By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — The Quezon City Government in partnership with Bayan Family of Foundations on Wednesday (Nov. 5) opened the three-day (Nov. 5-7) 2025 Philippine Social Enterprise Roadmap Conference here at the QC MICE Center.
In her keynote speech, Mayor Ma. Josefina “Joy” G. Belmonte said “it is an honor to co-sponsor the Philippine Social Enterprise Roadmap Conference in its second year.”
“We started it here in Quezon City six years ago where you’re part of the growth of the community,” she added.
Belmonte noted that there are instances to become an economic mover.
“Over the past years, we have invested in MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises). There were 99,000 QC entrepreneurs at the height of the pandemic, including the OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers),” Belmonte said.
“We have also unlocked entrepreneural programs for women, especially the women weavers in Payatas,” she added.
“We are proud that 85 percent of our beneficiaries are growing their own businesses today,” Belmonte said.
“Quezon City is also proud to be the home of largest cooperatives,” she added.
“We have helped various groups to pursue their businesses,” Belmonte said.
“Through these cooperatives, we seek to break this cycle of poverty. We started where the needs seem to be the greatest,” she added.
“Seeing these barriers, We became more determined,” Belmonte said.
She cited the Tatak SE Kabahgi QC.
“We are striving to make Quezon City as the Social Enterprise Capital of the Philippines by 2028 as it will be the end of my term as Mayor of QC,” Belmonte said.
“Quezon City is also making the 142 barangays as enterprise hubs,” she added.
“We are given three days to share, learn and widen our network,” Belmonte said.
“Marami pong Salamat. Mabuhay po tayong lahat. Long live QC,” she ended.
Helen Grace Marquez, Vice President of Globe, said that the Filipinos have always been resilient.
Marquez thanked the organizers and the visionary Mayor Joy Belmonte.
“Mayor Belmonte, your vision where QC will be the Social Enterprise Capital of the Philippines by 2028, you can count on us,” she said.
“We are one with Mayor Joy Belmonte and the Bayan Family of Foundations to uplift the lives of Filipinos,” she added.
“We at the Globe, Mayor Belmonte, we will provide you with the coverage and capacity in making Quezon City as the Social Enterprise Capital of the Philippines by 2028,” Marquez said.
“In terms of engagement in AI (Artificial Intelligence) and 5G, we are number 5,” she added.
The conference is organized by the Bayan Family of Foundations and the Society for the Advancement of Professional Social Entrepreneurship.
The co-organizers are Tatak SE, Quezon City Government, Ayala Foundation, Cooperatives Development Authority, Globe, Meta, and Startup Village.
The sponsors are BPI Foundation and GCash.
Now on its third year of bringing together impact movers and leaders from ASEAN, APAC and beyond, and with this year’s theme, “Technology Innovations in Social Enterprise (SE) and the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) for the Sustainable Development Goals,” the conference will highlight the role of emerging technologies in promoting inclusive and sustainable development.
The conference will serve as a vital platform for changemakers, investors, policymakers, and innovators to collaborate and shape the future of the region’s social enterprise landscape. ###
