SENATOR Cynthia Villar has said social inclusion is a key component of putting an end to the country’s extreme poverty, stressing that mere dole outs do not help the poor at all.
The World Bank deï¬ nes social inclusion as “the process of improving the terms for individuals and groups to take part in society” and promotes shared prosperity and equal access to opportunities.
She noted that even in the private sector, foundations and corporate social responsibility (CSR) arms of companies are implementing social development programs that go beyond the livelihood skills training implementation.
“Many are now using livelihood enterprise development as a holistic strategy to improve the socioeconomic status of indigent communities,” said Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development.
Due to this, Villar, who transitioned from being a business entrepreneur to becoming a social entrepreneur, said she used her role as a public servant and legislator not only to advance the causes of social entrepreneurship, but also establish her own livelihood programs or social enterprises.
As a social entrepreneur, the senator said she is aware it is hard to pursue and sustain a project. So her support does not start and end with providing legislative support through Senate bills, but also establishing livelihood projects as well as providing skills training.
