Localizing the PRESENT program and policy agency in Pasig City

On September 20, 2022, the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA) and the Poverty Reduction through Social Entrepreneurship (PRESENT) Coalition organized an orientation on Sustainable Livelihoods and Poverty Reduction through Social Enterprise Development for the Pasig Urban Settlements Office (PUSO) of the Pasig Local Government Unit (LGU) headed by Mr. Ric Reyes in Pasig City. The speakers of the said orientation were ISEA President and PRESENT Coalition Convener, Dr Marie Lisa Dacanay and Ms. Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, President and Founding Partner of Rags2Riches (R2R). After the orientation, there was a short meet-up with City Mayor Victor Ma. Regis “Vico” Sotto where he expressed support in pursuing partnerships to co-develop a social enterprise program for Pasig City.

Last September 29, PRESENT Coalition Convener and ISEA President Marie Lisa Dacanay met with Pasig Vice Mayor Dodot Jaworski to explore possibilities of a City Ordinance that would support social enterprises as vehicles for sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction. As he thanked the Coalition for choosing Pasig City, Vice Mayor Jaworski said, “Looking forward to our future partnership for the benefit of our less fortunate Pasiguenos.”

These activities are part of an effort to localize the Poverty Reduction through Social Entrepreneurship program and policy agenda supported by Oxfam and the Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok.