Move to Push Social Enterprise Bill in Philippines

A number of stakeholders in the Philippines are rooting for the passage of a bill that will pave the way for the promotion of social enterprise as an effective tool for reduction of poverty. The draft for the proposed Social Enterprise Bill is under preparation currently. The Poverty Reduction through Social Entrepreneurship (PRESENT) is one of the leading organizations that is spearheading the demand for this measure.

PRESENT is an umbrella organization for a number of business associations, community enterprises, fair trade groups and civil society and academic organizations. The final draft of the bill will be presented to President Aquino for consideration.

The dean of the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG), Tony La Vina, said that the proposed bill is timely because it looks at a sustainable approach to poverty reduction. ASOG is the co-convener of the PRESENT coalition along with the Foundation for a Sustainable Society.

Countries such as the U.K., South Korea and Italy already have legislated measures in place to promote social entrepreneurship. Lisa Dacanay of the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia says, "As a field of study, social entrepreneurship has been studied for 20 years. Social entrepreneurship entails innovations designed to explicitly improve societal well-being."

As of now, social enterprise in the Philippines remains a cross sector of nearly 30,000 organizations that include community based enterprises, cooperatives, microfinance agencies and small and medium scale businesses.

Social enterprises are involved in businesses ranging from organic products and agro based commodities such as rice, peanuts, coffee, sugar to innovative products such as unique furniture, bamboo delicacies, hand woven products, geotextiles and herbal medications.

Jay Bertram Lacsama, FSSI executive director and co-convener of the PRESENT coalition said: "We are proposing an agenda for change through social entrepreneurship and we call on the State to play a major role in providing the necessary support to make social enterprise sector succeed to benefit the poor in a sustainable manner."

Nearly 50 social entrepreneurs from all across the country as well as members of the academic and civil society organizations came together last week at the University of the Philippines University Hotel to up the ante for the Social Enterprise Bill.

Source: BusinessMirror

Photo Credit: juliaf