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| Victors of the 5th BiD Challenge Philippines -Habi Footwear and Pineapple Fiber Production, were especially recognized to compete in the international BiD Marketplace in the Netherlands this coming November. (Photo and caption by PBSP) |
Habi Footwear, a start-up business managed by the 22-year-old Albert Go, made it a goal to do something extraordinary for the country—one shoe at a time. By engaging its partner community, Go and his colleagues were able to provide a source of income for the financially-challenged families of their partner site by using their hand-woven materials in making shoes.
Fighting poverty through a profitable and sustainable
way is BiD’s strategy to encourage more entrepreneurs to look at social
responsibility as an integral part of business success.
BiD Challenge is an international business plan competition that promotes poverty reduction through enterprise development. It started in the Netherlands in 2004; after three years, BiD Challenge was adapted locally and launched in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).
PBSP believes that small,
medium, and microenterprises should have a venue where potential investments
may be acquired for the expansion and growth of social enterprise.
Like Habi Footwear, PineappleFiber Production of Batas MPC by Sheilah Vergara will also represent the
Philippines in the BiD Challenge International Marketplace this coming November
where they will showcase their business ideas together with the other entries
across the globe.
Vergara’s SME produces
fiber from leftover pineapple leaves, thereby helping the unemployed women and
youth in Silang, Cavite.
The top 10 BiD winners
are awarded a grant of PhP 100,000 each by Citibank. They are: Habi
Footwear: Shoes That Care by Albert Go; Pineapple Fiber Production of Batas MPC
by Sheilah Vergara (Accenture Skills to Succeed Awardee); Donnabelle Coconut
Sugar and Syrup by Benjamin Lao; Batangueno’s Best Prime Ground Roasted Coffee
with Pandan Extract by Rosauro Luntayao; Haws Blend Milking Profit from Carabao
by Samantha Marie Libunao; Deo’s AquaVermiPonics by Deogracias Magbal, Jr.
(Shell Green Enterprise Awardee); Best Chevon by Mary Joy Quisaot; Production
of Prio-Bio Inoculums for Animals and Fish by Nemesio Diamante (FSSI Triple
Bottom line Awardee); Bamsnacks by Vina Domingo-Roy (FSSI Triple Bottom line
Awardee); and T’nalak of the T’bolis by Yasmin Gatal Yashimoto.
Queries may be addressed to:
Philippine Business for Social Progress
Communications Unit
PSDC Building, Magallanes
corner Real Streets
Intramuros 1002 Manila
Tel: 527-3741 to 48 loc 313 or 101
Telefax: 527-3741 Email:
pbsp@pbsp.org.ph
Please visit our website www.pbsp.org.ph