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Six companies, among them members of the Guatemalan Chamber of Industry, were recognized for their Corporate Social Responsibility programs in as many categories, in a contest organized by the Center for Corporate Social Responsibility Action (CentraRSE).
Ingenio La Unión was distinguished in the public policy category. Its case brought together companies, communities, the central government and the municipalities of Nueva Concepción and Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa around a problem that for decades caused millions in losses due to the overflowing of the Coyolate and Pantaleón rivers. The project was documented under the title "Flood control as a shared responsibility between government, municipalities, communities and private companies".
La Unión hired international experts to carry out a study, which was shared with every community and company in the area. With that technical assessment, and together with the other companies, the communities and the government, works were carried out that have prevented overflows over the past two years.
The works, led by La Unión, began in 2006 and consisted of about 18 kilometers of flood control embankments, groynes to restore riverbanks, and berms along the riverbeds. Walls of sandbags filled with sand and cement were also built to fix the banks. Private investment over two years amounted to US$2.8 million, mostly from La Unión; Grupo Santa Rosa, Grupo Tecojate and Tecnología Agrícola contributed US$150 thousand, and the State more than US$5 million.