by Ryan Macasero
*This article was published on Rappler.com last October 3, 2014. For the online version, click HERE.
'What is important for a social enterprise is that we build a sustainable enterprise, something that will last,' explains Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto
BOTTOM UP. Businessman Manny Osmeña and GK Executive Director Luis Oquiñena talk about ending poverty
from the bottom up. Osmeña screenshot from Rappler; Oquiñena photo by Linh Do/Gawad Kalinga
BULACAN, Philippines – “Why should a rich country like the Philippines stay poor?” asked Gawad Kalinga (GK) founder Tony Meloto at the opening of Social Business Summit 2014, at GK's Enchanted Farm, in Bulacan.
The Philippines experienced 7.2% economic growth in 2013, but that has hardly felt by the country’s poor.
What are the roles of businesses and community organizations in pushing inclusive growth in the Philippines? This question was tackled in the first session of the Summit, “Starting From The Bottom Up," which focused on bottom up development and how citizens and community groups can end poverty. The summit’s official hashtag is #EndPoverty, and encourages participants to take the conversation on sustainable development and poverty elimination online.
A big part of bottom-up change comes from the business sector, through what is now known as social entrepreneurship.
“It takes courage to be a social entrepreneur. We have to begin from the bottom up,” Meloto said.
Social entrepreneurship is a for-profit business model that pursues innovative solutions to societal problems. But can for-profit businesses help include the poor? Meloto emphasized that social businesses must be profitable and sustainable.
“What is important for a social entreprise is that we build a sustainable enterprise, something that will last,” Meloto explained.