The Samahan sa Pilipinas ng mga Industriyang Kimika
The Chemical Industries Association of the Philippines is known by its local name, the Samahan sa Pilipinas ng mga Industriyang Kimika (SPIK). The association was formed in Manila in 1978 by the leading companies? top executives who saw the need to strengthen representation in the local and international fora for promoting the chemical industry in particular and the country?s development in general.
Initially established to address concerns and interests that affect and influence the industry, SPIK expended its functions to include advocating responsible and competitive practices in the manufacture and handling of chemicals.
SPIK is managed by an 11-member Board of Directors elected by the organization?s general membership. The Directors elect the officers, namely: President, Vice Presidents (each for Internal and External Affairs), Corporate Secretary and Treasurer. The remaining Directors chair various standing committees. Three Directors who form a Tricord are assigned to manage SPIK?s Responsible Care Program. The Tricord Chairperson also chairs the Responsible Care Council.
SPIK Responsible Care? Council (SRCC)
The SPIK Responsible Care Council (SRCC) is composed of the Responsible Care Tricord, 12 Co-Stewards (two for each of the 6 Codes of Management Practices) and Committee Co-chairpersons for the Council Standing Committees. The Council members are appointed by the Board of Directors of SPIK from among volunteer RC Coordinators of member companies, upon the recommendation of the SRCC.
The SRCC monitors the daily business of planning, operating, and controlling the country program.It also assists and monitors individual company programs. Members pay an annual Responsible Care maintenance fee to cover SRCC secretariat and other pertinent expenses.
RC PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
- Commitment of CEO – The program begins with the CEO?s personal commitment. This is critical to the success of the Responsible Care program implementation. The CEO formalizes this commitment by signing the Guiding Principles of Responsible Care.
- Budget – In order to implement the program, the management must appropriate resources to ensure success of its objectives and goals. Resources shall not only be limited to financial but must also include manpower deployment, infrastructure, time and others.
- Development and Promotion of Responsible Care Philosophy – The company core values shall serve as basis in the development of the Responsible Care Policy.
A Responsible Care policy will be an essential part of the company?s Responsible Care program implementation. It should establish the overall direction of the organization?s commitment to environment, health and safety. It should set the foundation and framework for meeting the objectives and targets of the company. It should be documented.
The promotion of the Responsible Care policy to the employees shall commence upon its development to create awareness and active participation. - Training of Promoters and Stewards – The management shall form a team that will comprise the Responsible Care core organization. This team will liaise and coordinate with the SPIK-Responsible Care Council for capability-building and training.
- Selection of Codes – The core team shall nominate the codes that will be adopted based on their company activities and shall recommend these codes to management for approval. SPIK Responsible Care considers implementation of at least 4 of the 6 Codes of Management Practices as minimum requirement for a program implementer.
- Appointment of Coordinator and Stewards – The management shall appoint a Responsible Care (RC) Committee which will manage the program and a Program Coordinator from the core team. The remaining members shall be designated as code stewards (at least one for each of the codes the committee decides to implement and representing various functional groups of the company).
- Communication and Training – Upon selection of the codes for implementation, the RC Coordinator shall conduct Responsible Care training sessions and workshops among all employees to create awareness on the importance of Responsible Care. Training is necessary to ensure competence of employees to successfully implement all the programs.
- Community Sharing and Dialogue – During the course of training and implementation of the Responsible Care program, the company through the RC Coordinator shall establish communication with the stakeholders and local community to secure their support and commitment.
Communication and dialogue are viewed as valuable means of carrying out consultation and addressing concerns. Open houses, educational tours, involvement in community events, public speaking engagements, are examples of valuable communication practices with the community. - SPIK RC Management System as Guide – The company RC program should be managed using a management system prepared with SPIK?s Responsible Care Management System as guide. Except as indicated by the appreciation of the nine key elements of the new Global charter, the step-by-step procedure for starting a program contained in the green manual should be used.
CODES OF MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
The Philippine RC program adopted the original Six (6) Codes of Management Practices. The Codes aim to promote the continuous improvement of the environment, health and safety effectively and efficiently by carrying out activities for environmental conservation, process safety, occupational safety and health, distribution safety, chemical and product safety, and social dialogue in one integrated management system.
Pollution Prevention Code
The Pollution Prevention Code aims to continuously reduce the amount of all chemicals discharged into the atmosphere, water and soil as well as the amount of waste generated from business activities. In doing so, the Code enhances the environment, health and safety of individuals and groups interested in or affected by the business, and responds to their concerns.
Process Safety Code
The Process Safety Code aims to prevent incidences of fire, explosion, chemical spills and similar occurrences in the course of manufacture, packaging or use of chemicals.
Employee Health and Safety Code
Employee Health and Safety Code, with the cooperation of employees, aims to decrease labor injuries, reducing latent dangers, promote health and create a comfortable working environment, thereby improving health and safety levels at the site.
Distribution Safety Code
Distribution Safety Code aims to reduce risks during the transportation and distribution of chemicals that may affect employees, transporters, distributors, subcontractors and the environment.
Product Stewardship Code
Product Stewardship Code aims to promote the environment safety and health of all interested parties by conducting risk management throughout the whole lifecycle of products.
Community Awareness and Emergency Response Code
The Community Awareness and Response Code aim to inform the local community on matters of environment, health and safety throughout the whole lifecycle of products and proper knowledge dissemination about environment,health and safety to the employees and the public, as well as appropriately addressing concerns of society.
