As the development of social enterprises increase, so does the demand for legislation. To date, only Italy, the UK, and South Korea have legislated measures on social enterprise. Now, a group of farmers, workers, community enterprises, business associations, and fair trade groups are pushing for the approval of a measure that will institutionalize social entrepreneurship in the Philippines.
The Poverty Reduction through Social Entrepreneurship (PRESENT) Coalition was formed and is finalizing the proposed Social Enterprise Bill which they will present to President Aquino to support.
In the Philippines, social enterprises are composed of about 30,000 people in cooperatives, community-based enterprises, microfinance institutions, and small- and medium-scale industries. They promote organic products such as coffee, peanuts, rice, and sugar and innovative products such as bamboo delicacies, specially-made furniture, and herbal medicine.
“We are proposing an agenda for change through SE 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,” stressed Jay Bertram Lacsamana, co-convenor of the PRESENT Coalition.