Approximately 14,000 women micro-entrepreneurs benefited from the first phase of Gender-Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women (GREAT Women-1) Project. Now, with the launching of the GREAT Women-2 or the Supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in the Philippines Project, an estimate of 12,000 owner-entrepreneurs and workers of micro enterprises may benefit and competitive businesses is being foreseen.
Though, Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder said he believes that the Supporting WEE Project can exceed the gains of the said first phase. “We hope that this project can show us innovative approaches to women’s economic enterprises that can contribute to the Philippines’ goals of inclusive growth,” he said.
The said project is worth P320 million and was launched by the following bureaus: The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), Trade and Development (DFATD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST), together with Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs.
During her opening message, PCW Executive Director Emmeline L. Verzosa gave assurance to the Canadian government that the Commission is committed to implementing the new WEE Project with partner, DTI, DA, DOLE, DOST, and private sector partners such as the ECHOsi Foundation and PLDT-Smart. She also expressed gratitude to DFATD for entrusting the project yet again to PCW for the benefit of more Filipino women.
Women will definitely benefit from this project because public and private sector development institutions will join together to address barriers that keep women from growing their businesses through regulatory or policy reforms. This project with its national context targets to assist around 12,000 owner-entrepreneurs and workers of micro enterprises in the identified food and non-food industry clusters across the country by improving the competitiveness and sustainability of their enterprises.
It was revealed in DTI data last 2012 that 99.6% of Philippine businesses are categorized as MSMEs, accounting for 61%-70% of employment. It is then said that The Philippine Government recognized the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will likely be our economy’s passport for sustainable growth.
(Photo credit to Manila Bulletin)
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