21 Filipino Social Enterprises Receive $215,000 Support for COVID-19 Innovations
by Marielle Bordado
In May 2020, the Innovation for Social Impact Partnership (ISIP) project launched the RISE UP initiative as a response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the quarantine, particularly on social enterprises (SEs). It aims to support the recovery of local SEs and to promote social entrepreneurship as a pathway towards rebuilding economies and communities, with the use of innovative solutions.
RISE UP provides support to SEs through an Online Resource Hub, Studies and Knowledge Products related to COVID-19 and its impacts, Public Learning Sessions, and the Innovative Solutions Grant Facility.
ISIP has approved a total of $160,000 of grant funding for 21 SEs from the ISIP Social Impact Accelerator and Impact Boost Camp through the Innovative Solutions Grant Facility (ISGF), created under the project being implemented by UNDP and PhilDev and supported by the Australian Embassy in the Philippines. The grant will provide selected social enterprises support to access markets, talent, capital, and guidance to keep their business afloat and to expand their social impact during these trying times. In addition, the ISIP project is also providing $55,000 worth of legal, financial management, and communications support to strengthen the SEs. The ISGF is part of Australia’s COVID-19 response in the Philippines and the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) COVID-19 Response - Enhanced Local Manufacturing Project.
Meet the 21 social enterprises that accessed the Innovative Solutions Grant Facility:
Building on existing platforms and networks
File Photo from ISIP
File Photo from ISIP
File Photo from ISIP
FHMoms aims to produce at least 50 women who are employment-ready through scholarship grants and rent-to-own computer devices by the beginning of their training. Through this innovation, FHMoms aims to provide a sustainable source of livelihood for women through home-based employment, improving quality of life and consequently giving them more time for their family and other responsibilities at home.
Hiraya Water aims to increase the distributorship of their R-Tap technology to the different rural households lacking water accessibility due to the constraints in water district installation coordination amidst quarantine regulations. They plan to bring the solution to the secluded areas in their target provinces through their selected distributorship network, providing sufficient and more reliable water supply in the secluded rural communities experiencing frequent supply shortage.
PeoplePods aims to build on their existing offering of decent and affordable housing for female migrant factory workers by improving their operating processes and protocols in their facility, focusing on the health and safety of their tenants to mitigate the risk of contracting the virus. They aim to continue providing housing solutions to female migrant workers, creating a safe space for them while making it convenient for them to go to their workplace.
Taxumo Lifeline is a solution that helps MSMEs and Professionals automate tax compliance at very minimal cost so that they can quickly pick up on their business/professional careers, avoiding the need to close their business. They can just choose which tax filings they need to file “zero tax dues” and the system will automatically send their filings to the BIR before the dues dates. Taxumo is giving their users peace of mind in terms of complying and filing taxes on time, especially during the pandemic.
Introducing Innovations
File Photo from ISIP
File Photo from ISIP
File Photo from ISIP
File Photo from ISIP
File Photo from MAD Travel
File Photo from ISIP
File Photo from ISIP
File Photo from ISIP
In partnership with the Department of Science and Technology - Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI), Bambuhay developed a Bamboo-based activated carbon hand soap. Their existing inventory of Bamboo Straws and Bamboo poles will be processed to Bamboo-based Activated Carbon. This aims to provide a stable and sustainable source of income for their production personnel and Bamboo farmers amid the pandemic.
Cleaning Lady innovates by introducing new products and services like offering disinfection and sanitation services for homes and offices. They will also incorporate strict health measures and procedures in their conduct of business given their planned launching of new regional centers. They will also introduce a line of cleaning products for sanitation and disinfection that will be made available through an e-Commerce platform – ultimately providing more job opportunities with priority to women in an essential industry where demand has increased due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Coffee for Peace aims to bring communities online through an e-commerce web app on their website. All payments will be made online and consequently pay out their farmer partners for every sale made. Through this innovation, Coffee for Peace will continue to do what it has always done:bridging and connecting buyers, farmers, and consumers and strengthening the community they have built, as they navigate through the impact brought by the pandemic and the new normal.
FAME has come up with RUWAH (Respiratory Utility with Actuator Help), a Smart mobile portable auto ambu bag resuscitator that can be used in emergency cases to assist patients in breathing.
Through the RUWAH device, FAME aims to help hospitals, particularly in areas with a large and increasing number of COVID cases by giving more response capacity to the increasing number of patients given the already limited health personnel . This will especially benefit hospitals in rural areas that have limited access to ventilators.
MAD Travel has provided assistance to their partner communities since April 2020 through an online marketplace called MAD Market which has connected MAD’s partner communities, as well as other farmers in rural areas, to consumers in Metro Manila. They also plan to develop a range of virtual tourism experiences shifting their business to designing and conducting e-learning modules on social entrepreneurship to their partner schools inside and outside the Philippines.Through this, they aim to establish new sources of livelihood for their partner communities through the introduction of this innovation in their business processes.
