Quantity Solutions Inc. (QSI) recently presented the Astoria Hotels & Resorts (AHR) Group with the Nation Builder Award.

The award is based on the following criteria: Countryside Investment, Local Talent Development, Championing Local Engineering and Job Creation.

The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc. (AmCham) co-presented the award which strongly reflects the values that AmCham espouses, specifically “contributing to the civic and economic development of the Philippines.”

QSI President Rynor Jamandre said: “The award is given to an individual or company who has continuously contributed to the economic development of the countryside with focus on human capital. This award aims to recognize the value of these developments in shaping the future of our Filipino families.”

Nation Builder Award: American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc. Executive Director David Ebb Hinchcliffe (right) and Quantity Solutions Inc. President Rynor Jamandre (left) confer the Nation Builder Award to Astoria Hotels & Resorts President Jeffrey Ng (third from left) and Chief Operating Officer Vivian Ng.

“Provincial projects create a viable option for Filipinos to find employment and help develop their local economies without congesting the metropolis,” he added.

AmCham Executive Director David Ebb Hinchcliffe emphasized that AHR truly deserves the award. Having visited the chain’s Astoria Bohol property and studying other properties outside Metro Manila, he noted the high-quality training given to AHR staff.

“There are two reasons why AmCham has always advocated countryside development. First, is to decongest Metro Manila. Secondly, AmCham believes that prosperity for all Filipinos will only be realized once the wealth reaches areas beyond Metro Manila,” he said.

In his acceptance speech at the awarding ceremony, Astoria Hotels & Resorts President Jeffrey Ng extolled his hotel group’s initiatives towards economic inclusion.

To that end, Astoria Hotels & Resorts has always been developed with an eye towards economic inclusion and effective countryside development.

Each Astoria property is proudly Filipino. AHR plans and designs each development according to the local vibe of every location.

Each development also boasts of a professional management team led by Filipino executives, complemented by a local staff who are mostly from the nearby barangay (village) or municipalities.

Astoria Palawan, in particular, has been at the forefront of many of these initiatives. For instance, Astoria Palawan directly purchases the local daily fresh catch of fishermen and vegetables from local farmers at fair prices, thus eliminating the need for middlemen and maximizing the income potential of the local folk.

Astoria Palawan also promotes the tourism initiatives of the local population, specifically the indigenous Batac tribe, through the staging of occasional cultural presentations.

To generate more income for the tribe, Astoria Palawan even assists in the sale of their handicrafts.

Astoria Palawan also recently hosted AHR’s very own #SikapPinoy Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Event, wherein farmers and fisherfolk attended a workshop on Financial Literacy by finance guru Salve Duplito, while other speakers shared various experiences on how to overcome adversities in life.

In 2017, Astoria Palawan launched the Jobstart Program which was supported by the government. Of the Jobstart Program’s approximately 20 graduates, about 10 were absorbed by Astoria Palawan as wait and housekeeping staff, while the rest have found employment in the local hospitality industry.

In spite of these early successes, Ng promised to continue their work toward helping to develop more employment opportunities in the countryside and to bring out the best of Filipino creativity and design as AHR further expands its presence in the next few years.

Part of these next new steps is the institution of a “Go Pinoy” campaign to source the best raw materials, suppliers and designers — among others — to sustain the development of Filipino talent and artistry.

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