Iloilo SMEs to participate in corporate social responsibility forum
As the country's fiscal deficit widens, it becomes increasingly difficult for the Philippine government to provide basic social services to its population. It also raises issues of equity and access to resources and the ability of the government to meet and achieve its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is in this sense that SMEs can play a significant role towards creating an enabling environment for the government to meet its MDG's obligations. Using the CSR strategies for engagement, SME's have the potential to improve sustainable development initiatives, enhance the competitiveness of regional centers to compete for foreign direct investment and improve poverty-focused delivery of basic social services.
The two-day activity, dubbed as "A Conference/Workshop on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategies to Create Business and Social Value for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)", is a project of the British Embassy of Manila and the University of Asia and the Pacific in cooperation with the Iloilo Business Club, Inc., which is aimed to empower small and medium enterprises to embark on this new development challenge. Slated to be on February 21-22, 2006 at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center, this conference workshop will involve the members from the Iloilo Business Club, and representatives from the local government, national government agencies and other business associations.
Iloilo City is just one of the cities the country that the University of Asia and the Paciifc and the British Embassy of Manila has chosen to become a pilot area for this study.