Sustaining the Future Using Creativity and Innovation: How Filipino Social Enterprises Do It
On April 21, the United Nations celebrates the World Creativity and Innovation Day which encourages creative multidisciplinary thinking in helping achieve a sustainable future. This also celebrates the role of creativity and innovation in problem-solving, to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The United Nations recognizes the need to focus on the importance of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals; in promoting innovation, creativity and decent work for all. Sustainable development is a holistic concept that requires the strengthening of interdisciplinary linkages in the different branches of knowledge.” (source: www.un.org)
In the Innovation for Social Impact Partnership (ISIP) project, we celebrate the creative and innovative development solutions of our social enterprises in our Social Impact Accelerator. We believe that through these, our SEs help contribute to the bigger goal of achieving and sustaining the SDGs.
Here are some of the creative and innovative social enterprises in the Philippines that provide viable solutions and innovations that address local problems.
Online Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)
Virtualahan is a technology social enterprise which builds an ecosystem for PWDs by providing them digital work while helping businesses of any size to grow. They provide companies with highly-skilled human workforce who can deliver quality output despite their perceived limitations.
In 2015, Virtualahan was founded by siblings Ryan, Josh, and Rose Gersava of Davao City. Initially dubbed as Virtual Eskuwelahan (Online School), Ryan thought of building a social enterprise that aims to train online professionals who have difficulty accessing gainful employment due to discrimination based on their existing medical conditions.
“I have found my purpose here in Virtualahan. Some people consider their disability as a limitation to things they can achieve but in Virtualahan we are able to see the abilities that we have. When other people like us see that we can do it, it inspires them also to do the same”
Mary Grace De Loyola and Arsenio Caballero Jr. during one of the wellness sessions of Virtualahan in Davao City
“I have found my purpose here in Virtualahan. Some people consider their disability as a limitation to things they can achieve, but in Virtualahan we are able to see the abilities that we have. When other people like us see that we can do it, it inspires them also to do the same,” said Mary Grace De Loyola, one of Virtualahan’s beneficiaries and graduates of the online training program.
Virtualahan’s mission is to provide economic empowerment to disadvantaged people who have no access to meaningful employment. Initially focusing on PWDs, they are now expanding to other marginalized groups like indigenous peoples, victims of drug addiction, and single mothers. Ultimately, through systemic change, the social enterprise envisions their beneficiaries becoming leaders and changemakers who influence other communities, thus creating the ripple effect, and eventually creating their own “Virtualahan”.
Intelligent Water System Technology for Everyone
Hiraya Water is a smart water management startup building innovative solutions that address inefficiencies in the water sector. They aim to create the ultimate platform for water solutions in developing markets. Hiraya’s flagship product is R-TAP, an intelligent supply and pressure management system that helps water utilities reduce water losses and power consumption, and optimize their existing infrastructure.
Stephen Larcia, Founder of Hiraya Water, developed the idea of R-TAP while working in his previous job at a water company in Manila. He encountered a similar solution used in water districts to efficiently manage their operations and reduce non-revenue water. Stephen thought of creating a similar product that fits in to the existing water system but is more affordable for Philippine consumers and can be used in a wider scale.
The ISIP team with Hiraya Water’s founders and core team at their headquarters in Quezon City
“We know a lot of the technological advances [that] come from abroad, but we were very happy to know that there were things that were happening in the Philippines and we wanted to be part of that trend to work with Filipino corporations”
Rita Chua, President of Teresa Waterworks was considering options to address their residential subdivision’s water issues. Impressed by the unique and cost-efficient solution that Hiraya Water offered, Teresa Waterworks decided to install the R-TAP. She said “We really didn’t see any other solution prior to R-TAP that gave us anything more. One thing that was very interesting to us was that we are working with a Filipino company. We know a lot of the technological advances come from abroad, but we were very happy to know that things are happening in the Philippines, and we want to be a part of that trend to work with Filipino corporations”.
Aside from Teresa Waterworks in Pampanga, Hiraya Water is also engaged with Tagaytay City Water District and Laguna Water District Aquatech Corporation where the R-TAP system is also utilized. These companies are Hiraya Water’s clients since 2018, serving 34 barangays in Tagaytay City and four municipalities in Laguna.
Carla Manalo, one of the founders of Hiraya Water, during the Impact Management Session at the Social Impact Accelerator with Rabayl Mirza of BcTA
Women Empowerment through Online Cleaning Services
To help bridge the gender gap of employment in the Philippines, Cleaning Lady aims to provide an alternative source of livelihood for women in underserved communities. Founded by Frances Feliciano and Oskie King in 2016, Cleaning Lady brings the convenience of a cleaning service to condominium residents and post-construction sites in Metro Manila through their online platform. As of 2018, the social enterprise created 35 jobs for women from their partner communities and has an average of 600 clients per month.
“I believe one of our primary contributions is providing additional income opportunities for these women to have access to better income-generating opportunities, augmenting the household income, leading to a more dignified life” said Oskie.
““I believe one of our primary contributions is providing additional income opportunities for these women to have access to better income-generating opportunities, augmenting the household income, leading to a more dignified life””
Oskie King and Frances Feliciano, Founders of Cleaning Lady, during the ISIP Social Impact Accelerator Pitching Round
With Cleaning Lady, clients are able to easily schedule and book a cleaning service through their website, Facebook, Instagram, SMS or phone and enjoy quality cleaning service from trained and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-certified cleaning ladies who use all-natural cleaning agents.
Rosemary Evangelista is part of the first batch of Cleaning Ladies and has been with the company for over two years now. She lives in Gawad Kalinga (GK), Manggahan, Parañaque, one of Cleaning Lady’s partner communities.
These are just some of the social enterprises in the Philippines trying to solve modern problems using modern and innovative solutions. Learn more about the other social enterprises in the Social Impact Accelerator Batch 1 and how they create sustainable impact using creativity and innovation here.