March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010
August 2010
September 2010 October 2010
November 2010
December 2010 January 2011 February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024 April 2024 May 2024 June 2024 July 2024 August 2024 September 2024 October 2024
News Every Day |

Supporting social enterprises with a purpose: Should we?

What are social enterprises? Is it okay to support them?

Businesses today are increasingly seen as having the potential to change the world for the better, especially those with a clear social purpose. With environmental and community development efforts becoming more integrated into business strategies, consumers are being given the opportunity to make choices that support positive change.

In the Philippines, where social issues like economic inequality and environmental challenges are prominent, it’s an exciting time to discuss the role of purpose-driven businesses and how they offer both hope and opportunity.

As someone actively engaged in both business and social enterprise through Varacco and ThinnkFarm, and having attended recent forums like the “Food is Everyone’s Business” event by the Makati Business Club and the Mindanao TBI Summit in Davao, I’ve seen first-hand how purpose-driven companies bring energy and optimism to their missions. By aligning sustainable business practices with social initiatives, we are seeing more businesses make it their purpose not only to turn a profit but also to address meaningful issues in their communities.

A growing trend: Social entrepreneurship in the Philippines

In the Philippines, the concept of “business for good” has gained significant traction over the last decade. Social enterprises — businesses that aim to address social problems while earning a profit — are becoming increasingly visible. This trend was underscored during the Social Good Summit, which highlighted the role of businesses in tackling pressing issues like hunger, poverty, and climate change.

Rappler+ Exclusive: All panels, sessions, and speeches at Social Good Summit 2024

Varacco and ThinnkFarm are two such examples, merging sustainability with profitability. Through the use of precision agriculture, Internet of Things (IoT), and nanotechnology, our operations are designed to be climate-resilient and aligned with sustainable practices.

There are also Kandama Collective, Masungi Georeserve, and MAD Travel, all of which won the RVR Siklab Award of Phinma, AIM, JCI Manila, and De La Salle University. We aim not just to make a profit but to uplift the lives of those in the communities in the Philippines, especially those from indigenous peoples tribes.

The efforts of these businesses often receive recognition, both locally and internationally. I was honored to receive the PAN Fellowship for my contributions to nutrition and sustainability, while Varacco has been supported by impact grantors such as the BKCF and ACDI-VOCA are keen on fostering social change.

International programs, such as the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Young Business Leaders Initiative, Swedish Institute Management Program, and Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, also underscore the value of such enterprises in building bridges between nations.

But, of course, some may wonder: Do these businesses really make a difference? And is it worth supporting them if they’re still figuring things out? The answer, as we see from numerous success stories and awards, is that even small, positive impacts can spark lasting change.

The Challenges: Overcoming cynicism and structural barriers

In the Philippines, while there’s plenty to celebrate, challenges are also a natural part of the journey. There are issues like economic disparity and varying government support that can make some consumers skeptical.

But as more businesses continue to commit to transparency and sustainability, trust is steadily growing. Forums like the Makati Business Club’s event or the RVR Siklab Awards are helping shift the narrative by showing that social enterprises mean business, both in terms of impact and innovation.

[Good Business] Sparking the Filipino diwa towards nation-building

Additionally, through programs like the CREATE Act and the Renewable Energy Act, the government provides incentives for companies adopting green technologies. However, more work is needed to streamline these benefits so that small and medium-sized social enterprises can access them more easily.

This is where we see an opportunity for growth and optimism. By working together, consumers, businesses, and the government can create an environment where purpose-driven businesses have the support they need to succeed.

Opportunities: The role of impact investing and consumer support

Despite these challenges, the opportunities for businesses with a social mission are significant. Impact investing, where investors seek not only financial returns but also social and environmental impact, is a growing trend globally, and the Philippines is no exception.

The success of social enterprises hinges on the support of both investors and consumers. In this sense, every purchase becomes a political act. When consumers choose to support businesses with a social purpose, they are voting for a more equitable and sustainable future.

Every purchase, every endorsement of a business that cares for the community, becomes a small yet meaningful contribution to a better future. This is where sustainability communication plays a crucial role. It’s about making a positive choice, knowing that each peso spent can support practices that uplift communities and care for the planet.

A bright future: How small choices lead to big impact

Yet, supporting social enterprises can be seen as a privilege that not everyone can afford. In a country where nearly a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line, many consumers simply do not have the luxury of choosing where to spend their money. Price, not purpose, remains the primary factor in most purchasing decisions.

This is where government initiatives and community support can come together to create the right conditions for these businesses to flourish. Imagine a future where policies, grants, and subsidies make it easier for every Filipino to support businesses that care deeply about people and the planet. It’s not just a dream — it’s an achievable vision.

The future is looking bright for businesses with a social purpose, especially in the Philippines. Every step toward a more inclusive, sustainable world is worth celebrating, and by supporting these enterprises, we all become part of a broader movement. The journey might come with challenges, but the potential for positive impact far outweighs any obstacles.

As the business landscape in the Philippines continues to evolve, the question is no longer whether it is okay to support businesses with a social purpose. The question is, how can we support these businesses and drive positive change — and how can we, as consumers and citizens, help drive the changes we want to see?

The answers are in your hands, right with your heart. – Rappler.com

Ariestelo Asilo is the president and CEO of www.varacco.com and www.thinnkfarm.com, which operate through social entrepreneurship selling Buy 1 Take 1 Coffee, and creating farmer-scientists in coffee production in Mindanao. Currently, he is taking his Doctorate in Sustainability at the University of the Philippines – Open University. He also has a cat named Libe which he found at the Liberica farm in Cavite. 

Интернет

В Мытищах состоялась отчетно-выборная конференция профсоюза жизнеобеспечения

Inside the dark world of randy sex pest dolphins who terrorise swimmers & try to ROMP with humans

Bay Area high school football: Weekend scoreboard, how Top 25 fared

You need the eyes of a movie hero to spot the 5 horror villains lurking near the crime scene in under 90 secs

Revealed: SC Freedom Caucus leader had numerous electronics seized by federal officers

Ria.city






Read also

I drove the Porsche Macan Electric – it’s heroically fast, spacious and will easily top 300 miles on one charge

In Your Town for Oct. 31, 2024

Michigan will count ballot of Chinese national charged with voting illegally

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

You need the eyes of a movie hero to spot the 5 horror villains lurking near the crime scene in under 90 secs

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

You need the eyes of a movie hero to spot the 5 horror villains lurking near the crime scene in under 90 secs



Sports today


Новости тенниса
Стефанос Циципас

Стефанос Циципас одержал 100-ю победу на турнирах серии «Мастерс»



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Наталья Бочкарева призвала россиян заняться спортом



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Более 500 спортсменов приняли участие в «Оранжевом марафоне» в Ставрополе


Новости России

Game News

This new FPS is so good, it's almost unfair that it's free: A '1v1 me bro' simulator with 70 maps and no microtransactions that feels like the sickest Counter-Strike: Source mod of 2007


Russian.city


Жизнь

Акцент на практику: Желдорреммаш подвел итоги реализации профориентационного проекта в 2024 году


Губернаторы России
Бизнес

Компания «Мария» рассказала о новых решениях для девелопмента на конференции Московского Бизнес-клуба


Под Тверью погиб пешеход, переходивший дорогу на красный

СЛД «Вязьма» компании «ЛокоТех-Сервис» посетил начальник Московской железной дороги в рамках осеннего комиссионного осмотра.

В Мытищах состоялась отчетно-выборная конференция профсоюза жизнеобеспечения

Ксения Собчак купила 5-комнатную квартиру в центре Москвы за 85 миллионов


Талантливый Музыкант и Исполнитель из Нижнего Тагила.

Директор певицы Инстасамки рассказал о ее сотрудничестве с лидером «Ленинграда» Сергеем Шнуровым

Metallica — Black Album, if it was recorded in the 60s

Моргенштерн* внес существенные изменения в свой райдер после заявления о депрессии и публичных извинений перед Диларой


Теннисист Медведев заявил, что поражение на "Мастерсе" ударило по уверенности

Теннисистки Соболенко и Рыбакина сыграют в одной группе на Итоговом турнире

Елена Рыбакина вылетела на Итоговый турнир WTA

Хачанов победил де Минора и вышел в финал турнира ATP в Вене



Заместитель управляющего Отделением Фонда пенсионного и социального страхования Российской Федерации по г. Москве и Московской области Алексей Путин: «Клиентоцентричность - наш приоритет»

Отделение СФР предоставило 11 жителям региона с нарушениями зрения собак-поводырей

Компания «Мария» рассказала о новых решениях для девелопмента на конференции Московского Бизнес-клуба

Компания «Мария» рассказала о новых решениях для девелопмента на конференции Московского Бизнес-клуба


«Химки» — «Динамо» Москва. Прямая трансляция: смотреть бесплатно РПЛ

Тульский АКМ уступил "Динамо-Алтай" со счетом 7:3

Компания «Мария» рассказала о новых решениях для девелопмента на конференции Московского Бизнес-клуба

Компания ICDMC и “Всероссийский пиар-саммит”: в поисках новых решений


Небензя пригласил постпреда Британии в РФ после ее слов об обедневшей России

Downdetector: о сбое в банковском приложения "Т-Банк" сообщили пользователи

"Известия": с 2031 года электросамокатам нельзя будет ездить по тротуарам

Об опасном сливочном масле на полках магазинов предупредили воронежцев



Путин в России и мире






Персональные новости Russian.city
Юрий Башмет

Дирижер Башмет добился выселения бывших жильцов из своей квартиры в Москве



News Every Day

Bay Area high school football: Weekend scoreboard, how Top 25 fared




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости