Message from the Executive Director
Sixto Donato C. Macasaet
The Foundation for a Sustainable Society, Inc. (FSSI), held its 34th General Assembly (GA) on May 23 to 24, 2023. It was a milestone for the Foundation to hold the two-day GA face-to-face again.
We opened our GA with a learning session on two important topics – an update on the Philippine economy and key findings from the most recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on the climate crisis. The two presentations were very ably delivered by Ateneo Economics Department Chairperson Dr. Alvin Ang and Filipino scientist and IPCC member Dr. Rodel Lasco, respectively. Dr. Divina Quemi, Chief Executive Officer of the Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives, an FSSI partner, shared her thoughts on the two presentations. Moreover, she shared how social enterprises, like the NSCC, can leverage the triple bottom line (3BL) approach to effect positive social change and lead climate solutions.
We were delighted to engage both our social enterprise partners and members organizations who were in attendance in a meaningful discussion. Key insights from the learning session are included in this issue of our e-newsletter.
We held our annual membership meeting on the second day of the GA. We congratulate Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), represented by its Executive Director, Mr. Elvin Uy, and the Philipine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA), represented by its former Chairperson, Mr. Nestor Carbonera, who were re-elected as Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, respectively. We likewise share with you important updates from our GA in this newsletter.
Certainly, the recent assembly was a coming together of hearts and minds. As we reflected on our achievements and learning from the past year and the third year into the COVID-19 pandemic, one thing was truly apparent – it is time to refocus on our shared vision of a sustainable future.
Finally, we are pleased to share with you a copy of our Annual Report, centered on the same theme. The report contains updates on the Foundation’s performance for the year 2022. The pandemic has set many organizations back in many ways, and FSSI and its partners were not exempt from its impact. But we are delighted to share that the Foundation has made significant strides towards recovery in the past year. With continued collaboration with partners and stakeholders in civil society, we are confident that we can and must continue this progress in the coming years.
