The Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic and Community Quarantine on Social Enterprises in the Philippines [2.7MB]
The Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic and Community Quarantine on Social Enterprises in the Philippines
JUNE 2021
Executive Summary
The study shows that social enterprises, similar to MSMEs, have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and community quarantine. Several SEs note experiencing disruptions in the supply chain and distribution channels. As such, SEs have been forced to adapt to the situation by modifying their work arrangements, reducing the scope of their business operation, enforcing additional health protocols, and transitioning towards digitization. However, several SEs have noted opportunities brought about by the pandemic, such as the opportunity for the SEs to innovate by changing or improving their products to meet current demands of the pandemic and to tap the virtual market.
The knowledge products indicate that the Philippine social enterprise ecosystem is growing; however, several roadblocks prevent it from fully thriving. The COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying community quarantines also affected the SE ecosystem by introducing new barriers, such as disruptions in supply chains, but also by providing opportunities, such as digitization and transition online platforms. Several recommendations have been provided to improve and streamline the social enterprise ecosystem in the Philippines, such as, but not limited to, the recognition of social enterprises in the Philippines, stronger call for policymakers and national government to promote and streamline social entrepreneurship in the Philippines, institutionalization of support for social enterprises, cultivation of more SE-focused capital, and adoption of the Technopreneurship Governance Blueprint among HEIs.