RCBC: The Bank with the First Green ATM Network in the Philippines
Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation
The Bank collaborates with the Foundation in the preservation of 18 ecotourism communities in the country, in 10 provinces and in 25 municipalities
INTRODUCTION
In its flagship greening project for 2014, the bank has partnered with one of the biggest media institutions in the Philippines, ABS-CBN network, with the Bantay Baterya (Battery Watch) Project under the ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Kalikasan (Environment Watch) Program.With this initiative, RCBC as one of the Philippines’ top private domestic banks with a country-wide network of 400 branches and 1,200 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) has donated hundreds of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs) to ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Baterya Project. Due to this environmentally proactive proposal, RCBC has been named by the Foundation as the bank with the first green ATM network in the Philippines.
FRAMEWORK AND STRATEGY
The Bank, through the Green ATM Project, aids in reducing the risks to humans and the environment brought by improper disposal of toxic used lead-acid batteries. In this endeavor, the bank effectively aids in ensuring proper recycling and eradication of risks to humans and the environment resulting from improper disposal. This is done with the assurance that there is proper pick-up and transportation of the donated batteries to the recycling company which is Evergreen Environmental Resources under its parent company, the Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation.This venture strongly supports the Philippine Republic Act 6969, also known as the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990, that regulates and restricts the importation, manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, use and disposal of chemical substances and mixtures that present unreasonable risk to human health or the environment.
ACHIEVEMENT AND IMPACT
The funds received from the ULABs sold to the recycling plant were donated to the Foundation. Consequently, the Bank collaborates with the Foundation in the preservation of 18 ecotourism communities in the country, in 10 provinces (Palawan, Mindoro, Romblon, Sorsogon, Masbate, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Zambales, and the Yolanda affected Samar and Leyte), and in 25 municipalities, directly benefiting numerous People’s Organizations in these areas.The Bank has involved internal and external publics in the Green ATM Project. RCBC encouraged its employees to participate in all its activities, and partners with different sectors and committed organizations to widen the coverage of the Green ATM initiatives like local government units, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Far Eastern University, one of the largest universities in the country and media institutions to help spread awareness to the public.
FUTURE DIRECTION
The Bank has tapped its employees to continue donating not only the branch ATMs’ ULABs but also used car batteries, as they contain toxic lead acid substances as well. RCBC branches all over the Philippines will continue to serve as drop-off points ULABs not only from employees but also from clients and customers.Moving forward, the Bank will widely involve its employees as well the general public in the proper disposal of the ULABs in the recycling plants.
Established in 1960, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) is one of the top largest private domestic banks in terms of assets, with over 400 branches and 1,200 ATMs all over the Philippines and is present in 24 countries through over 1,700 remittance tie ups, agents and centers.
