Iligan City-based business wins Developmental Social Enterprise Awards

Isla Lipana & Co., the Philippine member firm of the PwC global network, and CSR thought leader, the Benita & Catalino Yap Foundation (BCY Foundation) recognized the winning Filipino enterprises committed to social objectives through its enterprise activities. 

From left to right: Benita and Catalino Yap Foundation Chairman Antonio Yap, 
Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits, Inc. (ECOWEB),
Executive Director Regina Antiquesa, 
and Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines Chairman & Senior Partner Atty. Alexander Cabrera 

The Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits, Inc. (ECOWEB) was named the overall winner of the Developmental Social Enterprise Awards given out tonight at the Club Filipino, Greenhills, San Juan City. Organized in 2006 to respond to interlinking problems of poverty, conflict, environmental degradation and poor governance, ECOWEB partnered with a number of farmers and women to produce natural fertilizers and pest repellent under the trade name “EcOrganic”. 

Also recognized as finalists were: 3846 Social Enterprises, Inc., a sustainable program providing scholarship grants to poor but deserving Filipino students; Coffee for Peace, a mission agency focused on peace advocacy that grows and markets Coffee Arabica here and overseas; Global Organic and Wellness Corporation, which empowers farmers by helping them create a common marketing platform for organic products; and Good Food Community, Inc., which works with farmers in Tarlac, Benguet and Mountain Province in creating an alternative distribution system to connect them with city-based consumers. 

Due to their unique and impressive achievements in social entrepreneurship, special recognition was given to a health cooperative facility Medical Mission Group Metro Manila East Hospital & Health Services Cooperative; technology development organization Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc. (AIDFI); microfinance enabler SEDPI Development Finance, Inc.; and manpower provider Staff Search Asia Service Cooperative

The DSE Awards cites enterprises embodying the values of citizenship, sustainability and social responsibility, as well as those that put central importance on human dignity. 

Alexander Cabrera, Chairman and Senior Partner of Isla Lipana & Co., said: “We believe that the DSE Awards will build up awareness and encourage individuals/ businesses to engage in social enterprises .” 

Antonio Yap, Chairman of the BCY Foundation says: “We are much honored to partner with PwC Philippines in encouraging the growth of the social enterprise sector, which we think will also be a key player in the national development of the Philippines.” 

Since its launch in August 2014, the DSE Awards received nominations - corporations, partnerships, cooperatives in the Philippines - that have operated for two to five years through its website, www.dseawards.com. A screening committee, composed of eight judges from various sectors such as the academe, social enterprise sector, government, private business and media, selected the finalists and top winner last February 2015. Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino headed the panel of judges.



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