Message from the Executive Director
Sixto Donato C. Macasaet
These past few months have been very productive for us at FSSI. In September, select FSSI staff participated in two online training workshops held by the International Labor Organization on improving the productivity and working conditions of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). These training will be helpful for our partners particularly as business operations are transitioning back to full capacity. In October, we were invited by the Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project to speak during their Mindanao Online CAFE (Convergence for Agriculture and Fishery Enterprise) where we were able to connect with and exchange insights with various agricultural stakeholders in Mindanao. During the session, we had the opportunity to share how FSSI can support our farmers and fishers through our social investments to enterprises.
FSSI was also an institutional honoree at the Association of Foundation (AF)’s 50th anniversary last October 14, 2022. The event was proof of a strong and robust civil society sector working together to effect positive change in the country. We thank AF for this recognition and congratulate them for this very important milestone.
We also joined three gatherings of the civil society sector this past month. FSSI co-presented a learning session with our partner WeGen on the integration of renewable energy in the agri-fisheries sector during the fifth Renewable Energy (RE) Congress. We also supported the National Social Enterprise Conference and the recently concluded Social Development Week and 7th Congress of the Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO). This month, we will also be participating in the learning sessions and general assembly of the Zero Extreme Poverty Philippines 2030 (ZEP 2030) movement.
Reports and highlights from these various activities are included in this issue of our newsletter. We also hope that our participation in these activities has allowed us to help increase support for social enterprises and continue to develop programs responsive to their needs.
FSSI is committed to build strong and lasting partnerships with social enterprises. In this newsletter, we feature the Agay-Ayan Multi-Purpose Cooperative which has been our partner since 2014. Their coco sugar enterprise has helped provide sustainable livelihood to coconut farmers in Gingoog and other municipalities in Misamis Oriental.
In this issue, we also share with you an updated briefer of government programs for social enterprises and other MSMEs. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we have compiled a list of relevant programs that our partner SEs can access to help address the negative and long-term effects of the pandemic. Although some of the COVID-19 assistance programs have already lapsed, many others offering both financing and capacity building support are still available.
We are also pleased to share that three new staff have joined our Development Services Unit. Cheryl will be joining our project development and monitoring unit, while Alan and Ferdie are assisting us in reaching more women social enterprises under our Investing in Women program.
Finally, we are inviting you to answer a brief survey and provide feedback on our knowledge management and communications support. Your responses will help us improve our work as we plan our activities for the next year.
