Social enterprises recognized in the 1st DSE Awards

QUEZON CITY, 6 March (PIA) --- Various social enterprises from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao were recognized and awarded during the first Developmental Social Enterprise (DSE) Awards last 4 March 2015 at the Club Filipino, Greenhills, San Juan.

DSE Awards aims to recognize developing and viable organizations that are committed to a social objective and are considered multipliers of social progress through their enterprises.

According to Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino social enterprises provide opportunities to Filipinos in the disadvantaged sectors.

“Social enterprise is what the country needs,” Aquino said.

Aquino heads the DSE Awards panel of judges who came from various sectors such as the academe, social enterprise sector, government, private business, and media.

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

Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits, Inc. (EcoWEB), an Iligan-based business received the first DSE Award.

EcoWEB empowers communities by building partnerships to enable sustainable community development processes and programs that would address poverty, conflict, environmental degradation, and poor governance

EcoWEB also partners with a number of organized farmers and women under its Sustainable Livelihood Programs that produce natural fertilizers and pest repellent under the tradename “EcOrganic.”

EcoWEB received a PHP 250,000 cash grant and one year free consultancy from the PwC Philippines and BCY Foundation.

Finalists of DSE Awards are 3846 Social Enterprises Inc., Coffee for Peace, Global Organic and Wellness Corporation, and Good Food Community Inc. On the other hand, special recognitions were given to Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc. (AIDFI), Medical Mission Group Metro Manila East Hospital and Health Services Cooperative, SEDPI Development Finance, Inc. and Staff Search Asia Service Cooperative.

DSE Awards was organized by the Betina and Catalino Yap Foundation (BCYF) and Isla Lipana & Co., a Philippine member firm of the PwC global network.

Launched in August 2014 and has been in operation in five years and has received nominations through its website, www.dseawards.com. (MAPA/RJB/PIA-NCR)

See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2561425613305/social-enterprises-recognized-in-the-1st-dse-awards#sthash.Z2Y3XRue.dpuf