Positive impact cannot be achieved by one person or organization working alone. It takes a whole ecosystem of committed partners to make change happen. This sentiment was shared among the different sectoral representatives who attended the Social Enterprise Roadmap Council Conference last November 27 to 28, 2023.
The conference was organized by Bayan Innovation Group (BIG) and the Society for the Advancement of Professional Social Entrepreneurship (SAPSE) through the support of BPI Foundation, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Ayala Land, Inc., the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, BPI Direct BanKo, and Asia Value Advisors.
The objectives of the onsite conference were threefold: 1) Strengthen the unity of the Council in furtherance of the SE Roadmap's vision; 2) Equip the Council members to be more effective SE sector leaders, and 3) Discuss and exchange ideas, as well as forge alliances and partnerships for the SE Roadmap's nationwide implementation.
Throughout the two-day conference, key representatives from the five SE subsectors (MSMEs and associations; cooperatives; non-government organizations; the academe; and corporations), local and regional government officials, as well as SE intervenors, shared their insights in lively panel discussions that highlighted their initiatives and involvement in the SE Roadmap.
A Golden Opportunity
Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Corporation's former President & CEO, opened the session on the Engagement of Corporations and Philanthropies in the SE Roadmap.
“As we build on what we have started in this first Social Enterprise Roadmap Council Conference, it is my hope that we can further expand not just the number of social enterprises that we reach, but also the advocates and organizations that we will engage as partners,” he said. “I think that we have a golden opportunity to ensure that we build a comprehensive, collaborative and definitive social enterprise development roadmap. Through the collection of passionate leaders and talent that we have today, and those who will embark on this journey with us, I am confident that we can indeed help Filipino entrepreneurs achieve their dreams and aspirations and build a more prosperous country.”
As the initial movers of the Corporations subsector, BPI through BPI Foundation, Ayala Land, and BanKo will lead corporate initiatives for the SE Roadmap and will be instrumental in aggregating support from the Ayala Group of Companies.
Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive Development
Representing the public sector were department heads from the Local Government of Quezon City, who spoke about their role as a pilot city social laboratory collaborator. Mayor Joy Belmonte set the tone for the discussion by giving a background on the ongoing efforts of her office to support persons with disabilities and their families.
“It is evident that all of us gathered today have the ability to create a legal environment that supports SEs,” she said. “Tatak SE, Kabahagi Ka sa QC signifies the indelible mark we intend to leave on the landscape of social and solidarity economy. We urge you to join us in Quezon City as we embark on this journey where enterprises make significant contributions towards sustainable, resilient, and inclusive development.”
In line with government initiatives under the Tatak SE program, the Cooperative and Social Enterprise Authority - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CSEA-BARMM), had a separate panel to provide the SE Roadmap Council representatives with a model on how to effectively engage regional government offices.
Working Together to Support Filipino Social Enterprises
The theme of collaboration was apparent all throughout the conference. Representatives from the academe and MSME subsectors discussed Knowledge Management, Education, and Training for SEs, while a panel made up of members from NGOs and Corporations led the dialogue on funding opportunities and platforms for SEs to gain access to financial services.
To close the first day’s program, Mr. Edgardo Micayabas of the First Community Cooperative presented an impact assessment platform that would enable SEs to evaluate the level of impact they are delivering vis-a-vis their chosen enterprise-level socio-environmental missions.
The second day was just as jam-packed as the first as more initiatives and opportunities in support of social enterprises were shared with the council. The Tatak SETM brand was launched by BIG and SAPSE as a nationwide, ground-up movement aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of SEs through community-building initiatives. Afterwards, Professor Ramon Jocson of the Ateneo Graduate School of Business introduced the Masters in Entrepreneurship for Social Enterprise Development (MESEDEV) along with alumni and current students of MESEDEV. Delivered in partnership with Bayan Academy, the MESEDEV program is the only postgraduate course on social entrepreneurship in the Philippines.
To promote gender-inclusive businesses, encourage support for women entrepreneurs, and enhance SE development programs, a dedicated panel discussion was facilitated by The Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF). SPF has the priority goal of empowering women through
its Gender Investment and Innovation Program in Southeast Asia.
The culminating activity was a collaborative action programming workshop, with the Council representatives brainstorming in groups to see what inter-subsector collaborations could be pursued. The chairpersons and co-chairpersons then presented the outputs of their subsectors to the assembly.
Before the event’s closing, EdukSine took the stage to launch the SE Film Festival, calling for entries featuring social enterprises and local talent. EdukSine, a streaming platform that showcases Filipino films, partnered with Bayan Family of Foundations earlier this year to craft new content for Filipinos and expand from screening and streaming to content creation.
“We accomplish more when we're together,” Bayan Family of Foundations Chairman and President Professor Jay Bernardo said. The conference gathered like-minded and like-hearted individuals to share their aspirations and plans to advance social entrepreneurship in the country. “Even though we independently have our own organizational objectives, our own foundational objectives, we have a common vision and mission. This [conference] is also an indication that you are not alone in your journey to make these changes for our society.”
To learn more about the SE Roadmap, connect with us through collaborate@bayaninnovationgroup.org.
*This article was written by Trish Lim Francia of the Bayan Family of Foundations.