Corporate Social Responsibilities of Selected Resorts in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines ()
1. Introduction
Resort industry in the Philippines is booming and because it is a tropical country, resorts have a high demand especially during the summer season. In fact, in 2017, the travel and tourism sector contributed a total of P3.35 trillion to the Philippine economy [1] . Vacationists go into places during weekdays and more so on weekends for a lot of reasons such as for recreation, leisure, diversions from the monotony of life, and truly to enjoy the cool rays of the sun during summer time. Some people go to resorts especially during holidays and they prefer to go to those places where they are assured of tight security wherever they go throughout their stay [2] .
Resorts are avenue not just for a chance to relax and unwind after working hard [3] but also the best venues for seminars, recollection, debuts and wedding receptions and other special events and occasions. Due to the increasing demand, starting a resort business is a great way to get successful within a short period of time although it requires a huge investment of funds to establish such business [4] .
“Cabanatuan City is a 1st class city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the Census of a population (2015) as cited by the authors in [5] , it has a population of 302,231 people, making it the most populous city in Nueva Ecija and the 5th populous in Central Luzon”. The city has numerous resorts operating. Some of them are making an impact in the resort industry and becoming a must-see destination by the tourists and sightseers.
It is good to note that these resorts are offering different services to their customers. In addition, they are also paying attention to the welfare of their employees as well as doing their role in conserving the environment, preserving the culture and enhancing the economy. Indeed, these resorts are now equipped with the awareness on the importance of performing their corporate social responsibilities in order for them to succeed. This is also the reason why the tourism and hospitality industry claims to embrace the concept of corporate social responsibility [6] . According to the researchers in [7] , “CSR is becoming increasingly important in the corporate world”. In particular, companies with bad reputations seem to be interested in changing their negative image through CSR activities [8] .
To further validate the importance of such a strategy, CSR has become a mainstay in many corporations’ public relations campaign battery. Actually, it has increasingly become an issue in the business world and more and more companies are getting attentive to it. Companies which are engaged in Corporate Social Responsibility would often prefer to claim that they work on sustainable development [9] . It seems that CSR is already seen by the companies as a responsibility not imposed by outside forces but dictated by conscience as the best practice of giving back to society, people, communities, and environment and what has been taken from them. What is even more important; companies now have begun to realize the importance of CSR as value addition that might offer them a competitive advantage in their business.
There is growing evidence that a company’s CSR activities comprise a legitimate, compelling and increasingly important way to attract and retain good employees [10] . While other companies views that CSR activities have been adopted based on the growing evidence that consumers are willing to give incentives to socially responsible corporations [11] .
Numbers of studies about companies’ CSR have already been conducted. Despite its growing importance, resort businesses’ CSR remains an under-researched area. A study that addresses this research gap is, therefore, necessary hence; the need for this study was realized. It described the CSR of selected resorts in Cabanatuan City in social, economic and ecological aspects. Likewise, this research analyzed the problems that hinder the selected resorts in doing their Corporate Social Responsibilities.
2. Methodology
The study used the descriptive method of research in an attempt to analyze and interpret the Corporate Social Responsibility of three Selected Resorts in Cabanatuan City. According to [12] , descriptive research is concerned with conditions, practices, structures, differences or relationships that exist, opinions held, processes that are going on or trends that are evidently useful in presenting facts concerning the nature and the status of everything. The respondents of the study were the 47 employees of three selected resorts in Cabanatuan City. The questionnaire was the main instrument used by the researchers in conducting this study. Weighted mean was used to evaluate the assessment of the respondents on the different aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility such as social, ecological and economic aspects of the selected resorts along with determining the problems that hinder the selected resorts in doing their Corporate Social Responsibilities. Statistical tools utilized in this study were frequency, percentage, weighted mean and ranking.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Profile of the Respondents
Most of the resort employees belonged to ages 21 to 30. Majority of them were male, high school graduates, receiving a monthly salary of P4000 to P5000 and served their companies for less than 10 years. This only denotes that the majority of the resort’s employees were male young adults. It is further noticed that the monthly salary of the employees is below the minimum wage of P400.00 per day for non-agriculture worker (Wage Order No. RBIII-2, 2018).
3.2. Corporate Social Responsibilities of Resorts
3.2.1. Social
Item number 6 got the highest weighted mean of 4.04 and was rated “very often” (Table 1). This implies that the management cares for both their employees and customers as they keep their workplaces and machines clean. Furthermore, a clean workplace also ensures the safety and health of employees and visitors which means that workplace injuries can be prevented by taking action to ensure a clean, safe work environment [13] . This also avoids sickness of employees or putting others at risk of illness that can lead to a more productive and efficient performance at work and this can be achieved by ensuring that their work environment is clean [14] .
