The Poverty Reduction through Social Entrepreneurship (PRESENT) Coalition, the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA) in partnership with the Pasig City Government has showcased the work and impact of social and community enterprises (SCE) during the Pasig Mega Trade Fair happening on May 23-26, 2024, at the Ayala Malls The 30th, 30 Meralco Avenue, Pasig City.
Bannering the theme: “Shop with Purpose, Sustainably: Empowering Communities at the Pasig City Mega Trade Fair,” the 4-day trade fair is currently hosting more than 50 exhibitors from the networks and partners of the Pasig City Government, the PRESENT Coalition, and Roots Collective. The event provides an avenue where social and community enterprise practitioners and advocates could engage with other stakeholders, facilitate dialogue between the PRESENT Coalition and Pasig City community, as well as showcase products and share impact stories of SCEs.
Aligned with the specific provisions of the PRESENT Bill supporting the role of women and their specific needs in the social enterprise (SE) space, the Trade Fair highlights SEs that are women-led and/or supporting women in their initiatives and operations. At least 80% of the exhibitors are led and managed by women entrepreneurs.
Pasig City officials opened the event starting from Atty. Diego Luis S. Santiago, Officer-in-Charge of the Pasig City Local Economic Development and Investment Office (LEDIO), Councilors Paul Roman C. Santiago and Simon Gerard R. Tantoco, together with Ms. Karina Raymundo, representative of the Office of Councilor Corazon M. Raymundo, and Mr. John Troy P. Sunga, Officer-in-Charge of the Pasig City Cooperative Development Office. The speakers gladly shared their support and initiatives related to social entrepreneurship.
Pasig City Mayor Victor Ma Regis N. Sotto led the ribbon cutting ceremony with a brief report on the progress of entrepreneurship in Pasig City, which indicates the positive local economic development in the city: “Patuloy nating susuportahan ang mga negosyante ng Lungsod ng Pasig, lalo na yung mga maliliit na negosyo. Tutulungan natin sila para patuloy silang lumago. Kung kayang gawin, gagawin natin. (We will continue to support the businesses in Pasig, especially the micro and small businesses. We will help them to scale up. If we can do it, we will do it.)”
Emphasizing their support to the SCE advocacy, Sasakawa Peace Foundation Program Director Ms. Ayaka Matsuno mentioned: “It is primetime for us to recognize the power of social enterprises, to support them, and then finally enact the PRESENT Bill so that we can provide a firm foundation where social enterprises can thrive and make a significant impact through their business.” This was followed by an encouraging message from the Oxfam Pilipinas’ Resilience Portfolio Manager and Women’s Economic Empowerment Country Program Lead Ms. Leah Payud, highlighting everyone’s contribution in advancing the SCE advocacy.
Dr. Lisa Dacanay closed the program by enjoining the stakeholders to explore further collaboration and partnerships: “We are excited to work with the local government and social enterprise stakeholders to make Pasig a model City for social and community enterprise development.”
This Pasig Trade Fair is part of the ongoing efforts between the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA), PRESENT Coalition, and Pasig City Government to pursue effective ways to support the City Government of Pasig’s work on sustainable livelihood programs contributing to alleviate poverty.
Aside from the Pasig City Government and PRESENT Coalition, the event was also co-organized by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Australia in the Philippines, Roots Collective, and Oxfam Pilipinas.
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