Stanfilco produces and sources bananas and other tropical fruit. It is part of Dole Asia’s operations and is headquartered in Davao City, the Philippines.
Products and Areas of Production
Stanfilco has over 11,400 hectares planted with bananas and employs approximately 22,000 people, whether directly or through third-parties.
Independent Growers
Approximately 3,400 independent growers produce bananas for Stanfilco.
Stanfilco has a rigorous system to evaluate and audit its independent banana growers’ compliance with Dole’s Good Agricultural Practices, policies, procedures, and market specifications.
Environmental Practices
Stanfilco was ISO 14001 certified for the first time in January 1999.
Stanfilco’s achievements in the environmental area include:
- Planting of 354 hectares dedicated to the production of organic bananas
- Cultivation of 1,071 hectares without using insecticides and/or herbicides
- Elimination of post-harvest fungicides on bananas
- Use of nematicides restricted to identified high-nematode count areas
- Reduction of insecticide-impregnated plastic bags by over 50%
- Elimination of conventional pesticides previously used to control nine pests
- Planting of over 45,000 trees in 2003 and over 58,000 in 2004. The trees act as biological filters and prevent potential water contamination
- Reduction of deep well water and other sources of usage by 95% through the implementation of waste water recycling programs
- Reduction of water use with the introduction of the Mobile Banana Processor, which is a miniature version of a standard banana packing plant and requires 97% less water compared to processing in a standard packing plant
- Collection of plastic wastes, sent to third-party recyclers or to Stanfilco’s plastic recycling plant for production of plastic corner posts
- Construction of two composting plants with capacities of 50 and 90 tons per day, respectively
- Planting of 50 hectares as a protected forest, as part of the ‘Crates for Trees’ programs, developed together with the Kasilak Foundation
- Adoption of an eagle named ‘Kapayapaan’ (peace), in agreement with the Philippine Eagle Foundation, which acts to protect this endangered Philippine species
Labor Conditions
In 2001, Stanfilco was the first banana operation in the world to become SA 8000 certified.
Training
Stanfilco has an established training department that plans and implements training programs ranging in topics such as safety. Each operating area has a trainer responsible for coordinating and implementing training programs.
Through its virtual Dole University, employees can become accredited trainers in different areas of Stanfilco’s operations. Once accredited as trainers, they in turn, conduct training programs in their respective units and departments in accordance with Stanfilco’s needs. Other examples of the health and safety-related training are first aid, chemical handling and application, safety and ergonomics orientation.
Social Benefits
Stanfilco administers and implements the social benefits that are required by the government and Stanfilco’s policies. Employees are voluntarily covered under the government sponsored Social Security System (SSS), Philhealth, and Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF). SSS covers benefits such as sickness, maternity, disability, and death. Philhealth assists employees during hospital confinement, while HDMF provides employees with short- and long-term loans, housing and land.
Community Programs
Foundation
Most of Stanfilco’s Community programs are managed through the Kasilak Foundation. The Foundation was created by Stanfilco’s management in March 1997 as a means to promote an integrated approach to natural resource management and sustainable community development envisioned for ‘people living in prosperity and an ecologically balanced environment’.
Depending on the projects, the Kasilak Foundation works with several partners, including:
- The Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
- The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- The Volunteer Organization Information Coordination and Exchange (VOICE)
- The International Center for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF)
- The United States International Development Agency (USAID)
- The Canadian International Development Authority (CIDA)
In particular, the Kasilak Foundation, together with Stanfilco, is directly managing 3 major programs, supported by the USDA.
- Maragusan Valley Area Resource Development (MaVard) Project: this program is aimed at assisting 900 upland resource-poor farming households develop their technical skills with sustainable farming technologies and practices resulting in increased crop yield, farm productivity and income.
- Maragusan Integrated Natural Resource Conservation and Development Project: this project primarily focuses on developing capabilities of the communities for sustainable management and conservation of natural resources and increasing awareness for collective action in conserving watershed and forested areas.
- Maragusan Livelihood and Enterprise Development Center Project: the Center will serve as a program support center to the partner communities of the MaVard Project. It will be a hub for training the members of the communities on enterprise development and promoting entrepreneurship.
Medical Programs
TB-DOTS program: the Kasilak Foundation manages this major health program focused on tuberculosis, introduced in 2004.
Operation Smile: the Kasilak Foundation also manages this program, whose objective is to provide assistance to workers and their dependents to gain access to medical treatment.
Stanfilco conducts regular health outreach programs in different communities by bringing in medical practitioners as volunteers to provide free medical assistance that is much needed by the community. In 2004, a total of 20 medical outreach activities were conducted and have since benefited nearly 5,000 residents.
In addition, Stanfilco provides medicine to the government-run health offices to augment their supplies and further support health services for local villages.
Education Programs
Adopt-A-School Program: Stanfilco, through the Kasilak Foundation, has sponsored or "adopted" 40 public elementary schools in the various zones where it operates by donating textbooks, training teachers, and improving science laboratory facilities. In 2006, Stanfilco donated 7,200 science, math and English books in various parts of Mindanao for pupils in grades 1 and 2.
Housing Programs
Stanfilco has partnered with NGOs, such as Habitat for Humanity, to provide volunteer labor and funds for the procurement of light construction materials to build much-needed houses for low-income households. It also engages in housing projects for its employees’ families.
Other Programs
Livelihood and Income Augmentation: Stanfilco supports local initiatives that engage in non-traditional community-based economic and enterprise activities creating opportunities for increased income. Non-working spouses from the communities where Stanfilco operates, engage in handicraft projects using recycled plastic straps. Other groups engage in the production of Stanfilco’s personnel protective suits.
Furthermore, the Jeans Project’s goal is to provide jeans or pants to all regular Stanfilco workers. Approximately 100 tailors are involved in this project, which also creates an opportunity for income augmentation. It is expected that over 7,000 employees will benefit directly from this project.
Water System Development: under the "Dole Cares Project", Stanfilco also provides funds for infrastructure support to develop and improve water system facilities in order to provide communities with access to potable water.
Stanfilco makes charitable donations of cash and non-cash support to hundreds of private social organizations focused on providing social services to various groups in the community. In 2004, more than 150 organizations were sponsored by Stanfilco under this endeavor.
Main Certifications
- ISO 9001
- Stanfilco for the planting, growing, harvesting, packing of bananas, transportation up to vessel loading. Stanfilco’s financial services are also ISO 9001 certified
- Carmen Corrugated Containers for the manufacturing of corrugated box containers
- Some of Stanfilco’s independent growers are also ISO 9001 certified for the growing and harvesting of bananas
- ISO 14001
- Stanfilco for the growing, harvesting and van loading of fresh bananas
- Carmen Corrugated Containers for the manufacturing of corrugated boxes and corner posts, the power plant and the waste management plant operations
- SA 8000