It is very apparent from the results that management of these resorts do not have specific compensation structure as regards to the salaries and wages of their employees since they are not regularly following the regional wage rates. Additionally, employees are sometimes involved in decision-making processes. Notwithstanding the fact that involving employees in the decision-making the process not only empowers them to contribute to the success of an organization but also saves the company time and money, in increased productivity and reduced outsourcing [15] .
3.2.2. Health and Safety
When it comes to health and safety, items number 2 and 5 got the highest ranks with a weighted mean of 4.81 and 4.68, respectively and were rated “always” (Table 2). This implies that the water of swimming pools in each resort is changed
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Table 1. Corporate social responsibility of the selected resorts (Social Aspect-Employees Welfare).
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Table 2. Corporate social responsibility of the selected resorts (Social Aspect-Health and Safety).
regularly. Aside from the attractiveness, it can create to the customers, cleaning the resorts swimming pool regularly lead to longevity, fewer costly repairs, maintains sanitary and safe water, improves aesthetic, better operation and functionality, develop the value of the resorts and more enjoyment from regular use [16] .
The resorts also employ security personnel who are on duty on a 24-hour basis to safeguard the customers as well as the management of the resorts. The reality, people are wanting extra security when it comes to their immediate environment such as in the workplace and even when they are on a vacation in any place [17] . Businesses like resorts have to deal with the fact that theft and other crimes can occur on business premises and guards can be used to prevent crime, maintain security, and assist customers and employees [18] .
3.2.3. Ecological
Item number 10 got the highest rank with a weighted mean of 4.64 and was rated “always”. This shows that there are garbage cans in all activity areas to maintain the cleanliness of the area (Table 3). When a business supplies its employees and customers with easy access to waste containers, overall maintenance of the building is made easier and buildings stay cleaner and neater [19] .
3.2.4. Economics
In the economic aspect of being socially responsible, Items numbers 1 and 2 got the highest ranks with a weighted mean of 5.00, and rated “very often” (Table 4). This shows that the management of the resorts renew their permits and licenses
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Table 3. Corporate Social Responsibility of the Selected Resorts (Ecological Aspect).
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Table 4. Corporate Social Responsibility of the Selected Resorts (Economics Aspect).
and at the same time pay their taxes regularly. It is found out that the management of these resorts are complying with the government policies when it comes to renewal of permits and licenses which make their businesses legally operating. Since today it cannot be denied that paying tax is already viewed as an element of corporate responsibility [20] , it is clearly part of how business contributes to society where it much consideration as part of the economic dimension, and how companies contribute to the creation of prosperity and to stability in one’s economy.
3.3. Problems that Hinder the Three Selected Resorts in Doing Their Corporate Social Responsibilities
Item 3 which is lack of time got the highest weighted mean of 4.32 and rated “Always” is the top problem of the resorts in doing their corporate social responsibilities (Table 5). Furthermore, the lack of technology was felt by the employees
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Table 5. Problems Encountered by the Selected Resorts in doing their CSR.
with regards to their compliance with the implementation of CSR. Although there is already a presence of rejuvenation in technology, these resorts in Cabanatuan City have realized the absence of technology was due to lack of funds. Despite doing important work for a company that seemed committed to social responsibility [21] , lack of employee motivation to implement CSR seems to be another issue because employees are the soul in the companies’ engagement to CSR and their role is very significant to the companies’ success in their CSR advocacy.
4. Conclusions and Recommendations
The selected resorts often do their part in fulfilling the welfare of their employees as well as in promoting the rich culture and enhancing the economy. Management focuses on keeping their workplaces and machines clean and views that this compliance is major contributors to make their employees more efficient in performing their duties at work. On the other hand, the three selected resorts perform their role in safeguarding the health and safety of both the employees and customers as well as in preserving the environment very often. Additionally, the management realizes the importance of ecological aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) where their duties cover all environmental consequences of their company’s operations, services, and facilities. However, lack of time and support from top management and unavailability of technology are top problems that hinder the resort in performing their Corporate Social Responsibility.
The researchers suggest that the management of the respondent resorts must continue to assess their level of compliance to Corporate Social Responsibility to attain its sustainability and improve other areas they found missing. Also, the management of the resorts should provide their employees especially those in need of assistance and would want to undergo training to ensure development [22] particularly those who are working as lifeguards and first aiders and the local government must give incentives to all the businesses that are active in doing their Corporate Social Responsibilities.