The trees stand quietly in the highlands of Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental, their leaves swaying gently with the mountain breeze, unnoticed for years, and for some, even taken for granted. For 74-year-old Ninfa Denamarca, these trees are more than part of the landscape; they are part of her survival. “This is my life,” she […]
Category Archives: Social Enterprise Stories
.In the early days, few believed in the cooperative. “Parang puno ng mangga,” [Like a mango tree,]” recalled Jerry Reginaldo, Manager of Quirino Isabela Multi-Purpose Cooperative (QIMPC). “Kapag hindi namumunga, walang pumapansin. Pero kapag namunga na, marami nang gustong umangkin.” [“When it doesn’t bear fruit, no one pays attention. But once it does, many want […]
.The Kabangasan-Mapua Agrarian Reform Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KAMADA) is a cooperative in Balingoan, Misamis Oriental that continues to support farmers and small entrepreneurs through accessible financial and enterprise services. Established in 2001 with assistance from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), KAMADA began by offering lending and livelihood support to agrarian reform beneficiaries in Barangay […]
ECLOF Philippines Microfinance, Inc. (EPMI) is a non-government microfinance institution providing fair credit, technical support, and training to farmers and entrepreneurs. Formed in 1972 by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), a member of the Foundation for a Sustainable Society, Inc. (FSSI), EPMI became independent in 1995 and began microfinance operations in […]
The Federation of Peoples’ Sustainable Development Cooperative (FPSDC), a member of the Foundation for a Sustainable Society Inc. (FSSI), has worked alongside FSSI for over two decades, creating lasting impacts on the communities they serve. Born out of the Partnership for Development Assistance in the Philippines Inc. (PDAP)’s Central Loan Fund program, FPSDC started as […]
In a region where frequent power interruptions and high electricity costs are common, Jaime “Jim” Avila III, a mechanical engineer saw an opportunity to bring reliable and sustainable energy to communities. A graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cebu, Jim started his career working for various engineering companies in Manila, Davao, and Surigao […]
In the farming communities of San Isidro, Quirino, Isabela, rice remains a lifeline. For the Quirino-Isabela Multi-Purpose Cooperative (QIMPC), rice production is not just an economic activity, it is a way to build resilience, improve livelihoods, and promote sustainable agriculture. . . Since 2012, QIMPC has been a partner of the Foundation for a Sustainable […]
In 2017, November Canieso-Yeo founded Plantsville Health, a social enterprise dedicated to saving the endangered Philippine cinnamon species. By working with smallholder farmers, particularly women, Plantsville cultivates cinnamon, purchases their harvest, and creates high-value products, ensuring both environmental and economic sustainability. Photo courtesy of Plantsville Health . Before establishing Plantsville, Ms. Canieso-Yeo spent 15 years in […]
Coop-ville, short for “Cooperative Village,” was established in 2012 to support survivors of Typhoon Sendong in Mambuaya, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental. The Federation of Peoples’ Sustainable Development Cooperative (FPSDC) owned a vacant lot in the area and, in collaboration with then-Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Chairperson Orlando Ravanera, spearheaded efforts to create a community […]
Inside CENTER, the biggest farmer cooperative in Guimba, Nueva Ecija, and their vision of true economic reform through rice farming Established 25 years ago, the Cooperative Enterprise for True Economic Reform (CENTER) has emerged as one of the largest farmer cooperatives in Nueva Ecija, and has since embodied the ideals of true economic reform through […]