Baseline study on local enabling environment and survey of women's micro enterprise and their women workers

With National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), the provincial government of Quezon [Philippines] and the pilot municipalities of Real, Infanta, General Nakar entered into a partnership agreement to promote women's economic empowerment through local economic and enterprise development initiatives under the GREAT [Gender Responsive Economic Action for the Transformation Women Project] Women Project banner. It aims to enhance the local enabling environment, provide economic access to women over productive resources and participate in community development. In this regard, baseline studies were done during Dec 2008-May 2009 to determine the local enabling environment and characterize women entrepreneurs and women workers. The results show that while the local government units are able to provide an institutional environment for GAD [gender and development] concerns, economic and socio-cultural development, these are seen as generic provisions and not necessarily focusing on the marginalized women entrepreneurs. While the foundation, so to speak, is laid down by these provisions, ordinances and resolutions, further affirmative action may be needed to push forward the advocacy for women's economic empowerment. While indeed there are laws and provisions, these are like wise not known by the entrepreneurs. And even if there are public and private service actors doing capacity building activities with the women entrepreneur respondents, these were seen as inadequate as the respondents claim that they still need beyond the normal training interventions, equipment, capital investment, product development and market linkage and networking. The business operations of the micro enterprises were found to be co-mingled with household operations. This means that owners of these businesses do not separate the finances, bookkeeping, operations and general management of the enterprises from their household activities. Revenue derived from the enterprises is plowed back for household expenditures, savings behavior is performed by only a few, and the most revealing of all is the non-registration of the business operation as it operates on a seasonal production basis. Formal social protection for the women workers is lacking, with a few of the employers providing for SSS [Social Security Systems] and PhilHealth payments, however, there is strong informal arrangement based on kinship systems for those who employ their relatives. In general, the Baseline studies on Local Enabling Environment and Women's Entrepreneurs and Workers present a challenge for intervention by the GREAT Women Project because there is much room for intervention considering that there is appreciation and support from the Local Chief Executives, of different offices of the local government units and the business community. The women owners themselves desire the support and assistance that will make their activities and businesses more market oriented.