Magwayen aims to innovate by introducing a new product through shampoo bars which will reduce the number of plastic bottles in the landfill/ocean, helping improve the health of the marine ecosystem through reducing the plastic consumption of the users. This will also help sustain their operations, thus providing continuous employment to their employees. In partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, part of the total sales of their shampoo bars will be going to the efforts made for wildlife conservation.
Through UP ROOT’s GROWcery, they aim to address food shortage by providing fresh produce and reduce the exposure of their clients to COVID-19 by delivering vegetables to their homes. On the side of their farming partners, they seek to expand the supply generation capacity of the local cooperatives to address the growing produce demand. Aside from addressing the problem of food shortage, by ensuring longer shelf life of the products, UPROOT aims to help decrease food wastage due to mishandling and improper storage.
Virtualahan aims to create a new learning model for children with disabilities using the Virtualahan Impact Formula. This learning model is an innovative version of the current Education System from the Department of Education using the equalizing power of technology. Virtualahan aims to create a case study that will lead to the institutionalization of remote learning and democratize quality and affordable education for children with disabilities. Their goal is to make remote learning a permanent option in the new normal.
Early Stage Innovations
The ISGF was also open to the early-stage social enterprises who were part of the ISIP Impact Boost Camp held in February 2020. Nine (9) social enterprises received the funding to support their innovations in response to the pandemic and its impacts.
Through the mobile application developed by AccessiWheels, PWDs will have access to pre-scheduled transport going to hospitals for delicate treatments and attending therapy sessions during the pandemic. The app uses an optimization and scheduling tool, and can be accessed through free data, mobile, or web. In addition, all their certified partner transportation providers will be given an opportunity to increase their income potential through the sure bookings. The transportation partners providers will also be given comprehensive disability handling and sensitivity training prior to being deployed to servicing the PWDs.
Alaga Health’s mobile and web App focuses on connecting healthcare professionals with patients. A timely innovation during the pandemic which makes booking medical appointments more convenient, especially for most non-COVID patients who fear long exposure to areas like medical facilities and hospitals.
AtoANI plans to expand its online agriculture production platform to produce demand and supply analytics to improve the accuracy of the produce quantity and to address the gaps in capacity in organic farming.They seek to solve the problem of disaggregated agricultural supply chains particularly in the Visayas area.
Candid Clothing currently has a partner community in Taytay, Rizal where they have been able to provide employment to those who lost their jobs during COVID-19. They currently produce PPEs and sell apparel online.
CawilAl proposes an automatic contact tracing system specifically using real time social distancing and PPE complying data set integrating artificial intelligence and surveillance technology. They seek to implement this initially in high people density areas in Metro Manila areas specifically in partnership with the local government units and eventually the Department of Health.
Farmvocacy is an inclusive business that allows Filipino smallholder rice farmers to earn fairly, and gives consumers a safer and more convenient way of buying rice. They have a two-pronged strategy. Under their Grower Partnership Program, they provide smallholder farmers a season-long training on a high-yielding, climate smart, and sustainable farming system.
On the other hand, their Consumer Solutions Program is where rice consumers can buy high quality rice delivered to their doorstep, making it safer and more convenient especially during the time of the pandemic.
Lakbawayan Enterprise (The Bamboo Company)
Lakabawayan aims to address COVID-19 through the production of their products such as the Bamboo-Abaca Foot Operated Hand Sanitizing Station, Bamboo-leaf Hydrosol Hand Sanitizer and Bamboo Charcoal Hand Soap, Bamboo Disinfectant Mat, and Cutlery.
Meaningful Travel PH, aims to address COVID-19 by providing support to their partners community through purchase of products and services and are sold in various sales channels in the Philippines.
Plantsville Health developed a plant-based disinfectant made of ethyl alcohol from sugarcane, Philippine cinnamon essential water, and lemongrass essential oil. It kills 99% germs, while moisturizing hands; it's also anti-mosquito. Philippine cinnamon and lemongrass are produced by small landholder farmers in Negros; micro-resellers also get to distribute the sanitizer. With this innovation, Plantsville Health pursues its mission of conservation, livelihood, and health.
Promising Times Ahead
With these product and process innovations introduced by these SEs, there is an assurance of a promising and more sustainable future to look forward to. However, they need support to help their business survive and weather through the uncertainty of the new normal.. Supporting social enterprises does not only help their business but also help empower their communities. In our own way, supporting these local businesses helps them sustain the impact they are creating.
We all have a role to play in creating a future that is more sustainable for everyone. We can begin by helping out their business flourish so that they can eventually scale their impact and benefit more. Together we RISE UP, together we support local social enterprises continuously making an impact and helping build a future with no one left behind.
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The Innovation for Social Impact Partnership (ISIP) is a project co-implemented by the Philippine Development Foundation (PhilDev) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines, with support from the Australian Embassy in the Philippines. It aims to support promising innovative Philippine social enterprises to have a shared contribution to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.