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[av_heading heading=’Group sees bright prospects for Iloilo social enterprises’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By Rhick Lars Vladimer Albay
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ILOILO City – “Culture, empowerment, environment, we try to address also these concerns and aspects in one project,” shared Carm Novilla, one of the founders of the social enterprise Nagpana Ethnic jewelry that collaborates with an aeta community in Barotac Viejo. “Hindi lang siya nga economic empowerment, we want it to be holistic.”
The Iloilo MakeSense community – an open project by people passionate about social entrepreneurship and innovation – led a gathering of a handful of established and emerging social enterprises on Friday to pool a community at the forefront of “responsible” business.
“MakeSense is a local community of entrepreneurs both young and old talking about social enterprises,” shares one of the event’s conveners Noreen Marian Bautista, cofounder of Jacinto & Lirio, a social enterprise that transforms “pest” water hyacinths into leather goods to empower underprivileged families. “It’s a group trying to make a community and ecosystem of social entrepreneurs.”
“A social enterprise takes into account People, Planet, Profit,” shares Nagapana Ethnic jewelry cofounder Kristine Buenavista. “It always has in mind the need empower and create a good impact in the community it serves.”
Social enterprises have boomed in the region in the last couple of years with more and more business seeking to not just to gain profit but also give back to their community.
Local Partnerships
Joby Arandela, chairman of the Zarraga Integrated Diversified Organic Farmers Association (ZIDOFA), leads local farmers in producing Oregena, an organic rice that is now being sold in Iloilo Supermart branches. Arandela shares that now they are even supplying rice to a popular organic restaurant in the city, and because of their efforts the local government has taken notice.
“We showcase how organic can be good, not just for health conscious people. With increasing awareness, consumers will more easily accept food from the farms,” explains Arandela who shares that plans for a 2-hectare urban farmer’s garden in Mandurriao are in place.
Similarly, Janvie Anido, Youth First Initiative Philippines Inc. founder – organizers of the perennial Produkto Lokal Weekend fair, shares that the local city government is partnering with their organization to offer grants for young Ilonggo entrepeneurs.
“Right now the Iloilo City government is gearing up to make an ecosystem of young entrepreneurs,” said Anido. “Because the city is looking at how they can help the young businessmen. That’s why we’ll be releasing a call for applications for the Urban Youth Challenge soon. It’s a mentoring and funding program led by the city.”
MakeSense is a global network of locally-organized chapters that supports social entrepreneurs through problem-solving workshops, as well as inspiring and helping others to become social entrepreneurs, and growing strong communities./PN
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