Female Entrepreneurs

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FOR FILIPINA ENTREPRENEURS

As a favourable business environment and hotbed for female entrepreneurship, the Philippine Women’s Economic Network (PhilWEN) is pioneering an equitable future for Filipino women

Writer: Phoebe Harper

Did you know that the Philippines is one of the most gender-equal countries in the world? In the 2021 Global Gender Gap Report published by the World Economic Forum, the country ranked 17th globally, and second in the Asia Pacific region. The Philippines upholds its commitments to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, a key pillar of which is ‘SDG #5’ - to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls on the understanding that economic empowerment of women is fundamental to sustainable development.

At the forefront of realising this vision in the Philippines is the Philippine Women’s Economic Network (PhilWEN). Working to eliminate gender inequality and bias as factors that undermine economic growth, and instead advocating equal opportunities for education, paid employment and greater decisionmaking power in both public and private sectors, we find out more with Founding Chairperson and President, Ma. Aurora D. Geotina-Garcia. wide age and socio-economic reach.

PhilWEN’s vision is to be the catalyst that will integrate and harness the strengths of coalition members into an influential force for women’s economic empowerment and gender equality. Our mission is to empower and uplift women to become equal partners in society, by equipping them with the tools to provide a better future for themselves and their families, and have the hope, opportunity, and ability to control their lives and to enable all Filipino women to be viewed and treated equally in all aspects of life. We enable women to be self-sustaining and well-recognised in their community, to be well respected and truly empowered, and to be advocates for women’s rights, capacities and driving forces for social change.

APAC Outlook (AO): Firstly, could you introduce us to PhilWEN and tell us about your mission?

Ma. Aurora D. Geotina-Garcia, Founding Chairperson and Presi-

dent (ADG): PhilWEN is a coalition of women’s business organisations with a broad representation of female participation in the economy. The member organisations are comprised of women entrepreneurs: Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), large enterprises, start-ups, marginalised women, and professionals - middle managers, CEOs, and board directors. PhilWEN advocates for women’s economic empowerment through initiatives that encompass a

AO: What do PhilWEN identify as the key drivers of change for workplace gender equality?

ADG: In 2017, PhilWEN partnered with Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government, to form the Philippine Business Coalition for

PhilWEN is a consortium of six business groups advocating the economic empowerment of women. (Seated L-R) Jeannie Javelosa, Cristina Concepcion, Myren Garcia, Ma. Aurora Geotina-Garcia, Vicky Garchitorena, Chit Juan (Standing L-R) Bea Lim, Racquel Cagurangan, Farah Ancieto, Evelyn Singson, Chiqui Escareal-Go, Atty. Dick Du-Baladad, Mylene Abiva, Jenny-Lind Elmaco and Sharon Dayoan

Women Empowerment (PBCWE). PBCWE, as the inaugural project of PhilWEN, leads the business sector’s efforts to institutionalise gender equality in the workplace and pursue women’s economic empowerment nationwide, with 27 member companies as of May 2022. PBCWE member companies have adopted initiatives that are quantifiable, factual, and evidence-based which gives them a competitive edge in terms of attracting and sustaining the best talent in the market.

In PBCWE, we believe that leadership commitment or “setting the tone from the top” is the most important driver of change. Leaders should proactively promote workplace gender equality (WGE) through proactive and responsive policies and programmes within and outside the organisation to accelerate business sustainability, efficiency, and innovation.

Furthermore, more work should be done to put value in the human aspect of work, recognising that soft skills are of equal importance to technical skills and that the workplace extends to other spheres of life. Innovative business practices such as flexible work should be advanced, and at the same time, company policies and directions should be based on comparable data. Regular and consistent gender-disaggregated data reporting is the best way to accurately measure trends as it provides a clear picture of the state of WGE and allows companies to gauge the gaps and challenges that need to be addressed. We support the theory that “what gets measured gets acted upon.”

AO: Would you say the Philippines is becoming an enabling environment for female entrepreneurs?

ADG: Yes, definitely. Although we are a developing country that is always calamity-stricken throughout the year, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic to deal with, people have become resilient, especially the women. During these challenging times, it is women who have stepped up to juggle every single role they possibly can to manage their household, job, business, or family.

In the Philippines, we are big on e-commerce and major local platforms have programmes encouraging female entrepreneurs to introduce and grow their businesses. Banking institutions also have initiatives that support women entrepreneurs and one specific example of this is the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) programme, called “ILAW” - which translates as “Light”. ILAW, an abbreviation for Inclusive Lending for Aspiring Women, simplifies lending procedures and requirements for micro and small businesses, has a flexible collateral policy, customised payment terms that match the cash flow of the business, and borrowers can benefit from consultation sessions with seasoned women entrepreneurs from the Women’s Business Council Philippines.

