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. is working on its “War on Waste” initiative to accomplish its goal of achieving 100% recyclability in its packaging by 2025. Currently, Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. is working with the government for the release of their new recycled PET bottles.

Unilever Philippines is committed to transforming all of its plastic packaging into a reusable, recyclable, or compostable material. To do this, Unilever Philippines has a “Misis Walastik” campaign, a community-based waste collection program that gives incentives to the people who surrender sachets and other single-use plastics. The program is present in over 370 barangays across Metro Manila and nearby provinces through partnerships with LGUs, private organizations, and other stakeholders in the waste value chain.

NutriAsia also introduced to the public the concept of refilling stations to reduce single-use packaging through its pilot program “Bring Your Own Bote (BYOB)”. People can visit the first BYOB site in Bonifacio Global City and bring their reusable bottles and ask for a refill of NutriAsia products. The company is also looking at expanding the project to other key cities in the Philippines.

Like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Unilever are also looking into recycled plastics rather than relying on virgin plastics for their products and alternative delivery systems and waste collection - creating a more circular economy. 

Businesses taking the lead and taking responsibility for their products like what these companies are doing is a great foundation for EPR and something that could be replicated by others but with support from the government in terms of mandatory legislation and proper implementation. 

EPR is also gaining traction with legislators in Congress with House Bill 9147 or The Single-Use Plastic Products Regulation Act and Senate Bill 2425 or the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2021 which both seek to enact mandatory EPR. 

There seems to be continuing progress for the adoption of an EPR scheme in the Philippines.  Discussions on the specific EPR model and stakeholder groups roles are being conducted. A recent study by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) presented a customized EPR scheme for the Philippines. It proposes a mandatory EPR scheme for all product packaging with a three-year transition phase for obliged businesses to redesign their product packaging and eliminate unnecessary plastics. In their proposed scheme, the responsibility of implementing the scheme for building high-quality recycling capacity should be assumed by an industry-led, non-profit Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), acting as the system operator, with strict monitoring and control systems carried out by the government.

The government now faces the task of passing the EPR bill with the implementing rules and regulations. Businesses, on the other hand, continue implementing their solutions to address plastic pollution.  

With all this progress, WWF Philippines is releasing a follow-up report in January 2022 which presents a detailed customized EPR model and roadmap for the Philippines to guide and help prepare stakeholders for what could come. We hope this consolidates all these efforts to stop plastic pollution in the Philippines.