Conveners hold BICOL REGIONAL SOCIAL ENTERPRISES SUMMIT as Senator Loren Legarda files Senate Bill 782 as co-author

Senator Loren Legarda has filed today Senate Bill 782 as co-author of the “An Act institutionalizing the Poverty Reduction Through Social Entrepreneurship (PRESENT) Program and Promoting Social Enterprises with the Poor as Primary Stakeholders, ” her office legal staff Atty. Emilia Sibal announced today with a special note forwarded to the organizers of the Bicol Regional Social Enterprises Summit 2024. This Summit, held on November 28-29 at the VISTA MALL Naga along Maharlika Highway, Naga City, is a crucial platform for discussing and promoting social entrepreneurship with Senator Legarda as the Summit Keynote Speaker. The two-day Summit features exhibits of home-grown social enterprises from more than 300 participants attending from all six Bicol provinces. Conveners are the Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation with its Social Entrepreneurship Development (SED) Project with CHEd, Central Bicol State University in Agriculture, Bicol University, Bicol State College in Applied Sciences and Technology and Tabang Bikol Movement whose presidents will lead the signing of a Pledge of Commitment.

The filing of the bill becomes more meaningful and relevant, especially after the devastating two supertyphoons Kristine and Pepito that knocked down businesses, buildings, and houses with heavy rains that caused flooding and landslides for almost a week in most parts of Bicol. TBM, awarded outstanding non-profit volunteer organization in 2023 has launched the Tabang Bikol Donation Drive for disaster survivors. The proceeds will be used to help social entrepreneurs and families rebuild and recover from the damages incurred by the disaster, according to Board Chair Evita Jimenez-Tuazon, who is also the Summit overall chair. TBM supports the passage of the bill on social entrepreneurship, which gives a premium to supporting climate action to help reduce poverty and achieve sustainability.

Summit partners, include the regional NGAs DTI, DSWD, DA, DoST, CDA, and CHEd, the business chambers CSCCII and MNCII, and media outlets Bicol Mail DWNX-RMN and One-Media. The Office of the Camarines Sur Governor Luigi Villafuerte has also extended assistance in realizing the Summit after #Kristine.

Dr. Marie Lisa Dacanay, president of the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia and lead convenor of the PRESENT Coalition pushing for the passage of a law on social entrepreneurship with people experiencing poverty as primary stakeholders, is a Special plenary speaker with her talk on” Social Entrepreneurship as Pathway towards Poverty Reduction, Climate Action, and Sustainable Development.” Another plenary speaker, Dr Norby Salonga, president of the LaSallian Center for Entrepreneurship in DLSU, will talk on “Connecting the Schools with Social Entrepreneurship” in the afternoon. After #Kristine, TBM shared a 15-Points of Action, which appeared in the TBM column in Bicol Mail. These points include strategies for climate change adaptation and promoting sustainable practices in conducting business, community, and home life. #tje