There are also other programmes that support female entrepreneurs ranging from training, learning sessions, mentoring programmes, and workshops. Social media plays a major role in promoting these programmes as the main media channel that the majority of womenled MSMEs can access.

YALELO UGANDA | EGENCO

SCHLAM / CR3 GROUP

IMPRIMA GROUP | ATI PROJECT ROBISON OIL | MODUMETAL

9MOBILE

Growing a booming national economy in Botswana

CONSOLIDATED BANK GHANA

Forward-thinking finance from the heart of Ghana

heart of Ghana finance from the Forward-thinking

BANK GHANA CONSOLIDATED

Botswana national economy in Growing a booming

9MOBILE

Issue 96 www.apacoutlookmag.com

ZERELLA FRESH

Produce delivered from paddock to plate

SG TECH

Behind the global tech powerhouse of the world’s Smartest City

Issue 56 www.emeoutlookmag.com

INHA WORKS

Smooth cruising for European manufacturing

DORMIO

The suite life of the hotel industry

Issue 47 www.northamericaoutlookmag.com

ATLANTIC SAPPHIRE

Raising healthy, happy, sustainably farmed salmon in Florida

VETERINARY PRACTICE PARTNERS

Doctor-partners given more opportunity in the veterinary industry

Issue 09

LOMÉ CONTAINER TERMINAL

Driving maritime investment and performance culture

Keletsositse Olebile, CEO of Botswana Investment and Trade Centre discusses surmounting global challenges

BATCHFIRE RESOURCES

On a trajectory of expansion, Batchfire Resources is the low-fugitive emission energy coal producer pursuing plans for Net Zero

Innoquest Diagnostics moves forward as one in pursuit of transformative healthcare. Ginny Foo, CEO, gives us the details

VAN MOER LOGISTICS

Founder and CEO, Jo Van Moer, discusses leading sustainable logistics in Belgium

Donavan Hutchinson, MD of SHI UK, tells us how how organisations are being empowered to adapt to changing business models and workplace strategies

TRINITY

INDUSTRIES,INC.

At the vanguard of modern rail solutions and freight innovation, we hit the railroads with the Executive Team behind Trinity Industries, Inc.

RICH TAJER, Enterprise CCO of Commericial Vehicle Group, discusses innovation and engineering perfection

Trade Centre discusses surmounting global challenges Keletsositse Olebile, CEO of Botswana Investment and transformative healthcare. Ginny Foo, CEO, gives us the details Innoquest Diagnostics moves forward as one in pursuit of

empowered to adapt to changing business models and workplace strategies Donavan Hutchinson, MD of SHI UK, tells us how how organisations are being discusses innovation and engineering perfection RICH TAJER, Enterprise CCO of Commericial Vehicle Group,

performance culture Driving maritime investment and

TERMINAL CONTAINER LOMÉ

pursuing plans for Net Zero is the low-fugitive emission energy coal producer On a trajectory of expansion, Batchfire Resources

RESOURCES

leading sustainable logistics in Belgium Founder and CEO, Jo Van Moer, discusses

LOGISTICS MOER VAN

behind Trinity Industries, Inc. innovation, we hit the railroads with the Executive Team At the vanguard of modern rail solutions and freight

INDUSTRIES,INC. TRINITY

Tell us your story, BATCHFIRE veterinary industry opportunity in the given more Doctor-partners and we’ll tell the world. SG TECH Behind the global tech powerhouse of the world’s Smartest City ZERELLA FRESH Produce delivered from paddock to plate INHA WORKS Smooth cruising for European manufacturing DORMIO The suite life of the hotel industry VETERINARY PRACTICE PARTNERS ATLANTIC SAPPHIRE Raising healthy, happy, sustainably farmed salmon in Florida

Issue 96 www.apacoutlookmag.com Issue 56 www.emeoutlookmag.com Issue 47 www.northamericaoutlookmag.com Issue 09

Africa Outlook, APAC Outlook, EME Outlook and North America Outlook are YALELO UGANDA | EGENCO SCHLAM / CR3 GROUP IMPRIMA GROUP | ATI PROJECT ROBISON OIL | MODUMETAL digital and print publications aimed at boardroom and hands-on decision-makers, reaching an audience of more than 800,000 people around the world; spanning the full range of industrial sectors.

With original and exclusive content compiled by our experienced editorial team, we look to promote the latest in engaging news, industry trends and success stories from across the globe. Your company can join the leading industry heavyweights enjoying the free exposure we provide across both digital and print platforms with a free marketing brochure, extensive social media saturation, enhanced B2B networking opportunities, and a readymade forum to attract new investment and to help you grow your business. Visit www.outlookpublishing.com/get-involved for details on how your company can feature for free in one of our upcoming editions.