Social Enterprise Exhibit and Trade Fair at Philippine Congress to push for the passing of the PRESENT Bill
The Poverty Reduction through Social Entrepreneurship (PRESENT) Coalition, the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA), Roots Collective, the Office of Congressman Jose Manuel “Joeman” Alba, and Oxfam Pilipinas co-organized a Financial Resilience and Social Enterprise Trade Fair at the House of Representatives, Batasan Hills, Quezon City last February 6 to 9, 2023. The Trade Fair aimed to promote social enterprise products and to gather supporters, legislative champions, and ambassadors for the Poverty Reduction through Social Entrepreneurship (PRESENT) Bill.
The Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia President and PRESENT Coalition Convener Dr. Marie Lisa Dacanay highlighted the need for PRESENT Law in supporting and strengthening the social enterprise sector in the Philippines. She said, “With government support, the social enterprise sector can address poverty on a grand scale while ensuring inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic towards building back fairer and accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of zero poverty, no hunger, reduced inequality, women’s economic empowerment, and building resilient and sustainable communities.”
During the kickoff launch of the Exhibit and Trade Fair on February 6, 1st District Representative of Bukidnon, Congressman Joeman Alba delivered his opening speech focusing on its call to all co-policymakers in Congress to support the bill. Some of the House of Representatives who visited our event and expressed support for the Poverty Reduction through Social Entrepreneurship (PRESENT) Bill are Cong. Anna Veloso Tuazon of 3rd District of Leyte, Atty. Cyphrine Dalog, the Chief of Staff of Cong. Maximo “Maxi” Y. Dalog, Jr., Cong. Lani M. Revilla of 2nd District of Cavite, Cong. Roman Romulo of Pasig City, and Cong. Emerson Pascual of 4th District of Nueva Ecija. The Coalition hopes to continue working with you all in advancing social entrepreneurship as an approach to poverty reduction and inclusive recovery from COVID-19.
Among the participating social enterprises were Bote Central, Social Enterprise Development Partnerships, Inc. (SEDPI), Plantsville Health, Habi Lifestyle and Footwear, Twelve Topaz, Balay Mindanaw, Foundation, Inc. (BMFI), GlowCorp, Federation of People’s Sustainable Development Cooperative (FPSDC), Tsaa Laya, Yaman Coop, Mayani, and Community Crafts Association of the Philippines.
The PRESENT Coalition’s policy lobby efforts for the adoption of a Poverty Reduction through Social Entrepreneurship policy and program in the Philippines are part of the Gender Transformative and Responsible Agribusiness Investments in Southeast Asia (GRAISEA) Phase 2, supported by Oxfam and the Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok.
For more information, check out this Press Release from Oxfam Pilipinas.
You may also access the event photos in this link: https://www.facebook.com/PRESENTCoalition