Santiago, R.D. November 26, 2018.- The Chair of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability "Alejandro E. Grullón E.", of the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) and the Popular Foundation, carried out in collaboration with the Santiago Apóstol Archdiocesan Foundation the business panel “Social responsibility and sustainability: an option for everyone”, by Paul Beswick, director of the Grupo Puntacana Foundation, and José Mármol, executive vice president of Public Relations and Communications of Grupo Popular.
One of the main objectives of the activity was to share the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability strategies of Banco Popular and Grupo Puntacana and provide participants with a series of guidelines that mobilize the incorporation of this type of strategy in their own companies.
The welcome was in charge of Monsignor Freddy Bretón, great chancellor of the University Board of the Mother and Teacher, who highlighted the trajectory of the exhibitors and, immediately afterwards, made the invocation.
During his presentation, Paul Beswick referred to the creation and beginnings of the Puntacana Group and its sustainability strategy, which is part of the company's vision and is in charge of maintaining a continuous exchange with the communities and their organizations through the Puntacana Foundation. He added that this foundation implements actions to attract resources and establishes alliances to develop strategies that contribute to improving the quality of life of its employees and society in general.
“Without the help of civil society, there will be no development in the Dominican Republic,” he said, while stressing that the foundation he represents supports government efforts to promote sustainability in the country. Then, he proceeded to list the projects that the Puntacana Foundation has created in each of the axes, with their actions in the areas of health, education, culture and entrepreneurship, among others.
Mr. José Mármol began his presentation by explaining that sustainability is achieved by achieving a balance between the economic, social and environmental aspects, and stressed that a company must create value in these three aspects. In addition, he emphasized that today's world demands that companies are no longer just profitable, but also sustainable.
Mármol said that the motto of Grupo Popular's CSR area is "We are more than a financial business, we touch lives" and that its strategies point to three focuses: education and opportunities, environment and climate change, and health and human development, which They consist of a series of initiatives that are carried out through Fundación Popular, Banco Popular and the other subsidiaries that make up Grupo Popular.
This activity concluded with a panel, in which Mrs. Raquel Peña, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, asked a series of questions to Messrs. Beswick and Mármol, who responded to enrich their presentations.
This panel took place on Monday, November 26, at the Health Sciences Auditorium on the Santiago campus of PUCMM.