Social enterprise defined in light of ASEAN integration

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A roundtable on social entrepreneurship held last October 30 at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business sought to define social entrepreneurship in the context of the Philippines and in the light of the upcoming ASEAN integration.

The roundtable was organized by the Benito and Catalino Yap Foundation (BCYP).

Coming up with a definition, BCYF Institute for Social Enterprise and Development program officer Noreen Marian Bautista said, is important in directing efforts and resources in the work of promoting social enterprises.  BCYF Executive Director J. Anton Yap expressed excitement at the prospect of building a body of knowledge on social enterprise concepts and issues through the forum.

The roundtable panel was composed of Dr. Eduardo Canela of SERDEF, Miriam Azurin of the Foundation for Sustainable Societey (FSSI), Joan Yao of LGTVP, Terri Jayment-Mora of ASHOKA, Leah Macatangay of HMBK and Goder Padong of the Philippine Social Enterprise Network.

In his presentation, Dr. Canela said that until lately SERDEF had not been very active in social enterprise promotion, although it had been fostering a culture of entrepreneurship for more than 35 years.  SERDEF had not yet adopted a categorical definition for a social enterprise, he added, but for the time being, would use the following working definition: “An organization that applies commercial strategies to maximize improvements in human and environmental well-being, rather than profits for external stakeholders.”

Social enterprise, he explained, can be structured as profit or not for profit.  “They may take the form of a cooperative, a micro finance institution, a mutual organization, a social business, or a fair trade organization.”

He added that personally it is very easy to define it.  “Just consider it as a business with a social mission.”

He mentioned the activities SERDEF plans to implement: a functional social enterprise course for teachers and business leaders; and a social enterprise research via social network analysis.

The roundtable noted that while the social enterprise movement is growing, it is also a fragmented one.  To address the problem of fragmentation, the panel members suggested there should be a general framework, leadership and regulation.

The panelists also put forward suggestions in policy and program support to the country’s social enterprises.  These include creating a more conducive environment for them as provided by the proposed Magna Carta for Social Enterprises, promotion of micro-credit, strengthening of government finance institutions, reduction of barriers to business start-up, and reasonable taxation.

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