In a joint effort to support women’s economic empowerment, the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) and Fundación de Religiosos para la Salud–Siervas de Jesús (FRS-SDJ) conducted a four-day training workshop on Social Enterprise Planning and Management, from July 1 to 4, 2025, at Regent Hotel, Naga City.
The initiative was made possible through the collaboration of both institutions, with the support of Mr. Alfonso C. Nuñez, Philippine Coordinator of FRS-SDJ; Ms. Marie Joyce Cheryl B. Armea, AECID Local Coordinator; and Prof. Vladimir R. Foronda, Director of CBSUA Extension Services Division.
Faculty experts from CBSUA’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Rhener G. Bucad, Mr. Andrew Arellano, Ms. Lea Pacao, and Ms. Ma. Victoria Balderas, served as resource persons, leading sessions on social enterprise management tailored for women’s cooperatives.
The workshop aimed to equip women, particularly from Pili, with the knowledge and skills needed for effective business planning and management, laying the groundwork for their future enterprises. Sessions emphasized the importance of structured planning and the value of collaborative leadership in sustaining a successful social enterprise.
Throughout the four-day training, participants expressed their enthusiasm and readiness to grow and develop as a cooperative. Notably, the learning exchange was mutual while participants gained knowledge from the experts, the facilitators also learned from the participants’ lived experiences, practices, and inspiring displays of resilience and positivity in the field of entrepreneurship.
Importantly, the training helped strengthen the women’s self-confidence and motivation, leaving many with a renewed sense of empowerment and purpose. | 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘙𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘭 𝘑𝘢𝘺 𝘈. 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘭𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘻 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘑𝘰𝘺𝘤𝘦 𝘋. 𝘛𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘴
