Women-led social enterprises and social enterprises supporting women and marginalized communities took on the spotlight of this year’s Social Enterprise Trade Fair and Exhibit on March 11-14, 2024 at the 4th Floor Hallway of the Senate Building in Pasay City, Metro Manila.
The SE Trade Fair aimed to amplify and solidify support for the Poverty Reduction through Social Entrepreneurship (PRESENT) Coalition’s advocacy for the PRESENT Bill among policymakers in the 19th Congress. Bannering with the International Women’s Month, the Trade Fair also showcases products and impact stories of SEs, especially those led and managed by women.
Senator Risa Hontiveros opened the program, “Innovative initiatives like social enterprises empower our communities. This Women’s Month, we celebrate women-led social enterprises providing avenues for economic growth, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.” This was followed by messages of support from Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ma. Christina Roque, Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Deputy Executive Director Maria Kristine Josefina Balmes and the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, Hon. Hae Kyon Yu. Erika Geronimo of Oxfam Pilipinas and Ayaka Matsuno of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation sent recorded messages.
Ms. Matsuno highlighted the role of social enterprises in accelerating the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in the Philippines. She underlined, “We believe that (social enterprises) deserve proper recognition and support by having the PRESENT Bill passed to be a law of the country, and let their full potential be unleashed.”
Witnessing the actual impact of women in the social entrepreneurship space, Coffee for Peace President mentioned, “I see the power of social enterprise in transforming lives and fostering peace. This trade fair isn’t just about showcasing products; it’s about promoting dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation. Through initiatives like these, we brew not just coffee but a recipe for harmony and prosperity in our communities.” Featured social enterprises Gandang Kalikasan/Human Nature and Roots Collective also delivered their inspiring messages.
The event closed with ISEA President and PRESENT Coalition Convenor, Dr Marie Lisa Dacanay’s call for the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass the PRESENT Bill. She emphasized, “Social enterprises grew from 30,000 in 2007 to 164,000 in 2017 without systematic government support. Enacting the PRESENT Bill will enable the social enterprise sector to grow faster and scale up impact as partners of the government in ending poverty and empowering women as co-equal stakeholders in inclusive economic development.“
Together with the PRESENT Coalition, the activity is co-organized by the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA) and Roots Collective, in partnership with the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality; the Senate Gender and Development Focal Point System; the Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros; Sasakawa Peace Foundation; Australian Embassy in the Philippines and Oxfam Pilipinas. Overall, there were 27 social enterprises featured in the event.
Alongside highlighting the critical role of women, the Trade Fair and Exhibit promote the PRESENT Bill, a policy that creates an enabling environment for social enterprises in the Philippines. The Bill includes gender-specific provisions that recognize the critical role of SEs in empowering marginalized sectors, including women.
Since 2012, the PRESENT Coalition has long been advocating for the enactment of the PRESENT Bill which seeks to institutionalize a comprehensive and enabling policy framework in recognition and support of social enterprises to assist the recovery of the sector and the poor they serve. Through these events, the Coalition seeks to gather more government champions to support the Bill.